Dr. Edwards' research spans four areas of inquiry: 1) the effective delivery and mechanisms of behavioral treatments for chronic pain, 2) characterizing patterns of substance misuse and functioning, 3) psychosocial processes that contribute to substance misuse, and 4) the prevalence, impact, and treatment of chronic pain among those with opioid misuse.
Currently, she is focused on developing brief behavioral interventions to improve pain and stigma among people with opioid use disorder (OUD) and chronic pain to improve engagement and retention in medication treatment for OUD (MOUD). Additionally, as a part of this work, she is also interested in characterizing patient experiences of stigma and other barriers to engaging in MOUD treatment.
Dr. Edwards has expertise in delivering psychological interventions for chronic pain and substance use in individual and group formats across a wide range of inpatient and outpatient medical settings. She is also trained in psychological interventions for trauma, anxiety, and insomnia. She uses the following treatment modalities regularly within her practice:
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention
- Self-compassion
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Empowered Relief
- Exposure and Response Prevention
- Unified Protocol
- Prolonged Exposure
- Cognitive Processing Therapy
Dr. Edwards is passionate about providing education to a wide range of audiences about the value, impact, and implementation of psychological interventions for chronic pain into medical settings. She is also passionate about providing education and training to medical residents and healthcare practitioners on how to leverage psychological factors to improve patient engagement and retention in treatment across a wide range of healthcare settings.
- BA, Psychology, University of Puget Sound, 2014
- PhD, Clinical Psychology with Quantitative Psychology Emphasis, University of New Mexico, 2021
- Pre-Doctoral Internship, Clinical Psychology, VA Puget Sound, Seattle Division, 2021
- Post-Doctoral Scholar, Pain Psychology, Stanford University, 2023
Education & Training
Edwards KA, Pielech M, Hickman J, Ashworth J, Sowden G, Vowles KE. The relation of self-compassion to functioning among adults with chronic pain. European Journal of Pain. 2019; 23(8):1538-157.
Vowles KE, Witkiewitz K, Cusack KJ, Gilliam WP, Cardon KE, Bowen S, Edwards KA, McEntee ML, Bailey RW. Integrated behavioral treatment for Veterans with co-morbid chronic pain and hazardous opioid use: A randomized controlled pilot trial. Journal of Pain. 2020; 21(7-8):798-807.
Edwards KA, Vowles KE, McHugh RK, Venner KL, Witkiewitz K. Changes in pain during buprenorphine maintenance treatment among patients with opioid use disorder and chronic pain. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 2022; 90(4):314-325.
Turner AP, Edwards KA, Jensen MP, Ehde DM, Day MA, Williams RM. Effects of hypnosis, mindfulness meditation, and education for chronic pain on substance use in Veterans: A supplementary analysis of a randomized clinical trial. Rehabilitation Psychology. 2023; 68(3):261-270.
- Best Trainee Abstract, Society of Behavioral Medicine, 2018
- Certificate of Excellence for Outstanding Community Service, University of New Mexico, 2018
- Graduate Student Success Scholarship, Graduate Studies, University of New Mexico, 2020
- Frances Everett Letchworth Scholarship, University of New Mexico, 2020
