Biography

Dr. Dixon-Gordon is a clinical psychologist and associate professor of clinical psychology at the University of Massachusetts. Research in her lab focuses on the role of emotional processes in the development and maintenance of psychopathology, with an emphasis on borderline personality disorder (BPD). In her work, she utilizes laboratory-based methods to examine the influence of emotional processes on other domains, such as interpersonal functioning. Given the complexity of these phenomena, she employs multimethod research designs, using self-report, behavioral, biological, psychophysiological, and naturalistic assessment (i.e., ecological momentary assessment). Furthermore, she translates this basic research to applied settings, with the aim of streamlining existing treatments, such as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for BPD and related pathology.

Key interests: borderline personality disorder, dialectical behavior therapy, nonsuicidal self-injury, suicidal behaviors, emotion regulation, psychophysiological assessment, mechanisms of treatment change.