Perry Nicassio, Ph.D.

Professor, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences

Health Sciences Clinical Professor, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior

Member, Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology

Biography

Dr. Nicassio?s research has concentrated on the adjustment process in persons with chronic illness and the development and evaluation of behavioral interventions for persons with rheumatoid arthritis, chronic pain, and sleep disturbance. Dr. Nicassio is the principal co-editor of the book, Managing Chronic Illness: A Biopsychosocial Approach, published by the American Psychological Association (1995). Much of his work has focused on the contribution of illness beliefs to depression and health outcomes in persons with autoimmune disorders such as RA and systemic lupus erythematosus. Dr. Nicassio?s past and present work in these areas has been supported by grants from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Ruivo Marques Daniel, Allen Gomes Ana, Nicassio Perry M, Azevedo Maria Helena Pinto de   Pre-Sleep Arousal Scale (PSAS): psychometric study of a European Portuguese version Sleep medicine, 2018; 43(4): 60-65.

Zamora-Racaza Geraldine, Azizoddin Desiree R, Ishimori Mariko L, Ormseth Sarah R, Wallace Daniel J, Penserga Ester G, Sumner Lekeisha, Ayeroff Julia, Draper Taylor, Nicassio Perry M, Weisman Michael H   Role of psychosocial reserve capacity in anxiety and depression in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus International journal of rheumatic diseases, 2018; 21(4): 850-858.

Azizoddin Desiree R, Zamora-Racaza Geraldine, Ormseth Sarah R, Sumner Lekeisha A, Cost Chelsie, Ayeroff Julia R, Weisman Michael H, Nicassio Perry M   Psychological Factors that Link Socioeconomic Status to Depression/Anxiety in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Journal of clinical psychology in medical settings, 2017; 24(3-4): 302-315.

Irwin Michael R, Olmstead Richard, Carrillo Carmen, Sadeghi Nina, Nicassio Perry, Ganz Patricia A, Bower Julienne E   Tai Chi Chih Compared With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for the Treatment of Insomnia in Survivors of Breast Cancer: A Randomized, Partially Blinded, Noninferiority Trial Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, 2017; 35(23): 2656-2665.

Karpouzas George A, Draper Taylor, Moran Rosalinda, Hernandez Elizabeth, Nicassio Perry, Weisman Michael H, Ormseth Sarah   Trends in Functional Disability and Determinants of Clinically Meaningful Change Over Time in Hispanic Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis in the US Arthritis care & research, 2017; 69(2): 294-298.

Irwin Michael R, Olmstead Richard, Breen Elizabeth C, Witarama Tuff, Carrillo Carmen, Sadeghi Nina, Arevalo Jesusa M G, Ma Jeffrey, Nicassio Perry, Bootzin Richard, Cole Steve   Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Tai Chi Reverse Cellular and Genomic Markers of Inflammation in Late Life Insomnia: A Randomized Controlled Trial Biological psychiatry, 2015; 67(4): .

Carroll Judith E, Seeman Teresa E, Olmstead Richard, Melendez Gerson, Sadakane Ryan, Bootzin Richard, Nicassio Perry, Irwin Michael R   Improved sleep quality in older adults with insomnia reduces biomarkers of disease risk: pilot results from a randomized controlled comparative efficacy trial Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2015; 55: 184-92.

Ormseth Sarah R, Draper Taylor L, Irwin Michael R, Weisman Michael H, Aréchiga Adam E, Hartoonian Narineh, Bui Thuy, Nicassio Perry M   Multidimensional Model of Disability and Role Functioning in Rheumatoid Arthritis Arthritis care & research, 2015; 67(12): 1686-92.

Withers Mellissa, Moran Rosalinda, Nicassio Perry, Weisman Michael H, Karpouzas George A   Perspectives of vulnerable U.S Hispanics with rheumatoid arthritis on depression: awareness, barriers to disclosure, and treatment options Arthritis care & research, 2015; 67(4): 484-92.

Irwin Michael R, Olmstead Richard, Carrillo Carmen, Sadeghi Nina, Breen Elizabeth C, Witarama Tuff, Yokomizo Megumi, Lavretsky Helen, Carroll Judith E, Motivala Sarosh J, Bootzin Richard, Nicassio Perry   Cognitive behavioral therapy vs. Tai Chi for late life insomnia and inflammatory risk: a randomized controlled comparative efficacy trial Sleep, 2014; 37(9): 1543-52.

Irwin Michael R, Olmstead Richard, Breen Elizabeth C, Witarama Tuff, Carrillo Carmen, Sadeghi Nina, Arevalo Jesusa M G, Ma Jeffrey, Nicassio Perry, Ganz Patricia A, Bower Julienne E, Cole Steve   Tai chi, cellular inflammation, and transcriptome dynamics in breast cancer survivors with insomnia: a randomized controlled trial Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Monographs, 2014; 2014(50): 295-301.

Nicassio Perry M, Draper Taylor L, Ormseth Sarah R   Conceptualizing and Examining the Role of Stress in Arthritis: a Comment on Harris et al Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, 2013; .

Nicassio Perry M, Ormseth Sarah R, Custodio Mara K, Irwin Michael R, Olmstead Richard, Weisman Michael H   A Multidimensional Model of Fatigue in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis The Journal of rheumatology, 2012; .

Nicassio Perry M, Ormseth Sarah R, Custodio Mara K, Olmstead Richard, Weisman Michael H, Irwin Michael R   Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Behavioral sleep medicine, 2012; .

Karpouzas George A, Dolatabadi Soha, Moran Rosalinda, Li Ning, Nicassio Perry M, Weisman Michael H   Correlates and predictors of disability in "vulnerable" United States Hispanics with rheumatoid arthritis Arthritis care & research, 2012; .

Kierlin Lara, Olmstead Richard, Yokomizo Megumi, Nicassio Perry, Irwin Michael R   Diagnostic and Statistical Manual criteria for insomnia related impairment in daytime functioning: Polysomnographic correlates in older adults Sleep medicine, 2012; .

Jolly Meenakshi, Pickard A Simon, Block Joel A, Kumar Rajan B, Mikolaitis Rachel A, Wilke Caitlyn T, Rodby Roger A, Fogg Louis, Sequeira Winston, Utset Tammy O, Cash Thomas F, Moldovan Iona, Katsaros Emmanuel, Nicassio Perry, Ishimori Mariko L, Kosinsky Mark, Merrill Joan T, Weisman Michael H, Wallace Daniel J   Disease-specific patient reported outcome tools for systemic lupus erythematosus Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism, 2012; 42(1): 56-65.

Irwin Michael R, Olmstead Richard, Carrillo Carmen, Sadeghi Nina, Fitzgerald John D, Ranganath Veena K, Nicassio Perry M   Sleep loss exacerbates fatigue, depression, and pain in rheumatoid arthritis Sleep, 2012; 35(4): 537-43.

Nicassio Perry M, Ormseth Sarah R, Kay Morgan, Custodio Mara, Irwin Michael R, Olmstead Richard, Weisman Michael H   The contribution of pain and depression to self-reported sleep disturbance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis Pain, 2012; 153(1): 107-12.

Nicassio Perry M, Kay Morgan A, Custodio Mara K, Irwin Michael R, Olmstead Richard, Weisman Michael H   An evaluation of a biopsychosocial framework for health-related quality of life and disability in rheumatoid arthritis Journal of psychosomatic research, 2011; 71(2): 79-85.

Carr F N, Nicassio P M, Ishimori M L, Moldovan I, Katsaros E, Torralba K, Shinada S, Cooray D, Wallace D J, Finck S, Jolly M, Wilson A L, Weisman M H   Depression predicts self-reported disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus Lupus, 2011; 20(1): 80-4.

Sharif Roozbeh, Mayes Maureen D, Nicassio Perry M, Gonzalez Emilio B, Draeger Hilda, McNearney Terry A, Estrada-Y-Martin Rosa M, Nair Deepthi K, Reveille John D, Arnett Frank C, Assassi Shervin, Assassi Shervin   Determinants of work disability in patients with systemic sclerosis: a longitudinal study of the GENISOS cohort Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism, 2011; 41(1): 38-47.

Nicassio Perry M   Heterogeneity in the response to rheumatoid arthritis (RA): the challenge of accounting for individual variability in the face of chronic disease Journal of psychosomatic research, 2011; 71(5): 288-9.

Moldovan I, Katsaros E, Carr F N, Cooray D, Torralba K, Shinada S, Ishimori M L, Jolly M, Wallace D J, Weisman M H, Nicassio P M   The Patient Reported Outcomes in Lupus (PATROL) study: role of depression in health-related quality of life in a Southern California lupus cohort Lupus, 2011; 20(12): 1285-92.

Jang Jennifer H, Green Charles E, Assassi Shervin, Reveille John D, Ward Michael M, Weisman Michael H, Nicassio Perry M   The contribution of disease activity on functional limitations over time through psychological mediators: a 12-month longitudinal study in patients with ankylosing spondylitis Rheumatology (Oxford, England), 2011; 50(11): 2087-92.

Nicassio Perry M   Arthritis and psychiatric disorders: disentangling the relationship Journal of psychosomatic research, 2010; 68(2): 183-5.

Nicassio Perry M   Psychological approaches are effective for fibromyalgia: remaining issues and challenges Pain, 2010; 151(2): 245-6.

Brionez Tamar F, Assassi Shervin, Reveille John D, Green Charles, Learch Thomas, Diekman Laura, Ward Michael M, Davis John C, Weisman Michael H, Nicassio Perry   Psychological correlates of self-reported disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis The Journal of rheumatology, 2010; 37(4): 829-34.

Brionez Tamar F, Assassi Shervin, Reveille John D, Learch Thomas J, Diekman Laura, Ward Michael M, Davis John C, Weisman Michael H, Nicassio Perry   Psychological correlates of self-reported functional limitation in patients with ankylosing spondylitis Arthritis research & therapy, 2009; 11(6): R182.

Nicassio Perry M   The problem of detecting and managing depression in the rheumatology clinic Arthritis and rheumatism, 2008; 59(2): 155-8.

Young Casey Corinna, Greenberg Melanie A, Nicassio Perry M, Harpin R Edward, Hubbard David   Transition from acute to chronic pain and disability: a model including cognitive, affective, and trauma factors Pain, 2008; 134(1-2): 69-79.

Palomino Rand A, Nicassio Perry M, Greenberg Melanie A, Medina Ernesto P   Helplessness and loss as mediators between pain and depressive symptoms in fibromyalgia Pain, 2007; 129(1-2): 185-94.

Nicassio Perry M   Understanding the role and significance of gender differences in pain and depression in Chinese elders with osteoarthritis Pain, 2007; 130(1-2): 6-7.

Irwin Michael R, Cole Jason C, Nicassio Perry M   Comparative meta-analysis of behavioral interventions for insomnia and their efficacy in middle-aged adults and in older adults 55+ years of age Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association, 2006; 25(1): 3-14.

Nicassio Perry M   Pain coping and recovery from whiplash: new data on an important problem Pain, 2006; 124(1-2): 3-4.

Schanowitz Jeff Y, Nicassio Perry M   Predictors of positive psychosocial functioning of older adults in residential care facilities Journal of behavioral medicine, 2006; 29(2): 191-201.

Rodríguez-Reimann Dolores I, Nicassio Perry, Reimann Joachim O F, Gallegos Plácida I, Olmedo Esteban L   Acculturation and health beliefs of Mexican Americans regarding tuberculosis prevention Journal of immigrant health, 2004; 6(2): 51-62.

Nicassio Perry M, Meyerowitz Beth E, Kerns Robert D   The future of health psychology interventions Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association, 2004; 23(2): 132-7.

Guzman Susan J, Nicassio Perry M   The contribution of negative and positive illness schemas to depression in patients with end-stage renal disease Journal of behavioral medicine, 2003; 26(6): 517-34.

Bardwell W A, Nicassio P M, Weisman M H, Gevirtz R, Bazzo D   Rheumatoid Arthritis Severity Scale: a brief, physician-completed scale not confounded by patient self-report of psychological functioning Rheumatology (Oxford, England), 2002; 41(1): 38-45.

Nicassio Perry M, Moxham Ellen G, Schuman Catherine E, Gevirtz Richard N   The contribution of pain, reported sleep quality, and depressive symptoms to fatigue in fibromyalgia Pain, 2002; 100(3): 271-9.

Tayer W G, Nicassio P M, Weisman M H, Schuman C, Daly J   Disease status predicts fatigue in systemic lupus erythematosus The Journal of rheumatology, 2001; 28(9): 1999-2007.

Nicassio P M   Perspectives on stress in fibromyalgia Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, 2001; 23(3): 147-8.

Nicassio P M, Weisman M H, Schuman C, Young C W   The role of generalized pain and pain behavior in tender point scores in fibromyalgia The Journal of rheumatology, 2000; 27(4): 1056-62.

Nicassio P M, Radojevic V, Weisman M H, Schuman C, Kim J, Schoenfeld-Smith K, Krall T   A comparison of behavioral and educational interventions for fibromyalgia The Journal of rheumatology, 1997; 24(10): 2000-7.

Pike J L, Smith T L, Hauger R L, Nicassio P M, Patterson T L, McClintick J, Costlow C, Irwin M R   Chronic life stress alters sympathetic, neuroendocrine, and immune responsivity to an acute psychological stressor in humans Psychosomatic medicine, 1997; 59(4): 447-57.

Clemmey P A, Nicassio P M   Illness self-schemas in depressed and nondepressed rheumatoid arthritis patients Journal of behavioral medicine, 1997; 20(3): 273-90.

Nicassio P M, Schuman C, Kim J, Cordova A, Weisman M H   Psychosocial factors associated with complementary treatment use in fibromyalgia The Journal of rheumatology, 1997; 24(10): 2008-13.

Nicassio P M, Schoenfeld-Smith K, Radojevic V, Schuman C   Pain coping mechanisms in fibromyalgia: relationship to pain and functional outcomes The Journal of rheumatology, 1995; 22(8): 1552-8.

Parker J C, Bradley L A, DeVellis R M, Gerber L H, Holman H R, Keefe F J, Lawrence T S, Liang M H, Lorig K R, Nicassio P M   Biopsychosocial contributions to the management of arthritis disability. Blueprints from an NIDRR-sponsored conference Arthritis and rheumatism, 1993; 36(7): 885-9.

Nicassio P M, Radojevic V, Weisman M H, Culbertson A L, Lewis C, Clemmey P   The role of helplessness in the response to disease modifying drugs in rheumatoid arthritis The Journal of rheumatology, 1993; 20(7): 1114-20.

Nicassio P M, Wallston K A   Longitudinal relationships among pain, sleep problems, and depression in rheumatoid arthritis Journal of abnormal psychology, 1992; 101(3): 514-20.

Brown G K, Nicassio P M, Wallston K A   Pain coping strategies and depression in rheumatoid arthritis Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 1989; 57(5): 652-7.

Stein M J, Wallston K A, Nicassio P M, Castner N M   Correlates of a clinical classification schema for the arthritis helplessness subscale Arthritis and rheumatism, 1988; 31(7): 876-81.

Stein M J, Wallston K A, Nicassio P M   Factor structure of the Arthritis Helplessness Index The Journal of rheumatology, 1988; 15(3): 427-32.

Mathew R J, Wilson W H, Nicassio P M   Cerebral ischemic symptoms in anxiety disorders The American journal of psychiatry, 1987; 144(2): 265.

Brown G K, Nicassio P M   Development of a questionnaire for the assessment of active and passive coping strategies in chronic pain patients Pain, 1987; 31(1): 53-64.

Nicassio P M, Pate J K, Mendlowitz D R, Woodward N   Insomnia: nonpharmacologic management by private practice physicians Southern medical journal, 1985; 78(5): 556-60.

Nicassio P M, Wallston K A, Callahan L F, Herbert M, Pincus T   The measurement of helplessness in rheumatoid arthritis. The development of the arthritis helplessness index The Journal of rheumatology, 1985; 12(3): 462-7.

Nicassio P M, Mendlowitz D R, Fussell J J, Petras L   The phenomenology of the pre-sleep state: the development of the pre-sleep arousal scale Behaviour research and therapy, 1985; 23(3): 263-71.

Nicassio P M, Buchanan D C   Clinical application of behavior therapy for insomnia Comprehensive psychiatry, 1982; 22(5): 512-21.

Nicassio P M, Boylan M B, McCabe T G   Progressive relaxation, EMG biofeedback and biofeedback placebo in the treatment of sleep-onset insomnia The British journal of medical psychology, 1982; 55(Pt 2): 159-66.

Nicassio P M, Arnold E S, Prager R L, Bryant P R   Behavioral treatment of hysterical dysphagia in a hospital setting. A case report General hospital psychiatry, 1981; 3(3): 213-7.