Debra P. Oliver, PhD

Professor of Medicine

Washington University in St. Louis (WU)

I develop and test behavioral interventions for family caregivers of seriously ill patients. My interventions focus on improving anxiety and depression in family caregivers of hospice patients, advanced cancer patients, and Alzheimer’s and Related Disorders. I use technology to deliver and support these interventions including online support groups and web conferencing to connect caregivers with their patients health care teams. I test interventions with randomized clinical trials focusing on two group designs, pragmatic designs, and cluster crossover designs. I have expertise in mixed methods analysis. My work is funded by three NIH Institutes (Cancer, Aging, Nursing)