Nadia Al-Dajani

Nadia Al-Dajani   

Assistant Professor

114 Psychology Building
Oxford, OH 45056
513-529-2400
aldajana@MiamiOH.edu

Risk Identification of Suicidal States to inform Care (RISSC) Lab

 

 

 

Education

  • Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Michigan, Michigan Medicine, 2020-2022
  • Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, University of Toronto Scarborough, 2020
  • Predoctoral Internship, St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, 2019-2020
  • M.A. Clinical Psychology, University of Toronto Scarborough, 2015
  • M.A. Experimental Psychology, University of Toronto, 2013
  • B.A. Psychology Speciality, University of Toronto, 2012

 

Research Interests

My program of research is focused on identifying near-term risk factors of suicidal ideation. In Ohio, deaths by suicide have increased 44.8% between 2007 and 2018 (Ohio Department of Health [ODH], 2018). Although previous research has focused on a particular set of risk factors (e.g., mental health diagnosis) as predictors of eventual suicidal thoughts or behaviors months to years later, my research focuses on suicidal thoughts measured as close to real-time as possible. Using smartphone app technology, individuals are asked to respond to a series of short questionnaires about day-to-day risk factors (e.g., negative emotions, feelings of burdensomeness) and to indicate if they had experienced any suicidal thoughts.

 

In future, I aim to expand this line of inquiry by focusing on minoritized populations who face a unique constellation of risk factors. As an example, we have seen an alarming increase in suicide deaths among Black, non-Hispanic, males, with a 53.8% increase between 2014-2018 (ODH, 2018). I have a strong interest in identifying real-time risk factors that consider the unique stressors that minoritized individuals face in their day-to-day lives. Ultimately, my work aims to identify these momentary factors in order to develop an adaptive, real-time, intervention that reduces risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. More specifically, I aim to develop a real-time intervention using smartphone apps that is adapted to each person’s unique set of risk factors.

 

Teaching Interests

I am driven by two primary teaching goals: instilling confidence in my students and collaboratively discussing goals and tying them to classroom and supervision objectives. As the backdrop to my primary goals, I work hard to create an inclusive learning environment, and am always open to feedback and revision. At the undergraduate level, I am interested in teaching Abnormal Psychology, Psychopathology, Personality, Writing and Research Methods in Psychology, along with a Capstone Course focused on suicide research. At the graduate level, I am interested in teaching Adult Evidence Based Intervention, Clinical Seminar on suicide, Clinical Seminar on eating disorders, Ethics in Clinical Psychology, and providing clinical supervision.

 

Professional Recognitions

  • University of Toronto Scarborough Psychology Doctoral Dissertation Award
  • Council of Canadian Departments of Psychology Teaching Assistant Award
  • Teaching Assistant Award in Psychology

 

Grants

  • 2022 "The Interplay Between Risk and Protective Factors and Suicidal Thoughts: Examining Momentary Fluctuations to Improve Suicide Risk Detection." Principal Investigator: Nadia Al-Dajani. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Young Investigator Award.

 

Selected Publications

  • Al‐Dajani, N., Horwitz, A. G., & Czyz, E. K. (2022). Does coping reduce suicidal urges in everyday life? Evidence from a daily diary study of adolescent inpatients. Depression and anxiety, 39(6), 496-503.
  • Al-Dajani, N., & Czyz, E. K. (2022). Suicidal desire in adolescents: an examination of the interpersonal psychological theory using daily diaries. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 1-15.
  • Al-Dajani, N., & Uliaszek, A. A. (2021). The after-effects of momentary suicidal ideation: A preliminary examination of emotion intensity changes following suicidal thoughts. Psychiatry research, 302, 114027.
  • Czyz, E. K., Koo, H. J., Al-Dajani, N., Kentopp, S. D., Jiang, A., & King, C. A. (2022). Temporal profiles of suicidal thoughts in daily life: results from two mobile-based monitoring studies with high-risk adolescents. Journal of psychiatric research, 153, 56-63.
  • Czyz, E. K., Koo, H. J., Al-Dajani, N., King, C. A., & Nahum-Shani, I. (2021). Predicting short-term suicidal thoughts in adolescents using machine learning: developing decision tools to identify daily level risk after hospitalization. Psychological medicine, 1-10.
  • Horwitz, A., Czyz, E., Al-Dajani, N., Dempsey, W., Zhao, Z., Nahum-Shani, I., & Sen, S. (2022). Utilizing daily mood diaries and wearable sensor data to predict depression and suicidal ideation among medical interns. Journal of Affective Disorders, 313, 1-7.