Ken Abrams

Education & Professional History

Dartmouth College, BA; University of Minnesota, MA; PhD

Licensed Psychologist, Minnesota (LP 6356)

Highlights & Recent Activity

Current Research Projects

Examining the Prevention of PTSD via Virtual Reality and Findings from Cognitive Science

Recent Publications 

Romaniello, C., Abrams, K., Cardellicchio, S., Pezzuto, A., Zvolensky, M., & Cosci, F. (2025). The mismatch between adult smokers’ abstinence expectancies and experiences at outpatient facilities: An exploratory study. Current Psychiatry Research and Reviews, 21(1), 53-63.

Abrams, K., Folger, I.*, Cullen, N.*, & Wichlinski, L. (2024). Biochemical challenges for testing novel anti-panic drugs in humans. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 242, [173825].

Abrams, K., Wilson, A., *Del Rosario Hernandez, T., & Choate, A. (2024). Virtual reality-based simulated hallucinations to enhance empathy toward individuals with schizophrenia. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 212(6), 312-316.

Abrams, K., Mei, L.*, Chen, C.*, Koele, E.*, Kwan, J.*, Montes, Z.*, van Ginkel, M.*, & Zhou, H. (2021). The paradoxical association between tension-reduction alcohol outcome expectancies and tension following alcohol consumption. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse.

Mansueto, G., Carrozzino, D., Christensen, K., Cardellicchio, S., Pezzuto, A., Abrams, K., Zvolensky, M., & Cosci, F. (2021). Clinimetric properties of the Smoking Abstinence Expectancies Questionnaire. Addictive Behaviors, 123, [107061].

* indicates Carleton student

Organizations & Scholarly Affiliations

American Psychological Association (APA)

Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy (ABCT)

International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology (IACCP)

Prof. Abrams’ research program explores the prevention and maintenance of anxiety, trauma-based, and addictive disorders. Currently, his lab team is investigating the prevention of trauma-based disorders using virtual reality. He has also been exploring with students the ethics of assessing and treating sex offenders. Other research of his has examined the association of nicotine withdrawal and carbon-dioxide hypersensitivity (a risk factor for experiencing panic), treatments for pathological gambling, and the self-medication of social anxiety and panic disorder with alcohol.

Prof. Abrams teaches courses in psychopathology and statistics, and a seminar on addiction. He also leads every other fall the Carleton Cross-Cultural Psychology in Prague off-campus studies program.

Articles in Peer-Reviewed Journals

* indicates Carleton student

Romaniello, C., Abrams, K., Cardellicchio, S., Pezzuto, A., Zvolensky, M., & Cosci, F. (2025). The mismatch between adult smokers’ abstinence expectancies and experiences at outpatient facilities: An exploratory study. Current Psychiatry Research and Reviews, 21(1), 53-63.

Abrams, K., Folger, I.*, Cullen, N.*, & Wichlinski, L. (2024). Biochemical challenges for testing novel anti-panic drugs in humans. Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 242, [173825].

Abrams, K., Wilson, A., *Del Rosario Hernandez, T., & Choate, A. (2024). Virtual reality-based simulated hallucinations to enhance empathy toward individuals with schizophrenia. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 212(6), 312-316.

Abrams, K., Mei, L.*, Chen, C.*, Koele, E.*, Kwan, J.*, Montes, Z.*, van Ginkel, M.*, & Zhou, H. (2021). The paradoxical association between tension-reduction alcohol outcome expectancies and tension following alcohol consumption. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse.

Mansueto, G., Carrozzino, D., Christensen, K., Cardellicchio, S., Pezzuto, A., Abrams, K., Zvolensky, M., & Cosci, F. (2021). Clinimetric properties of the Smoking Abstinence Expectancies Questionnaire. Addictive Behaviors, 123, [107061].

Abrams, K., Cieslowski, K.*, Johnson, S.*, Krimmel, S.*, Bierlein-De La Rosa, G.*, Barton, K.*, & Silverman, P.* (2018). The effects of alcohol on heartbeat perception: Implications for anxiety. Addictive Behaviors, 79, 151-158.

Abrams, K., Krimmel, S.*, Johnson, S.*, Cieslowski, K.*, Strnad, H.*, Melum, A.*, & Kryder, C.* (2017). Nicotine deprivation attenuates panic reactivity in smokers: Findings from a placebo-controlled nicotine patch study. Depression and Anxiety, 34, 996-1005.

Abrams, K., & Ziegler, N. (2016). Facilitating study abroad for psychology students. Psychology Teaching Review, 22(20), 4-17.

Cosci, F., Bertoli, G., & Abrams, K. (2013). Effects of nicotine withdrawal on panic-like response to breath holding: A placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over patch study. Depression and Anxiety, 30, 1217-1221.

Abrams, K. (2012). Student-designed public service announcement (PSA) videos to enhance motivation and engagement. College Teaching, 60, 84.

Abrams, K. (2012). Review of “Crazy Like Us: The Globalization of the American Psyche.” Psychology Learning and Teaching, 11(3), 445-447.

Abrams, K., Zvolensky, M., Dorman, L.*, Gonzalez, A., & Mayer, M.* (2011). Development and validation of the Smoking Abstinence Expectancies Questionnaire. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 13, 1296-1304.

Abrams, K., Leger, K.*, Schlosser, L.*, Merrill, A.*, Bresslour, M.*, & Jalan, A.* (2011). Nicotine withdrawal exacerbates fear reactivity to CO₂-induced bodily sensations among smokers. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 13(11), 1052-1058.

Abrams, K., Schlosser, L.*, Leger, K.*, Donisch, K.*, Widmer, A.*, & Minkina, A.* (2011). Panic-relevant cognitive processes among smokers. Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 25(1), 71-81.

King, S., Abrams, K., & Wilkinson, T. (2010). Personality, gender, and family history in the prediction of college gambling. Journal of Gambling Studies, 26(3), 347-59.

Cosci, F., Knuts, I., Abrams, K., Schruers, K., & Griez, E. (2010). Cigarette smoking and panic: A critical review of the literature. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 71(5), 606-615.

Abrams, K., Schruers, K., Cosci , F, & Sawtell, S.* (2008). Biological challenge procedures used to study co-occurring nicotine dependence and panic disorder. Addictive Behaviors, 33, 1463-1469.

Abrams, K., Zvolensky, M., Dorflinger, L., Galatis, A., Blank, M., & Eissenberg, T. (2008). Fear reactivity to bodily sensations among heavy smokers and non-smokers. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology, 16(3), 230-239.

Johnson, K. A., Zvolensky, M. J., Marshall, E. C., Gonzalez, A., Abrams, K., & Vujanovic, A. A. (2008). Linkages between cigarette smoking outcome expectancies and negative emotional vulnerability. Addictive Behaviors, 33, 1416-1424.

Kushner, M.; Thuras, P., Sletten, S., Frye, B., Abrams, K., Adson, D., Demark, J., Maurer, E., & Donahue, C. (2008). Urge to gamble in a simulated gambling environment. Journal of Gambling Studies, 24(2), 219-227.

Kushner, M., Abrams, K., Donahue, C., Thuras, P., Frost, R., & Kim, S. (2007). Urge to gamble in problem gamblers exposed to a casino environment. Journal of Gambling Studies, 23, 121-132.

Cosci, F., Schruers, K., Abrams, K., & Griez, E. (2007). Alcohol use disorders and panic disorder: A review of the evidence of a direct relationship. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 68(6), 874-880.

Abrams, K., Rassovsky, Y., & Kushner, M. (2006). Evidence for respiratory and non-respiratory subtypes in panic disorder. Depression and Anxiety, 23(8), 474-481.

Kushner, M., Donahue, C., Sletten, S., Thuras, P., Abrams, K., Peterson, J., & Frye, B. (2006.) Cognitive behavioral treatment of comorbid anxiety disorder in alcoholism treatment patients: Presentation of a prototype program and future directions. Journal of Mental Health, 15(6), 697-707.

Cosci, F., Abrams, K., Schruers, K., Rickelt, J., & Griez, E. (2006). The effects of nicotine on 35% CO₂ induced anxiety: A study in healthy volunteers. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 8(4), 511-517.

Rassovsky, Y., Abrams, K., & Kushner, M. G. (2006). Suffocation and respiratory responses to carbon dioxide and breath holding challenges in individuals with panic disorder. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 60, 291-298.

Kushner, M., Abrams, K.., Thuras, P., Hanson, H., Brekke, M., & Sletten, S. (2005). Follow-up study of anxiety disorder and alcohol dependence in co-morbid alcoholism treatment patients. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 29(8), 1432-1443.

Zvolensky, M., Feldner, M., Leen-Feldner, E., Gibson, L, Abrams, K, & Gregor, K. (2005). Acute nicotine withdrawal symptoms and anxious responding to bodily sensations: A test of incremental predictive validity among young adult smokers. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 43, 1683-1700.

Abrams, K., & Kushner, M. (2004). The moderating effects of tension-reducing alcohol outcome expectancies on placebo responding in individuals with social phobia. Addictive Behaviors, 29(6), 1221-24.

Rassovsky, Y., Hurliman, E., Abrams, K., & Kushner, M. (2004). CO₂ hypersensitivity in recently-abstinent alcohol dependent individuals: A possible mechanism underlying the high risk for anxiety disorder among alcoholics. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 18(2), 159-176.

Abrams, K., Kushner, M., & Reinertsen, K. (2002). Effects of alcohol on anxiety-relevant cognitions in individuals with social phobia. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 31(3), 97-110.

Abrams, K., Kushner, M., Lisdahl, K., & Voight, A. (2002). Self-administration of alcohol before and after a public speaking challenge by individuals with social phobia. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 16(2), 121-128.

Abrams, K., Kushner, M., Lisdahl, K., & Voight, A. (2001). The pharmacologic and expectancy effects of alcohol on social anxiety in individuals with social phobia. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 64, 219-231.

Kushner, M., Thuras, P., Abrams, K., Brekke, M., & Stritar, L. (2001). Anxiety mediates the association between anxiety sensitivity and coping-related drinking motives in alcoholism treatment patients. Addictive Behaviors, 26, 869-885.

Kushner, M., Abrams, K., Thuras, P., & Hanson, K. (2000). Individual differences predictive of drinking to manage anxiety among non-problem drinkers with panic disorder. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 24(4), 448-458.

Kushner, M., Abrams, K., & Borchadt, C. (2000). The relationship between anxiety disorders and alcohol use disorders: a review of major perspectives and findings. Clinical Psychology Review, 20(2), 149-171.

Edited Book

Gross, D., Abrams, K., & Enns, C. (Eds.). (2016). Internationalizing the Undergraduate Psychology Curriculum: Lessons Learned at Home and Abroad. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Book Chapters

*indicates Carleton student

Abrams, K. (2016). Teaching cross-cultural psychopathology in Prague. In Gross, D., Abrams, K., & Enns, C. (Eds.), Internationalizing the Undergraduate Psychology Curriculum: Lessons Learned at Home and Abroad (pp. 3-18). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Gross, D., Abrams, K., & Enns, C. (2016). The case for internationalizing the undergraduate psychology curriculum. In Gross, D., Abrams, K., & Enns, C. (Eds.), Internationalizing the Undergraduate Psychology Curriculum: Lessons Learned at Home and Abroad (pp. 37-56). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Stevens, K.* & Abrams, K. (2011). The relation between premenstrual dysphoric disorder, panic attacks, and panic disorder. In F. Columbus (Ed.), Advances in Psychology Research, Volume 81. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

Mayer, M.* & Abrams, K. (2010). Alcohol cues, alcohol expectancies, and aggression. In F. Columbus (Ed.), Social Drinking: Uses, Abuses, and Psychological Factors. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

Abrams, K. & Mayer, M.* (2010). Abstinence vs. controlled drinking: trends and a call for research. In F. Columbus (Ed.), Social Drinking: Uses, Abuses, and Psychological Factors. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

Abrams, K., & Kushner, M. (2004), Behavioral understanding (of pathological gambling). In J. Grant & M. Potenza (Eds.), Pathological Gambling: A Clinical Guide to Treatment. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.