Diana Higgins | Profiles RNS

Diana M. Higgins, PhD

Associate Professor

Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Psychiatry

General Psychiatry

PhD, University of Maine
MA, University of Maine
BA, St Francis Xavier University

Websites

	ResearchGate
	Google Scholar
	BUMC

ORCID : 0000-0002-6885-266X

Dr. Higgins is a pain psychologist in the VA Healthcare System where she provides evidence-based psychological interventions to treat chronic pain conditions in Veterans. Dr. Higgins has conducted clinical and health services research focused on chronic pain. Her current research involves clinical trials of non-pharmacological interventions using technology (e.g., IVR, smartphone applications, Internet) to increase access to evidence-based chronic pain care.

VA Boston Healthcare System

BU Research
VA Research

Cooperative Pain Education and Self-management: Expanding Treatment for Real-world Access (COPES ExTRA)
09/01/2019 - 08/31/2024 (Subcontract PI)
Yale University NIH NCCIH
5UH3AT009767-06

Engaging Veterans Seeking Service-Connection Payments in Pain Treatment
08/16/2019 - 08/31/2024 (PI of Sub-Project / SP)
Yale University NIH NCCIH
5UH3AT009758-06

Engaging Veterans Seeking Service-Connection Payments in Pain Treatment
09/20/2017 - 08/15/2024 (Subcontract PI)
Yale University NIH NCCIH
5UG3AT009758-02

Cooperative Pain Education and Self-Management: Expanding Treatment for Real World Access (COPES ExTRA)
09/20/2017 - 08/31/2019 (Subcontract PI)
Yale University NIH NCCIH
5UG3AT009767-02

Title
Cooperative Pain Education and Self-Management: Expanding Treatment for Real World Access (COPES ExTRA) (PI)
Engaging Veterans Seeking Service-Connection Payments in Pain Treatment (PI)
Predictors and Correlates of Clinical Outcomes Among Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain Receiving Specialty Pain Care (PI)
VA Pain Coach: Enhancing use with OEF/OIF/OND Veterans in Clinical Settings (PI)

Yr	Title	Project-Sub Proj	Pubs

Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.

iCite Analysis Copy PMIDs To Clipboard

Sellinger JJ, Gilstad-Hayden K, Lazar C, Seal K, Purcell N, Burgess DJ, Martino S, Heapy A, Higgins D, Rosen MI. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on participants in pragmatic clinical trials for chronic pain: implications for trial outcomes and beyond. Pain Med. 2024 Nov 01; 25(Supplement_1):S17-S27. PMID: 39514885; PMCID: PMC11548862; DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnae060;

Kroll-Desrosiers A, Wallace KF, Higgins DM, Martino S, Marteeny V, Walker L, Mattocks KM. Exploring the Experience of Pain and Pain Management for Pregnant and Postpartum Veterans With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain. Womens Health Issues. 2024 Sep 05. PMID: 39242321

Kroll-Desrosiers A, Wallace KF, Higgins DM, Martino S, Mattocks KM. Musculoskeletal Pain During Pregnancy Among Veterans: Associations With Health and Health Care Utilization. Womens Health Issues. 2024; 34(1):90-97. PMID: 37580185

Wolf EJ, Higgins DM, Zhao X, Hawn SE, Sanborn V, Todd CA, Fein-Schaffer D, Houranieh A, Miller MW. MMPI-2-RF Profiles of Treatment-Seeking Veterans in a VA Pain Clinic and Associations with Markers of Physical Performance. J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2024 Mar; 31(1):58-76.View Related Profiles.

Higgins, Diana
Wolf, Erika
Miller, Mark
Hawn, Sage

PMID: 37418093; PMCID: PMC10771538; DOI: 10.1007/s10880-023-09967-z;

MacLean RR, Buta E, Higgins DM, Driscoll MA, Edmond SN, LaChappelle KM, Ankawi B, Krein SL, Piette JD, Heapy AA. Using Daily Ratings to Examine Treatment Dose and Response in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain: A Secondary Analysis of the Co-Operative Pain Education and Self-Management Clinical Trial. Pain Med. 2023 Jul 05; 24(7):846-854. PMID: 36484691; PMCID: PMC10250557; DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnac192;

Mattocks KM, LaChappelle KM, Krein SL, DeBar LL, Martino S, Edmond S, Ankawi B, MacLean RR, Higgins DM, Murphy JL, Cooper E, Heapy AA. Pre-implementation formative evaluation of cooperative pain education and self-management expanding treatment for real-world access: A pragmatic pain trial. Pain Pract. 2023 Apr; 23(4):338-348. PMID: 36527287

Clark JD, Bair MJ, Belitskaya-Lévy I, Fitzsimmons C, Zehm LM, Dougherty PE, Giannitrapani KF, Groessl EJ, Higgins DM, Murphy JL, Riddle DL, Huang GD, Shih MC. Sequential and Comparative Evaluation of Pain Treatment Effectiveness Response (SCEPTER), a pragmatic trial for conservative chronic low back pain treatment. Contemp Clin Trials. 2023 Feb; 125:107041. PMID: 36496154

Piette JD, Newman S, Krein SL, Marinec N, Chen J, Williams DA, Edmond SN, Driscoll M, LaChappelle KM, Kerns RD, Maly M, Kim HM, Farris KB, Higgins DM, Buta E, Heapy AA. Patient-Centered Pain Care Using Artificial Intelligence and Mobile Health Tools: A Randomized Comparative Effectiveness Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2022 Sep 01; 182(9):975-983. PMID: 35939288; PMCID: PMC9361183; DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2022.3178;

Higgins DM, Han L, Kerns RD, Driscoll MA, Heapy AA, Skanderson M, Lisi AJ, Mattocks KM, Brandt C, Haskell SG. Risk Factors Associated with Healthcare Utilization for Spine Pain. Pain Med. 2022 Aug 01; 23(8):1423-1433. PMID: 34999899

Reuman L, Solar C, MacLean RR, Halat AM, Rajeevan H, Williams DA, Heapy AA, Bair MJ, Krein SL, Kerns RD, Higgins DM. If you personalize it, will they use it?: Self-reported and observed use of a tailored, internet-based pain self-management program. Transl Behav Med. 2022 May 26; 12(5):693-701. PMID: 35192703; PMCID: PMC9154266; DOI: 10.1093/tbm/ibab165;

Showing 10 of 51 results. Show More

Coleman BC, Goulet JL, Higgins DM, Bathulapalli H, Kawecki T, Ruser CB, Bastian LA, Martino S, Piette JD, Edmond SN, Heapy AA. ICD-10 Coding of Musculoskeletal Conditions in the Veterans Health Administration. Pain Med. 2021 Nov 26; 22(11):2597-2603. PMID: 33944953; PMCID: PMC8783617; DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnab161;

Moy ML, Daniel RA, Cruz Rivera PN, Mongiardo MA, Goldstein RL, Higgins DM, Salat DH. Co-occurrence of pain and dyspnea in Veterans with COPD: Relationship to functional status and a pilot study of neural correlates using structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging. PLoS One. 2021; 16(7):e0254653.View Related Profiles.

Higgins, Diana
Moy, Marilyn

PMID: 34265003; PMCID: PMC8282042; DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254653;

Sellinger JJ, Martino S, Lazar C, Mattocks K, Rando K, Serowik K, Ablondi K, Fenton B, Gilstad-Hayden K, Brummett B, Holtzheimer PE, Higgins D, Reznik TE, Semiatin AM, Stapley T, Ngo T, Rosen MI. The acceptability and feasibility of screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment for pain management among new England veterans with chronic pain: A pilot study. Pain Pract. 2022 Jan; 22(1):28-38. PMID: 33934499; PMCID: PMC9084457; DOI: 10.1111/papr.13023;

Solar C, Halat AM, MacLean RR, Rajeevan H, Williams DA, Krein SL, Heapy AA, Bair MJ, Kerns RD, Higgins DM. Predictors of engagement in an internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy program for veterans with chronic low back pain. Transl Behav Med. 2021 06 17; 11(6):1274-1282. PMID: 33098304

Heapy AA, Tankha H, Higgins DM, Driscoll M, LaChappelle KM, Goulet JL, Buta E, Piette JD, Kerns RD, Krein SL. Incorporating walking into cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain: safety and effectiveness of a personalized walking intervention. J Behav Med. 2021 04; 44(2):260-269. PMID: 33386530

Heapy AA, Driscoll MA, Buta E, LaChappelle KM, Edmond S, Krein SL, Piette JD, Mattocks K, Murphy JL, DeBar L, MacLean RR, Ankawi B, Kawecki T, Martino S, Wagner T, Higgins DM. Co-Operative Pain Education and Self-management (COPES) Expanding Treatment for Real-World Access (ExTRA): Pragmatic Trial Protocol. Pain Med. 2020 12 12; 21(12 Suppl 2):S21-S28. PMID: 33313733; PMCID: PMC7734659; DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnaa365;

Martino S, Lazar C, Sellinger J, Gilstad-Hayden K, Fenton B, Barnett PG, Brummett BR, Higgins DM, Holtzheimer P, Mattocks K, Ngo T, Reznik TE, Semiatin AM, Stapley T, Rosen MI. Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment for Pain Management for Veterans Seeking Service-Connection Payments for Musculoskeletal Disorders: SBIRT-PM Study Protocol. Pain Med. 2020 12 12; 21(12 Suppl 2):S110-S117. PMID: 33313731; PMCID: PMC7734657; DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnaa334;

Higgins DM, Heapy AA, Buta E, LaChappelle KM, Serowik KL, Czlapinski R, Kerns RD. A randomized controlled trial of cognitive behavioral therapy compared with diabetes education for diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain. J Health Psychol. 2022 03; 27(3):649-662. PMID: 33070667

Higgins DM, Buta E, Heapy AA, Driscoll MA, Kerns RD, Masheb R, Becker WC, Hausmann LRM, Bair MJ, Wandner L, Janke EA, Brandt CA, Goulet JL. The Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Pain Intensity Among Veterans with Musculoskeletal Disorders: Findings from the MSD Cohort Study. Pain Med. 2020 10 01; 21(10):2563-2572. PMID: 32186722; PMCID: PMC7778330; DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnaa043;

Wandner LD, Fenton BT, Goulet JL, Carroll CM, Heapy A, Higgins DM, Bair MJ, Sandbrink F, Kerns RD. Treatment of a Large Cohort of Veterans Experiencing Musculoskeletal Disorders with Spinal Cord Stimulation in the Veterans Health Administration: Veteran Characteristics and Outcomes. J Pain Res. 2020; 13:1687-1697. PMID: 32753944; PMCID: PMC7354010; DOI: 10.2147/JPR.S241567;

Mattocks K, Rosen MI, Sellinger J, Ngo T, Brummett B, Higgins DM, Reznik TE, Holtzheimer P, Semiatin AM, Stapley T, Martino S. Pain Care in the Department of Veterans Affairs: Understanding How a Cultural Shift in Pain Care Impacts Provider Decisions and Collaboration. Pain Med. 2020 05 01; 21(5):970-977. PMID: 31886869; PMCID: PMC7208326; DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnz341;

Higgins DM, Buta E, Williams DA, Halat A, Bair MJ, Heapy AA, Krein SL, Rajeevan H, Rosen MI, Kerns RD. Internet-Based Pain Self-Management for Veterans: Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of the Pain EASE Program. Pain Pract. 2020 04; 20(4):357-370. PMID: 31778281

Higgins DM, LaChappelle KM, Serowik KL, Driscoll MA, Lee A, Heapy AA. Predictors of Participation in a Nonpharmacological Intervention for Chronic Back Pain. Pain Med. 2018 09 01; 19(suppl_1):S76-S83. PMID: 30753730

Lisi AJ, Corcoran KL, DeRycke EC, Bastian LA, Becker WC, Edmond SN, Goertz CM, Goulet JL, Haskell SG, Higgins DM, Kawecki T, Kerns RD, Mattocks K, Ramsey C, Ruser CB, Brandt CA. Opioid Use Among Veterans of Recent Wars Receiving Veterans Affairs Chiropractic Care. Pain Med. 2018 09 01; 19(suppl_1):S54-S60. PMID: 30203014

Driscoll MA, Knobf MT, Higgins DM, Heapy A, Lee A, Haskell S. Patient Experiences Navigating Chronic Pain Management in an Integrated Health Care System: A Qualitative Investigation of Women and Men. Pain Med. 2018 09 01; 19(suppl_1):S19-S29. PMID: 30203009

Edmond SN, Becker WC, Driscoll MA, Decker SE, Higgins DM, Mattocks KM, Kerns RD, Haskell SG. Use of Non-Pharmacological Pain Treatment Modalities Among Veterans with Chronic Pain: Results from a Cross-Sectional Survey. J Gen Intern Med. 2018 05; 33(Suppl 1):54-60. PMID: 29633141; PMCID: PMC5902341; DOI: 10.1007/s11606-018-4322-0;

Becker WC, DeBar LL, Heapy AA, Higgins D, Krein SL, Lisi A, Makris UE, Allen KD. A Research Agenda for Advancing Non-pharmacological Management of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Findings from a VHA State-of-the-art Conference. J Gen Intern Med. 2018 05; 33(Suppl 1):11-15. PMID: 29633136; PMCID: PMC5902349; DOI: 10.1007/s11606-018-4345-6;

Higgins DM, Martin AM, Baker DG, Vasterling JJ, Risbrough V. The Relationship Between Chronic Pain and Neurocognitive Function: A Systematic Review. Clin J Pain. 2018 03; 34(3):262-275.View Related Profiles.

Higgins, Diana
Vasterling, Jennifer

PMID: 28719507; PMCID: PMC5771985; DOI: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000000536;

Scioli-Salter ER, Smith BN, McSheffrey S, Bair MJ, Sillice MA, Driscoll M, Higgins DM, Allsup K, Amalathas A, Gerber MR. Self-Efficacy for Adoption and Maintenance of Exercise Among Fibromyalgia Patients: A Pilot Study. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2020 Jul-Aug; 14(4):437-442.View Related Profiles.

Smith, Brian
Higgins, Diana
Gerber, Megan

PMID: 33281524; PMCID: PMC7692014; DOI: 10.1177/1559827617745264;

Driscoll MA, Higgins D, Shamaskin-Garroway A, Burger A, Buta E, Goulet JL, Heapy A, Kerns RD, Brandt CA, Haskell SG. Examining Gender as a Correlate of Self-Reported Pain Treatment Use Among Recent Service Veterans with Deployment-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders. Pain Med. 2017 Sep 01; 18(9):1767-1777. PMID: 28379576

Heapy AA, Higgins DM, Goulet JL, LaChappelle KM, Driscoll MA, Czlapinski RA, Buta E, Piette JD, Krein SL, Kerns RD. Interactive Voice Response-Based Self-management for Chronic Back Pain: The COPES Noninferiority Randomized Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2017 Jun 01; 177(6):765-773. PMID: 28384682; PMCID: PMC5818820; DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2017.0223;

Higgins DM, Fenton BT, Driscoll MA, Heapy AA, Kerns RD, Bair MJ, Carroll C, Brennan PL, Burgess DJ, Piette JD, Haskell SG, Brandt CA, Goulet JL. Gender Differences in Demographic and Clinical Correlates among Veterans with Musculoskeletal Disorders. Womens Health Issues. 2017 Jul - Aug; 27(4):463-470. PMID: 28325585; DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2017.01.008;

Goulet JL, Kerns RD, Bair M, Becker WC, Brennan P, Burgess DJ, Carroll CM, Dobscha S, Driscoll MA, Fenton BT, Fraenkel L, Haskell SG, Heapy AA, Higgins DM, Hoff RA, Hwang U, Justice AC, Piette JD, Sinnott P, Wandner L, Womack JA, Brandt CA. The musculoskeletal diagnosis cohort: examining pain and pain care among veterans. Pain. 2016 08; 157(8):1696-703. PMID: 27023420; PMCID: PMC4949131; DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000567;

Stojanovic MP, Fonda J, Fortier CB, Higgins DM, Rudolph JL, Milberg WP, McGlinchey RE. Influence of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) on Pain Intensity Levels in OEF/OIF/OND Veterans. Pain Med. 2016 Nov; 17(11):2017-2025.View Related Profiles.

Higgins, Diana
Fonda, Jennifer
McGlinchey, Regina
Milberg, William

PMID: 27040665

Heapy AA, Higgins DM, LaChappelle KM, Kirlin J, Goulet JL, Czlapinski RA, Buta E, Piette JD, Krein SL, Richardson CR, Kerns RD. Cooperative pain education and self-management (COPES): study design and protocol of a randomized non-inferiority trial of an interactive voice response-based self-management intervention for chronic low back pain. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2016 Feb 16; 17:85. PMID: 26879051; PMCID: PMC4754867; DOI: 10.1186/s12891-016-0924-z;

Scioli-Salter E, Forman DE, Otis JD, Tun C, Allsup K, Marx CE, Hauger RL, Shipherd JC, Higgins D, Tyzik A, Rasmusson AM. Potential neurobiological benefits of exercise in chronic pain and posttraumatic stress disorder: Pilot study. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2016; 53(1):95-106.View Related Profiles.

Rasmusson, Ann
Higgins, Diana
Shipherd, Jillian
Otis, John

PMID: 27006290; PMCID: PMC7217610; DOI: 10.1682/JRRD.2014.10.0267;

Burgess DJ, Gravely AA, Nelson DB, Bair MJ, Kerns RD, Higgins DM, Farmer MM, Partin MR. Association between pain outcomes and race and opioid treatment: Retrospective cohort study of Veterans. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2016; 53(1):13-24. PMID: 26933921; DOI: 10.1682/JRRD.2014.10.0252;

Higgins DM, Buta E, Dorflinger L, Masheb RM, Ruser CB, Goulet JL, Heapy AA. Prevalence and correlates of painful conditions and multimorbidity in national sample of overweight/obese Veterans. J Rehabil Res Dev. 2016; 53(1):71-82. PMID: 26933823; DOI: 10.1682/JRRD.2014.10.0251;

Masheb RM, Lutes LD, Kim HM, Holleman RG, Goodrich DE, Janney CA, Kirsh S, Higgins DM, Richardson CR, Damschroder LJ. Weight loss outcomes in patients with pain. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2015 Sep; 23(9):1778-84. PMID: 26237112; DOI: 10.1002/oby.21160;

Heapy AA, Higgins DM, Cervone D, Wandner L, Fenton BT, Kerns RD. A Systematic Review of Technology-assisted Self-Management Interventions for Chronic Pain: Looking Across Treatment Modalities. Clin J Pain. 2015 Jun; 31(6):470-92. PMID: 25411862; DOI: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000000185;

Driscoll MA, Higgins DM, Seng EK, Buta E, Goulet JL, Heapy AA, Kerns RD, Brandt CA, Haskell SG. Trauma, social support, family conflict, and chronic pain in recent service veterans: does gender matter? Pain Med. 2015 Jun; 16(6):1101-11. PMID: 25930005; DOI: 10.1111/pme.12744;

Goulet JL, Martinello RA, Bathulapalli H, Higgins D, Driscoll MA, Brandt CA, Womack JA. STI diagnosis and HIV testing among OEF/OIF/OND veterans. Med Care. 2014 Dec; 52(12):1064-7. PMID: 25334054; PMCID: PMC4232995; DOI: 10.1097/MLR.0000000000000253;

Stojanovic MP, Higgins DM, Popescu A, Bogduk N. COMBI: a convenient tool for clinical outcome assessment in conventional practice. Pain Med. 2015 Mar; 16(3):513-9. PMID: 25312899; DOI: 10.1111/pme.12581;

Higgins DM, Buta E, Dorflinger L, Heapy AA, Ruser CB, Goulet JL, Masheb RM. Psychometric properties of a MOVE!23 subscale: Perceived Contributors to Weight Change in a national sample of veterans. J Health Psychol. 2016 Jul; 21(7):1394-403. PMID: 25293969; DOI: 10.1177/1359105314554530;

Higgins DM, Kerns RD, Brandt CA, Haskell SG, Bathulapalli H, Gilliam W, Goulet JL. Persistent pain and comorbidity among Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/operation New Dawn veterans. Pain Med. 2014 May; 15(5):782-90. PMID: 24548466; DOI: 10.1111/pme.12388;

Burgess DJ, Nelson DB, Gravely AA, Bair MJ, Kerns RD, Higgins DM, van Ryn M, Farmer M, Partin MR. Racial differences in prescription of opioid analgesics for chronic noncancer pain in a national sample of veterans. J Pain. 2014 Apr; 15(4):447-55. PMID: 24440840; DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2013.12.010;

Higgins DM, Dorflinger L, MacGregor KL, Heapy AA, Goulet JL, Ruser C. Binge eating behavior among a national sample of overweight and obese veterans. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2013 May; 21(5):900-3. PMID: 23784891; DOI: 10.1002/oby.20160;

Burgess DJ, Gravely AA, Nelson DB, van Ryn M, Bair MJ, Kerns RD, Higgins DM, Partin MR. A national study of racial differences in pain screening rates in the VA health care system. Clin J Pain. 2013 Feb; 29(2):118-23. PMID: 23183265; DOI: 10.1097/AJP.0b013e31826a86ae;

Gilles A, Cassano M, Shepherd EJ, Higgins D, Hecker JE, Nangle DW. Comparing active pediatric obesity treatments using meta-analysis. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2008 Oct; 37(4):886-92. PMID: 18991137

Higgins DM, Hecker JE. A randomized trial of brief cognitive-behavioral therapy for prevention of generalized anxiety disorder. J Clin Psychiatry. 2008 Aug; 69(8):1336. PMID: 18816156

Heapy AA, Stroud MW, Higgins DM, Sellinger JJ. Tailoring cognitive-behavioral therapy for chronic pain: a case example. J Clin Psychol. 2006 Nov; 62(11):1345-54. PMID: 16937347

This graph shows the total number of publications by year, by first, middle/unknown, or last author.

Bar chart showing 51 publications over 13 distinct years, with a maximum of 7 publications in 2020