Amanda Claire Rhodes, Psy.D.
- Center for Cancer Research
- National Cancer Institute
- Building 82, Room 109c
- Bethesda, MD, 20814
- (240) 760-6024
- amanda.rhodes@nih.gov
RESEARCH SUMMARY
Dr. Rhodes is a licensed psychologist and part of a clinical research program that characterizes the longitudinal effects of disease and treatment as well as the development of novel psychological interventions on the cognitive function and quality of life (QOL) in children and adults with cancer, cancer predisposition syndromes, and other chronic illnesses. She has expertise in acceptance- and mindfulness-based interventions and chronic and acute pain. She also serves in leadership roles in several international scientific organizations related to contextual behavioral science and psycho-oncology.
Areas of Expertise
Amanda Claire Rhodes, Psy.D.
Research
As part of the Behavioral Health Core, the primary aim of the Health Psychology and Neurobehavioral Research Program is to conduct systematic collaborative research to support the scientific efforts of the NCI and other NIH institutes. The main objectives are:
- To investigate the effects of the disease and treatment on the neurobehavioral functioning of children and adults with chronic medical illness through longitudinal assessments.
- To investigate the causes of neurobehavioral dysfunction by exploring the relationships between neuropsychological functioning and other factors (e.g., disease markers, neurological and neuroimaging abnormalities, biomedical and genetic variables, and environmental and psychological factors).
- To develop and evaluate novel psychological interventions to prevent or remediate neurobehavioral difficulties, such as cognitive late effects or chronic pain.
- To develop and validate novel tools to better assess neurobehavioral outcomes.
Dr. Rhodes’ specific research interests include non-pharmacological, psychological intervention for pain, sleep, and quality of life (e.g., anxiety, depression, fatigue) in patients with rare medical conditions and their caregivers, neuropsychological assessment in pediatric patients undergoing treatment, novel development of assessment and intervention for pain, and patient-reported outcomes in clinical trials.
Biography
Amanda Claire Rhodes, Psy.D.
Amanda Rhodes, Psy.D. is a licensed psychologist and early career researcher in the Health Psychology and Neurobehavioral Research Group (HPNRG). Dr. Rhodes received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Lehigh University, a Master of Arts in psychology from Kean University, and a Doctorate in combined school and clinical psychology from Kean University. Her doctoral dissertation investigated acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and opioid use in patients with chronic pain. Dr. Rhodes completed a competitive, APA-accredited internship utilizing mindfulness-based interventions at the Brattleboro Retreat Psychiatric Hospital in Vermont, USA. She then completed a two-year postdoctoral research fellowship in the Pediatric Oncology Branch at NCI/NIH.
Dr. Rhodes specializes in using acceptance- and mindfulness-based psychotherapies, including ACT, with pediatric and adult populations experiencing chronic illness and pain. She is also trained in neuropsychological assessment of individuals with medical conditions. At the NIH, Dr. Rhodes’ specific work includes ongoing collaborative protocols investigating ACT for sleep disturbance in sickle cell disease; physical activity for late cognitive effects in pediatric brain tumor patients; diet and exercise changes to the gut microbiome and response to immunotherapy; and medication adherence in NF1. She also provides trainings and workshops on ACT for chronic illness, conducts neurocognitive assessments, and provides therapeutic services, by request, across institutes. Dr. Rhodes has published articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presented at international conferences on her research and expertise in clinical health psychology. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Association for Contextual Behavioral Sciences (ACBS) Mid-Atlantic Chapter and the ACBS Cancer SIG. She is also the Chair of the ACBS Pain SIG Research committee, Chair of the POB’s Diversity Working Group Education and Training subcommittee, and Co-Leader of the Response Assessment in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology (RAPNO) Neuropsychological Assessment subcommittee. In addition, Dr. Rhodes is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at George Washington University.