Pediatric Psychology Research Group
Dr. Wendy Packman
Email: wpackman@paloaltou.edu
Ongoing Projects (data collection, posters, manuscripts) in Pediatric Psychology:
Chronic Conditions and Genetics and Inborn Errors of Metabolism
• The psychological issues faced by children with maple syrup urine disease (MSUD). The next phase of this work will focus on children ages 0-5.
• Gaucher Disease: An investigation of the psychological characteristics of children with Gaucher Disease. This project is currently being carried out in collaboration with faculty at UCSF.
• Psychosocial functioning of siblings of patients with PKU
Bereavement Studies
• Study that examines Psychosocial Changes Associated with Participation in a Bereavement camp for Siblings of patients diagnosed with cancer.
• Pet Bereavement Studies – impact of the death of a pet on children and impact of the death of a pet on individuals (cross-cultural study) These are collaborative studies with Dr. Cori Bussolari, Rachel Katz, and Dr. Betty Carmack.
Openings: 1 new member to join the pediatric psychology group
Application Process:
- Submit C.V. and a writing sample, via email, to Dr. Packman’s research assistants, Caitlin Gannon (cgannon@paloaltou.edu) and Paige Naylor (pnaylor@paloaltou.edu).
- Submit C.V. and a writing sample to Dr. Packman via email (wpackman@paloaltou.edu) and by hard copy.
- The writing sample is usually a paper submitted for a psychology class (e.g., Research Methods) while a student at PAU.
- Prospective students first meet with and are interviewed by current research group members.
- Following meeting with students, Dr. Packman will meet and interview prospective students. If research group members and Dr. Packman agree, students are invited to join the research group.
- All new research group members are on probation for the first quarter and one half to ensure that there is a “good fit” between the members of the research team and with Dr. Packman.
Notification: Students accepted into research group will be notified by email or in person no later than the PAU deadline.
Selected Publications in Pediatric Psychology, Bereavement, Biochemical
Genetic Disorders:
Packman, W.L., Crittenden, M.R.,Fischer, J., Shaeffer, E., Bongar, B., & Cowan, M.J. (1997). Siblings perceptions of the bone marrow transplantation process. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 15, No. 3/4, 81-105.
Packman, W., Horsley, H., Davies, B., & Kramer, R. (2006). Continuing bonds and sibling bereavement. Death Studies, 30(9), 817-841.
Packman, W., Henderson, S., Mehta, I., Ronen, R., & Danner, D., Chesterman, B., & Packman, S. (2007). Psychosocial and behavioral issues in families affected by MSUD. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 16(6), 799-809
Packman, W., Mazaheri, M., Sporri, L., Long, J., Chesterman, B., Fine, J., & Amylon, M. (2008). Projective Drawings as Measures of Psychosocial Functioning in Siblings of Pediatric Cancer Patients from the Camp Okizu Study. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 25(1), 44-55.
VanZutphen, K., Packman, W., Sporri, L., Needham, M., Morgan, C., Weisiger, K., & Packman, S. (2007). Executive functioning in children and adolescents with PKU. Clinical Genetics, 72, 13-18.
Henderson, S., Packman, W., & Packman, S. (2009) Psychological aspects of patients with Niemann-Pick disease, Type B. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A149A, 2430-2436.
Crosbie, T., Packman, W., & Packman, S.( 2009). Psychological complications of patients with Fabry disease. Journal of Inherited Metabolic Diseases 32; 745-753DOI10.1007/s10545-009-1254-1.
Mazaheri, M.M., Rae-Seebach, R. D., Preston, H.E., Schmidt, M., Kountz-Edwards, S.,Field, N.P., Cassidy, S., & Packman, W. (2012). The impact of Prader-Willi syndrome on the family's quality of life and caregiving, and the unaffected siblings’ psychosocial adjustment. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. doi:10.1111/j.1365-‐-‐-‐2788.2012.01634.x
Packman, W., Field, N.P., Carmack, B.J., & Ronen, R. (2011). Continuing bonds and psychosocial adjustment in pet loss. Journal of Loss and Trauma,16:4, 341-357, DOI 10.1080/15325024.2011.572046
Packman, W., Carmack, B.J., Katz, R., Carlos, F., Field, N.P., & Landers, C. (2014). Online survey as empathic bridging for the disenfranchised grief of pet loss. Omega. 69(4) 333-356.