Key Research Interests
- Dual Diagnosis (mental retardation and mental illness) in adolescents and adults.
- Aggression, social cognitive variables, and anger management training.
- Mood disorders.
- Integration of behavioral and psychiatric interventions
Betsey A. Benson
Dr. Benson received her Ph.D from Northern Illinois University, clinical psychology concentration and her B.A., from University of Rochester.Activities
Core faculty, Coordinating Center of Excellence in Dual Diagnosis (MI/MRDD), state of Ohio Initiative by Dept. of MR/DD, Dept. of MH, and Developmental Disabilities CouncilDirector, Nisonger Center Adult Behavior Support Services Program, a contract with the Franklin County Board of MR/DD, assistantships available for graduate students in this program
Co-author with Michael Aman, Project Med series for consumers (see Michael Aman listing)
Past President, Ohio Chapter of AAMR
Fellow, American Association on Mental Retardation
Past Member, Board of Directors, National Association for Dual Diagnosis
Participant, Psychosocial survey, in Expert Consensus Guidelines for the treatment of psychiatric and behavioral problems in mental retardation
Editorial Advisory Board, Journal of Intellectual Disability Research
Editorial Board, Mental Health Aspects of Developmental Disabilities
Editorial Board, Developmental Disabilities Bulletin
Publications with Ohio State Graduate Students and Graduates
Lunsky, Y., & Benson, B. A. (1997). Reliability of ratings of consumers with mental retardation and their staff on multiple measures of social support. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 102, 280-284.
Benson, B. A., & Havercamp, S. (1999). Behavioural approaches to treatment: Principles and practices. In N. Bouras, (Ed.), Psychiatric and behavioural disorders in developmental disabilities and mental retardation (pp. 262-278). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Lunsky, Y., & Benson, B. A. (1999). The social circles of adults with mental retardation as viewed by their caregivers. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 11, 115-129.
Lunsky, Y., & Benson, B. A. (2000). Are anatomically detailed dolls and drawings appropriate tools for use with adults with developmental disabilities? A preliminary investigation. Journal on Developmental Disabilities, 7(1), 66-76.
Lunsky, Y., & Benson, B. A. (2001). Association between perceived social support and strain, and positive and negative outcome for adults with mild intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 45, 1-9.
Lunsky, Y., & Benson, B. A. (2001). Perceived support and mental retardation: A social-cognitive approach. Cognitive Therapy and Research. 25, 77-90.
Lunsky, Y., Emery, C., & Benson, B. A. (2002). Staff and self-reports of health behaviours, somatic complaints, and medications among adults with mild intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 27, 125-135.
Esbensen, A. J., & Benson, B. A. (2003). Integrating behavioral, psychological and pharmacological treatment: A case study of an individual with borderline personality disorder and mental retardation. Mental Health Aspects of Developmental Disabilities, 6, 107-113.
Esbensen, A., & Benson, B. A. (2005). Cognitive variables and depressed mood in adults with intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 49, 481-489.
Esbensen, A. J., Seltzer, M. M., Greenberg, J. S., & Benson, B. A. (2005). Psychometric evaluation of a self-report measure of depression for individuals with mental retardation. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 110, 469-481.
Esbensen, A. J., & Benson, B. A. (2006). Diathesis-stress and depressed mood among adults with mental retardation. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 111, 100-112.
Esbensen, A., & Benson, B. A. (2006). A prospective analysis of life events, problem behaviours and depression in adults with intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 50, 248-258.
Esbensen, A., & Benson, B. A. (in press). An evaluation of Beck’s cognitive theory of depression in adults with intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 50.
Benson, B. A., & Havercamp, S. (in press). Behavioural approaches to treatment: Principles and practices. In N. Bouras and G. Holt (Eds.), Psychiatric and behavioural disorders in developmental disabilities. (2nd edition). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Selected Publications
Benson, B. A., & Valenti-Hein, D. (2001). Cognitive and social learning treatments. In A. Dosen and K. Day (Eds.), Treating mental illness and behavior disorders in children and adults with mentally retardation (pp. 101-118). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Press.
Benson, B. A. (2002). Feeling, thinking, and doing: Reducing aggression through skill development. In W. I. Gardner (Ed.), Aggression and other disruptive behavioral challenges: Biomedical and psychosocial assessment and treatment (pp. 293-324). Kingston, NY: NADD.
Walz, N. C., & Benson, B. A. (2002). Behavioral phenotypes in children with Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, or Angelman syndrome. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 14, 307-321.
Benson, B. A. (2004). Psychological interventions for people with intellectual disability and mental health problems. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 17, 353-357.
Benson, B. A. (2005). Mental health. In W. Nehring (Ed.), Health promotion for persons with intellectual/developmental disabilities: The state of scientific evidence (pp. 73-86). Washington, D.C.: American Association on Mental Retardation.
