EDUCATION

Duke University, Durham, NC   
8/2014 – 9/2021      
Ph.D. Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program
Supervisor: M. Zachary Rosenthal, Ph.D.               
 
Columbia University, New York, NY
9/2004 - 5/2008                    
​Bachelor of Arts, Psychology Major

AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

2018 Graduate Travel Award from the Charles Lafitte Foundation ($1,288)
2018 Ruth L. Kirschstein Institutional National Research Service Award from the National Institute of Mental Health (1 F31 MH117830-01A1)
​2017 & 2018 Summer Research Fellowship for Third Year and Beyond PhD ($5,500)
2016 Clark M. Rivinoja Award, Duke University ($500)
2016 Claire Hamilton Graduate Studies Conference Travel Award ($250)
2015 Diversity Fund Graduate Travel Award for the SPSP Convention ($500)
2015 Graduate Travel Award for the SPSP Convention ($500)
2015 & 2016 Summer Research Fellowship, Duke University ($5,500)
2014 - 2020 James Duke Graduate Fellowship, Duke University ($20,000)

HONORS

2018 - present Psi Chi Society, Duke University
2008 - present Phi Beta Kappa Society, Columbia University
2008   Magna Cum Laude, Columbia University 
2004 - 2008 John Jay Scholars Program, Columbia University
2004 - 2008 Dean’s list, Columbia University 

FUNDED ACTIVITY

2020                            
Title: Social connection while distancing: Testing a digital, mindfulness-based intervention for promoting adaptive social engagement and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic ($2,500)
​Role: Principal Investigator
Source: Charles Lafitte Foundation Program for Research in Duke University Psychology & Neuroscience

​2020                             
Title: Examining Risk factors for Intimate Partner Violence during COVID-19 ($2,400)
​Role: Co- Investigator
Source: Charles Lafitte Foundation Program for Research in Duke University Psychology & Neuroscience

2018                             
Title: Social Emotions: The relationships among emotion dysregulation, empathy, and interpersonal problems in adults ($1,000)
​Role: Principal Investigator
Source: Charles Lafitte Foundation Program for Research in Duke University Psychology & Neuroscience

2018-2020                              
Title: Generalizing Mindful Emotion Regulation: Toward a Transdiagnostic Approach to Training Emotion Regulation with Mindfulness ($14,621)
​Role: Principal Investigator
Source: Mind & Life Institute Varela Grants Program
 
2018-2020                             
Title: Emotional Connection: Developing a Mobile Intervention for Social and Emotional Dysfunction ($43,725)
Role: Co-Principal Investigator and Team Leader
Source: Duke Bass Connections Project Teams, Brain and Society Theme
 
2017                                       
Title: Mindfulness and Empathy: A Matter of Context? ($500)
Role: Principal Investigator
Source: American Psychological Science Student Grant Competition
 
2016                                       
Title: The Feasibility and Efficacy of a Brief Online Mindfulness Practice ($5,000)
Role: Graduate Student Mentor (PI: Moria Smoski, PhD)
Source: Duke University Vertical Integration Program
 
2016                                       
Title: Mindfulness in Human Development ($38,060 total)
Role: Research Coordinator (PI: Michele Berger, PI)
Source: Duke University Bass Connections Program
 
2015                                       
Title: Mobile Technology and Substance Abuse Treatment ($5,000)  
Role: Graduate Student Mentor (PI: M. Zachary Rosenthal, PhD)
Source: Duke University Vertical Integration Program

PUBLICATIONS

1. McMahon, K., Berger, M., Khalsa, K., Harden, E., Khalsa, S.B.S. (2021). A Non-Randomized Trial of Kundalini Yoga on Emotion Regulation within an After-school Program for Adolescents. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 1-12.
2. Cassiello-Robbins, C., Anand, D., McMahon, K., Brout, J., Kelley, L., & Rosenthal, M. Z. (2020). A preliminary investigation of the association between misophonia and symptoms of psychopathology and personality disorders. Frontiers in Psychology, 11.
3. Cassiello-Robbins, C., Anand, D., McMahon, K., Guetta, R., Trumbull, J., Kelley, L., & Rosenthal, M. Z. (2020). The mediating role of emotion regulation within the relationship between neuroticism and misophonia: A preliminary investigation. Frontiers in Psychology, section Psychopathology, 11, 847.
4. ​Morlet, E., Costemale-Lacoste, J.F., Poulet, E., McMahon, K.,…& Limosin, F. (2019). Psychiatric and physical outcomes of long-term use of lithium in older adults with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder: a cross-sectional multicenter study. Journal of Affective Disorders, 259, 210-217.
5. ​McMahon, K., Anand, D., Morris-Jones, M., & Rosenthal, M.Z. (2019). A Path from Childhood Sensory Processing Disorder to Anxiety Disorders: The Mediating Role of Emotion Dysregulation and Adult Sensory Processing Disorder Symptoms. Journal of Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience.
6. Merwin, R., Cuper, P., McMahon, K., & Lynch, T., (2019). Personality Disorders. In Sturmey, P. (Ed.), Functional Analysis in Clinical Treatment: Second Edition. Elsevier, Inc.
7. McMahon, K., Kim, K., Fang, C., Neacsiu, A., & Rosenthal, M.Z. (2019). Blinded by Our Emotions: The Impact of Borderline Personality Disorder and Affect on Emotion Recognition Sensitivity. Journal of Experimental Psychopathology, 10(1), 2043808718818878.
8. Kassm, S.A., Hoerte, N., Naja, W., McMahon, K.,…& Limonsin, F., (2019) Metabolic syndrome among older adults with schizophrenia: Prevalence and associated factors in a multicenter study. Psychiatry Research.
9. Hoertel, N., Jaffré, C., de Raykeer, RP., McMahon, K.,…& Limosin, F., (2019) Subsyndromal and syndromal depressive symptoms among older adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorder : Prevalence and assicated factors in a multicenter study. Journal of Affective Disorders.
10. Rosenthal, M., Wyatt, K., & McMahon, K., (2019). Cognitive Behavioral Approaches. In C. Lejuez & K. Gratz (Eds.), The Cambridge Handbook of Personality Disorders. Cambridge University Press.
11. McMahon, K., Hoertel, N., Peyre, P., Blanco, C., Fang, C., Limosin, F. (2018). Age differences in DSM-IV borderline personality disorder symptom expression: results from a national study using Item Response Theory (IRT). Journal of Psychiatric Research, 110, 16-23.
12. McMahon, K., Hoertel, N., Olson, M.,Wall, M., Wang, S., & Blanco, C. (2018) Childhood maltreatment and Impulsivity as predictors of Interpersonal Violence, Self-Injury and Suicide Attempts: a national study. Psychiatry Research, 269, 386-393.
13. McMahon, K. & Rosenthal, M.Z. (2018). Situated Empathy: Applying Contextualism to the Science of Recognizing Other People’s Emotions. In S. Hayes & D.S. Wilson (Eds.), Evolution and Contextual Behavioral Science: An integrated framework for understanding, predicting, and influencing human behavior. Context Press. 
14. Neacsiu, A., Rompogren, J., Eberle, J., McMahon, K., (2017). Changes in Problematic Anger, Shame, and Disgust in Anxious and Depressed Adults Undergoing Treatment for Emotion Dysregulation. Behavior Therapy, 49(3), 344-359.
15. Peyre, H., Hoertel, N., Stordeur, C., Lebau, G., Blanco, C., McMahon, K., Basmaci, R ... & Delorme, R., (2017). Contributing factors and mental health outcomes of first suicide attempt during childhood and adolescence: results from a nationally representative study. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 78(6), e622-e630
16. McMahon, K., Ruggeri, A., Kämmer, J. E., & Katsikopoulos, K. V. (2016). Beyond Idea Generation: The Power of Groups in Developing Ideas. Creativity Research Journal, 28(3), 247-257.
17. McMahon, K., Herr, N., Zerubavel, N., Hoertel, N., Neacsiu, A. (2016). Psychotherapeutic treatment for bipolar depression. Psychiatric Clinics, Vol. 39 (1), p. 35-56.
18. Franco, S., Hoertel, N., McMahon, K., Wang, S., Rodríguez-Fernández, J. M., Peyre, H., ... & Blanco, C. (2016). Generalizability of pharmacologic and psychotherapy clinical trial results for posttraumatic stress disorder to community samples. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 77(8), 975-981.
19. Gallinat, J., McMahon, K., Kühn, S., Schubert, F., Schaefer, M. (2016). Cross-sectional study of Glutamate in the Anterior Cingulate and Hippocampus in Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 42 (2): 425-433.
20. Hoertel, N., Blanco, C., Peyre, H., Wall, M. M., McMahon, K., Gorwood, P., ... & Limosin, F. (2016). Differences in symptom expression between unipolar and bipolar spectrum depression: Results from a nationally representative sample using item response theory (IRT). Journal of Affective Disorders, 204, 24-31.
21. Peyre, H., Hoertel, N., Rivollier, F., Landman, B., McMahon, K., Chevance, A., ... & Limosin, F. (2016). Latent class analysis of the feared situations of social anxiety disorder: A                     population‐based study. Depression and Anxiety, 33(12), 1178-1187.
22. McMahon, K., Hoertel, N., Wall, M., Okuda, M., Limosin, F., Blanco, C. (2015) Childhood maltreatment and the risk of intimate partner violence: a nationally representative study. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 69: 42-9.
23. Hoertel, N., McMahon, K., Olfson, M., Wall, M. M., Rodríguez-Fernández, J. M., Lemogne, C., ... & Blanco, C. (2015). A dimensional liability model of age differences in mental disorder prevalence: Evidence from a national sample. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 64, p. 107-113.
24. Olsson, A., McMahon, K., Papenberg, G., Zaki, J., Bolger, N., Ochsner, K.N., (2015) Vicarious fear learning depends on empathy and trait empathy. Psychological Science, 27(1), 25-33.
25. McMahon, K., Sparrow, B., Chatman, L., Riddle, T. (2011). Driven to distraction: The impact of distracter type of unconscious decision-making. Social Cognition, Vol. 29, No. 6, 2011, p.683-689. 

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS

1. McMahon, K., Robbins, C., Southward, M., Cardona, N., (2021, April). Emotion is the Mechanism: The Role of Emotional Responses and Regulation Strategies Within Transdiagnostic Personality Dysfunction. Symposium chair and presenter at North American Society for the Study of Personality Disorders conference.
   
2. McMahon, K., Herr, N., Tirpak, J., Cardona, N., (2020, Nov). Interpersonal Dysfunction: Understanding the mechanisms and potential targets of treatment for people with chronic social impairment. Symposium chair and presenter at Association for Behavioral and Cognitive therapy conference.
   
3. McMahon, K., (2019, May). Empathy Interventions: Who, what, when and how? Co-Chair and Speaker of symposium at American Psychological Science Conference, Washington, DC. 
4. McMahon, K. (2018, November). The Opportunities and Limitations of Digital Interventions for Emotional Dysfunction. Moderated panel with Bethany Teachman, Matthew Nock, Zachary Rosenthal and Marcus Rodriguez at Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy conference, Washington, DC.
5. McMahon, K., Bo, L., Rodriguez, M., Rosenthal, Z. (2017, June). Promoting Mindfulness in Daily Life: A pilot study of smartphone mindfulness reminders in a Chinese population. Poster presented at Mind and Life Summer Research Institute, Garrison, NY.
6. McMahon, K., Kwanguk, K., Fang, C., Rosenthal, Z., (2016, Oct). Borderline Empathy: The relationship between affect and emotion recognition in Borderline Personality Disorder. Poster presented at Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy conference, New York, NY.
7. McMahon, K., Kwanguk, K., Fang, C., Rosenthal, Z., (2016, Jan). Blinded by our Emotions: How Affect Interferes with Emotion Recognition. Poster presented at Society for Personality and Social Psychology conference, San Diego, CA.
8. McMahon, K., Kwanguk, K., Fang, C., Rosenthal, Z., (2015, Nov). The relationship between affect and emotion recognition sensitivity. Poster presented at International Society for the Improvement and Teaching of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Chicago, IL.
9. McMahon, K. & Blanco, C. (2015, June). The role of compulsive behavior and autism in gaming addiction. Poster presented at Cyberpsychology conference, San Diego, CA.
10. McMahon, K. & Sparrow, B. (2010, Jan). The benefits of tuning out: iPods and their effect on decision-making. Poster presented at Society for Personality and Social Psychology conference, Las Vegas, NV.
11. Rodriguez, M., McMahon, K., Fang, C., Ramaiya, M., Rosenthal, Z., (2016, Oct). Does Persuasive System Design predict adherence in online mindfulness-based interventions? Poster presented at Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy conference, New York, NY.
12. Anand, D., Howard, M., Kelley, L., McMahon, K., Rosenthal, Z., (2016, Oct). Sensory Over-Responsivity and Internalizing Disorders- A Preliminary Study. Poster presented at Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy conference, New York, NY.
13. Bo, L., McMahon, K., Rodriguez, M., Hu, X., Rosenthal, Z. (2015, May). The effects of mindfulness reminders delivered via text messages on emotional functioning in China. Poster presented at American Psychological Science conference, New York, NY. 

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

8/2014–present                      
Cognitive Behavioral Research and Therapy Program, Duke University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry
​Supervisor: M. Zachary Rosenthal, Ph.D.

7/2020-present
Personality Disorders Institute, Weill Cornell/NY Presbyterian Hospital
Supervisor: John Clarkin, Ph.D.
 
8/2013–07/2016                   
Anxiety Disorders Clinic, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY
Supervisor: Carlos Blanco, MD.
 
9/2012–6/2013                     
Charité Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Berlin, Germany                                                           
Supervisors: Jürgen Gallinat, MD, Ph.D., Simone Kühn, Ph.D.
 
4/2011–6/2013                     
Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Adaptive Behavior and Cognition (ABC), Berlin, Germany
Supervisors: Azzurra Ruggeri, Ph.D., Konstantinos Katsikopoulos, Ph.D.
 
10/2008–2/2011                   
Sparrow Lab, Columbia University, New York, NY
Supervisor: Betsy Sparrow, Ph.D.
 
6/2007–5/2008                     
Social Cognition and Neuroscience Lab, Columbia University, New York, NY
 Supervisors: Andreas Olsson, Ph.D., Kevin Ochsner, Ph.D.

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

7/2020–7/2021              
Program: Cognitive Therapy Clinic, Weill Cornell/NY Presbyterian Hospital
Role: Psychology Intern
Supervisor: Dr. Susan Evans

7/2019–7/2020              
Program: Stress and Trauma Recovery Treatment Clinic, Duke University Medical Center
Role: Graduate Therapist
Supervisors: Noga Zerubavel, Ph.D.

6/2018 - present
Program: Duke University Psychology Clinic, Duke University Psychology and Neuroscience Dept.
Role: Clinic Coordinator
Supervisor: Ronald Batson, M.D.
​
7/2018–7/2019               
Program: Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Duke University Medical Center
Role: Graduate Therapist
Supervisors: Melissa Miller, Ph.D.

2/2018–4/2018       
Program: Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy, Duke University Medical Center
Role: Co-Leader
Supervisor: Noga Zerubavel, Ph.D.

7/2017–7/2018                     
Program: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Duke University Medical Center
Role: Graduate therapist
Supervisor: Rhonda Merwin, Ph.D. ​
                          
2/2017–7/2019                     
Program: Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Group, Duke University Medical Center
Role: Co-Leader
Supervisors: Andrada Neacsiu, Ph.D. and Melissa Miller, Ph.D.
      
7/2016–7/2016                     
Program: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Duke University Medical Center
Role: Graduate therapist
Supervisor: Andrada Neacsiu, Ph.D.
 
8/2015–07/2016                   
Program: Duke University Psychology Clinic, Duke University Psychology and Neuroscience Dept
Role: Graduate therapist
Supervisor: Ronald Batson, M.D.