Ellen L Terry, Ph.D.

Research

Dr. Terry’s research experiences involve using psychophysiological assessment techniques (e.g., electrocardiography, skin conductance, electromyography) to investigate the influence of emotion on pain and nociceptive processing in various clinical (e.g., fibromyalgia, major depressive disorder) and healthy pain-free populations, as well as, investigating how psychosocial variables (e.g., pain catastrophizing, negative affect, anxiety sensitivity) alter pain processing. Previous research experiences build upon current NINDS-funded project investigating pain-related neural networks, pain processing, and the influence of pain catastrophizing on pain processing in older African American adults. The primary objective of my research is to elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive-emotional or psychosocial (i.e., pain catastrophizing) contributions to racial minority group differences of pain in older adults. Ultimately, this project is a critical step towards facilitating an independent program of research focusing on developing culturally appropriate evidence-based behavioral interventions aimed at normalizing pain-related brain responses to improve clinical outcomes, including pain and pain-related disability, in older racial and ethnic minorities with chronic pain. Further, this program of research is poised to provide valuable information about the neural mechanisms by which pain catastrophizing influences the experience of pain and pain-related health disparities in an older racial and ethnic minority group.

Service

From 2018-2019, Dr. Terry served as the Co-Chair for the American Pain Society (APS) Geriatric Pain Special Interest Group (SIG) and was responsible for organizing an interdisciplinary panel for the annual SIG meeting held at the APS conference. She is a current reviewer for the following journals: Pain, Journal of Pain, Clinical Journal of Pain, Pain Reports, Pain Research and Management, Osteoarthritis and cartilage, BMC Rheumatology, and International Journal of Behavioral Medicine (JBME).

Dr. Terry’s areas of expertise include the influence of biopsychosocial factors on pain and pain processing, health disparities in chronic pain, knowledge in the etiology and course of various mental disorders (e.g., Major Depressive Disorder, Anxiety Disorder), the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy and other related therapies for the treatment of mental disorders, and the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy for chronic pain and pain-related psychosocial factors (e.g., pain catastrophizing).