Deborah M. Scharf

Photo of Deborah Scharf
Behavioral and Social Scientist; Professor, Pardee RAND Graduate School
Pittsburgh Office

Education

BA in honors psychology, McGill University; MSc in clinical and health psychology, University of Pittsburgh; PhD in clinical and health psychology, University of Pittsburgh; Internship in clinical psychology, University of Pittsburgh

Overview

Biography

Deborah M. Scharf is a clinical and health psychologist and behavioral and social scientist at the RAND Corporation. She is also a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. Her work addresses issues related to tobacco use, treatment, and policy; innovations in electronic real-time data capture; behavioral and primary healthcare delivery systems; and evaluation of, and technical assistance for, civilian and military behavioral health programs. Scharf holds an adjunct appointment in the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Pittsburgh, where she also received her Ph.D.

Research Focus

Concurrent Non-RAND Positions

Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Adjunct, University of Pittsburgh

Recent Projects

  • Evaluation of the SAMHSA Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration Grant Program
  • Evaluation of the Arkansas Tobacco Settlement
  • Healthcare Innovation Awards Evaluation Design
  • Adolescent sexual communications with peers: a multimodal, in vivo assessment
  • Innovative Practices for Supporting Psychological Health and TBI in the Military

Selected Publications

Engberg, J. Scharf, D. Lovejoy, S., Yu, H. & Tharp-Taylor, S., Evaluation of the Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Program: Progress through 2011, RAND (TR-1261), 2012

Martino, S., Scharf, D., Setoji, C., Shadel, W., "Measuring exposure to pro-tobacoo marketing and media: A field study using ecolocial momentary assessment.," Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 14:398-406, 2012

Shadel, W.G., & Scharf, D. "Interactions and the addictions.," in H.J. Shaffer, D.A. LaPlante, & S.E. Nelson (Eds.)., The Addiction Syndrome Handbook, American Psychological Association., 2012

Scharf, D., Fabian, T., Fitcher-DeSando, C., & Douaihy, A., "Nicotine replacement prescribing trends in a large psychiatric hospital, before and after implementation of a hospital-wide smoking ban.," Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 13:466-473, 2011

Honors & Awards

  • Bob Brook Scholarship, RAND Corporation

Publications

Exposure to Pro-Smoking Media in College Students: Does Type of Media Channel Differentially Contribute to Smoking Risk? - 2013

Integrating Primary Care Into Community Behavioral Health Settings: Programs and Early Implementation Experiences - 2013

Evaluation of the Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Program: Progress Through 2011 - 2012

Evaluation of the Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Program: Progress Through 2011 — Summary - 2012

Interactions and Addiction - 2012

Momentary Effects of Exposure to Prosmoking Media on College Students' Future Smoking Risk - 2012

Addressing Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Among Servicemembers and Their Families: Existing Department of Defense Programs and Options for Improvement - 2011

Lapse-induced Surges in Craving Influence Relapse in Adult Smokers: An Experimental Investigation - 2011

Measuring Exposure to Protobacco Marketing and Media: A Field Study Using Ecological Momentary Assessment - 2011

Motives for Smoking in Movies Affect Future Smoking Risk in Middle School Students: An Experimental Investigation - 2011

Nicotine Replacement Prescribing Trends in a Large Psychiatric Hospital, Before and After Implementation of a Hospital-Wide Smoking Ban - 2011

Programs Addressing Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Among U.S. Military Servicemembers and Their Families - 2011

The Effects of Arkansas Master Settlement Spending on Disparities in Smoking - 2011

Within-day Temporal Patterns of Smoking, Withdrawal Symptoms, and Craving - 2011

Do Smokers Crave Cigarettes in Some Smoking Situations More Than Others? Situational Correlates of Craving When Smoking - 2010

Daily Smoking Patterns, Their Determinants, and Implications for Quitting - 2007

Analyzing Milestones in Smoking Cessation: Illustration in a Nicotine Patch Trial in Adult Smokers - 2006