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Marc J. Weintraub, PhD

Marc J. Weintraub, PhD

2020 Friends Scholar

Dr. Weintraub received a B.A. in psychology and social welfare at the University of California, Berkeley, and then received his Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of Miami. As an AIM for Mental Health postdoctoral fellow at the UCLA Semel Institute, Dr. Weintraub has been conducting clinical research on the course, risk factors, and psychosocial treatment of mood and psychotic disorders. Dr. Weintraub is particularly interested in the high-risk stages of mood and psychotic disorders, as the high-risk period provides a unique opportunity to intervene early and attempt to prevent the onset of these illnesses. To that end, he has begun piloting a transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for youth at high risk for serious mental illness. While this treatment has shown preliminary efficacy, Dr. Weintraub is interested in further enhancing the treatment’s efficacy and promoting participants’ engagement with treatment. As a Friends of Semel Scholar, he will be able to advance his research agenda by developing and piloting a mobile application (app) that will supplement the CBT. The app will provide session-by-session content, interactive skill practice and symptom monitoring. The app will also include rewards and reinforcement to promote engagement. Dr. Weintraub is excited to leverage mobile health technologies to help improve treatment engagement and outcomes for youth with mental health difficulties.

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