Faculty Profile for Dr. Megan Leigh Rogers

profile photo for Dr. Megan Leigh Rogers
Dr. Megan Leigh Rogers
Assistant Professor — Psychology
THH 253L
phone: (512) 245-1348

Biography Section

Teaching Interests

My primary teaching interests include introductory and advanced quantitative methods and statistics.

Research Interests

My program of research broadly aims to understand, improve the assessment of, and intervene upon processes that confer risk for suicidal ideation, intent, and behavior. Using a transdiagnostic framework, my research addresses two primary questions: (1) what contributes to the development and maintenance of suicidal thoughts and behaviors? and (2) when (and under what circumstances) do transitions from suicidal thoughts to actions occur? Specifically, one line of my research focuses on the interplay between cognitive dysfunction (rumination, attentional biases, hopelessness) and biobehavioral factors (agitation, sleep disturbances, overarousal) as short-term risk factors for suicidal ideation and attempts. Another line of my research has focused on general and suicide-specific factors that may facilitate a transition from suicidal thoughts to actions, particularly in the hours to days preceding a suicide attempt.

Future complementary areas of research include:
1. Examining the phenomenology, etiology, and temporal dynamics of acute suicidal crises in the hours preceding a suicide attempt
2. Determining whether there are individual differences (e.g., genetic, neurobiological, psychological, sociocultural, and/or pragmatic moderators) in the trajectories of short-term suicide risk between individuals
3. Innovating suicide risk assessment and management through the development, validation, and dissemination/implementation of scalable, feasible, and tailorable interventions
4. Improving the precision and ecological validity of measurement
5. Applying advanced quantitative methods to these research questions

Selected Scholarly/Creative Work

  • Rogers, M. L., Jeon, M. E., Zheng, S., Richards, J. A., Joiner, T. E., & Galynker, I. (2023). Two sides of the same coin? Empirical examination of two proposed characterizations of acute suicidal crises: Suicide Crisis Syndrome and Acute Suicidal Affective Disturbance. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 162, 123–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.05.001
  • Rogers, M. L., Cao, E., Richards, J. A., Mitelman, A., Barzilay, S., Blum, Y., … Galynker, I. (2023). Changes in daily cognitions and behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic: Associations with Suicide Crisis Syndrome and suicidal ideation. Clinical Psychological Science, Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/21677026221148732
  • Rogers, M. L., Gai, A. R., & Joiner, T. E. (2022). Fluctuations in and associations between physical and psychological distance to suicide methods, fearlessness about death, and suicidal intent. Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science, 131, 868–880. https://doi.org/10.1037/abn0000783
  • Rogers, M. L., Jeon, M. E., Duffy, M. E., & Joiner, T. E. (2022). Thinking too much: Rumination as a catalyst of the real-time associations between affective states and suicidal ideation. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 90, 670–681. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000753
  • Palitsky, R., Kaplan, D. M., Brodt, M. A., Anderson, M., Athey, A., Coffino, J., … Stevenson, B. (2022). Systemic challenges in health service psychology internship training: A call to action from trainee stakeholders. Clinical Psychological Science, 10, 819–845. https://doi.org/10.1177/21677026211072232

Selected Awards

  • Award / Honor Recipient: Rising Star Award, ABCT Suicide and Self-Injury Special Interest Group. August 2023
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Health Scholars Showcase Award, Translational Health Research Center. March 2023
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Alies Muskin Career Development Leadership Program, Anxiety and Depression Association of America. 2022
  • Award / Honor Recipient: Best Student/Postdoc/Trainee Poster Award, Anxiety and Depression Association of America. 2022

Selected Grants

  • Rogers, Megan Leigh (Principal). Understanding Suicidal Participants’ Experiences with Real-Time Monitoring Research, American Psychological Foundation, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $5000. (Submitted: June 1, 2023, Funded: January 16, 2024 - January 15, 2025). Grant.
  • Galynker, Igor (Principal), Rogers, Megan Leigh (Other). Effectiveness of Suicide Crisis Syndrome Categorical Diagnosis vs. Inclusion of its Individual Symptoms in Mental Status Examination for Post-Discharge Suicide Prevention in High Risk Psychiatric Inpatients, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Private / Foundation / Corporate, $1500000. (Submitted: December 8, 2022, Funded: November 2023 - Present). Grant.
  • Rogers, Megan Leigh (Principal), Clary, Kelly Lynn (Supporting). Development and Validation of a Self-Report Measure Assessing Psychological Distance to Suicide Methods, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, Texas State University, $16000. (Submitted: October 5, 2022, Funded: January 17, 2023 - May 31, 2024). Grant.

Selected Service Activities

Member
Promotions and Outreach Committee
September 2023-Present
Member
Graduate Program Committee
September 2023-Present