Ana C. DiRago

I am a fourth year Ph.D. student in the Clinical Science and Psychopathology Research (Clinical Psychology) area of the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

I received my Sc.B. in Psychology from Brown University in 2003.

I defended my Master’s Thesis on May, 2008

Title: The Relationship between Parental Major Depressive Disorder and Adolescent Psychopathology: An Examination of Gender Patterns.

Research:

·        My adviser is Dr. William G. Iacono. I work with data from the Minnesota Twin Family Study which seeks to identify the genetic and environmental influences on the development of personality traits and psychopathology.

·        My research interests include: Major Depressive Disorder (internalizing psychopathology), personality, behavioral genetics, and development.

Teaching

·        During Spring 2008 I was a section leader for 3902W Major Projects In Psychology.

·        I am in the process of designing my own seminar on “Understanding Depression and Bipolar Disorder” which I will teach in the Fall.

 

Clinical:

·        In 2006-07, I completed an assessment practicum at the Minnesota Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI) team. This team specializes in the treatment and assessment of patients with psychotic disorders. My supervisor was Dr. Bridget Hegeman.

·        Last year I was at the Minneapolis VA's Partial Psychiatric Hospitaltization program.  My supervisor was Dr. Charles Peterson.

·        This summer I will begin a Neuropsychological assessment practicum working with children and adolescents at the University of Minnesota Department of Pediatrics under Dr. Pi-Nian Chang.

·        I will continue conducting crisis intervention and short-term counseling at the Walk-In Counseling Center (WICC)

Publications and Conference Presentations:

PRESENTATIONS

·        DiRago, A.C. & Vaillant, G.E. (October, 2004). Childhood strengths and occupational status across the lifespan. Poster presented at the 3rd International Positive Psychology Summit in Washington D.C.

·        Vaillant, G.E. & DiRago, A.C. (October, 2004). A new chance at well-being. Poster presented at the 3rd International Positive Psychology Summit in Washington D.C.

·        DiRago, A.C., Kuo, S. & Vaillant, G.E. (August, 2005). Predictors of physiological reactions to stress in adulthood: Results from a 60-year prospective study. Poster presented at Harvard Medical School Psychiatry Research Day in Boston, MA.

·        DiRago, A.C., Legrand, L. & Iacono, W.G. (October, 2006). Children of drug-dependent or antisocial mothers: Factors that differentiate youths who do not develop substance dependence from those who remain asymptomatic. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Psychopathology in San Diego, CA.

·        DiRago, A.C. & Vaillant, G.E. (November, 2006). Childhood predictors of occupational status across the lifespan of inner city youth. Paper presented at Daniel Offer’s Festschrift in Chicago, IL.

·        DiRago, A.C., Tully, E. & Iacono, W.G. (October, 2007). The relationship between parental Major Depressive Disorder and adolescent psychopathology: An examination of gender patterns. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Psychopathology in Iowa City, IA.

PUBLICATIONS

·        Vaillant, G. E., DiRago, A. C., & Mukamal, K. (2006). Natural History of Male Psychological Health, XV: Retirement Satisfaction. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163(4), 682-688.

·        DiRago, A. C., & Vaillant, G. E. (2007). Resilience in Inner City Youth: Childhood Predictors of Occupational Status Across the Lifespan. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 36(1), 61-70.

·        Vaillant, G.E., DiRago, A.C. (2007) Satisfaction with retirement in men’s lives. In Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics: The Crown of Life: Dynamics of the Early Post-Retirement Period. Edited by J James and P Wink.  NY: Springer.

·        DiRago, A.C. & Vaillant, G.E. (In Press).  Mature coping mechanism in The Encyclopedia of Positive Psychology. Edited by S Lopez and A Beauchamp.

·        DiRago, A.C., Legrand, L. & Iacono, W.G. (submitted for review). Children of drug-dependent or antisocial mothers: Factors that differentiate youths who do not develop substance dependence from those who remain asymptomatic.

·        DiRago, A.C., Tully, E. & Iacono, W.G. (submitted for review). The relationship between parental Major Depressive Disorder and adolescent psychopathology: An examination of gender patterns.

·        Hicks, B.M., South, S.C., DiRago, A.C., Iacono, W.G.& McGue, M.  (manuscript under preparation). Gene x Environment Interaction Processes in Externalizing Disorders:  Environmental Adversity Increases Genetic Risk

·        South, S.C., Hicks, B.M., DiRago, A.C., Krueger, R.F., Iacono, W.G. & McGue, M. (manuscript under preparation). Gene-Environment Interplay in Internalizing Psychopathology

·        DiRago, A.C., Hicks, B.M., & Iacono W.G. (manuscript under preparation). Age of onset of Major Depressive Disorder and its effect on personality trajectories from late-adolescence to early-adulthood.

 

AWARDS AND HONORS

·        Neurobehavioral Aspects of Personality and Psychopathology Training Grant, NIMH (2007-09)

·        DOVE Research Summer Fellowship, University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts (2007)

·        Graduate School Block Grant Fellowship, University of Minnesota Graduate School (2007)

·        Graduate Research Partnership Program, University of Minnesota Graduate School (2006)

·        Diversity of Views and Experiences Fellowship, University of Minnesota Graduate School (2005)

Past experience:

Before coming to the University of Minnesota I was a research assistant for the Study of Adult Development - a 60-plus-year longitudinal study based in Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts.  I worked under the guidance of Dr. George E. Vaillant.

Contact Information:

 

Ana C. DiRago

University of Minnesota

Department of Psychology

75 East River Rd.

Minneapolis, MN 55455

 

Visit my favorite theoretical computer scientist here.