Sarah Brislin
Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Florida State University, In Progress
M.S., Clinical Psychology, Florida State University, 2017
B.A., Psychology, Emory University, 2010
Email: Brislin@psy.fsu.edu
Research Interests
My program of research focuses on the conceptualization, assessment, and neurobiology of transdiagnostic constructs in an effort to link neurobiological processes with clinical symptoms. This translational approach draws upon multiple methods- psychophysiology, behavior, self-report- to define externalizing psychopathology as a dispositional construct reflecting a coherence of variance across all levels of measurement. This transdiagnostic approach is consistent with recent initiatives including the NIMH’s Research Domain Criteria and the NIAAA call for the development of a neuroclinical assessment, to incorporate biological methods and measures into conceptualization of clinical problems. My research to understand the biological mechanisms that contribute to trait callousness can inform understanding of comorbid externalizing behaviors including aggression, impulsive behaviors, and substance use.
My recent work has focused on developing a biobehavioral operationalization of trait callousness. Working from developmentally informed theories, I have sought to understand the covariance between blunted early and late neural responses to emotional faces, accuracy in identifying emotions, and self-report of callousness and empathy in a laboratory setting (Brislin et al., 2017). My research also focuses on scale development as a means to provide the most precise and direct interface between biology and psychological traits. I have undertaken projects aimed at formulating new self-report scale measures from established assessment inventories – including normal-range personality inventories (Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire [MPQ]; Brislin et al., 2015), and adolescent self-report of personality to develop a trait disinhibition scale within the data collected as part of the IMAGEN project (Brislin et al., Assessment, in press). These scale development projects have allowed me to connect my research to large, genetically informed longitudinal datasets including the MCTFR and IMAGEN projects.
Selected Publications
Brislin, S. J., Yancey, J. R., Perkins, E. R., Palumbo, I. M., Drislane, L. E., Salekin, R. T., Fanti, K. A., Kimonis, E. R., Frick, P. J., Blair, R. J. R., Patrick, C. J. (2017). Callous-aggression and affective face processing in adults: Behavioral and brain-potential indicators. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, Advance online publication.
Brislin, S. J., Buchman-Schmitt, J. M., Joiner, T. E., Patrick, C. J. (2016). ‘Do unto others’? Distinct psychopathy facets predict reduced
perception and tolerance of pain. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 7(2), 240-246.
Brislin, S.J., Patrick, C.J., Flor, H., Nees, F., Heinrich, A., Drislane, L.E. … & Foell, J. (in press). Extending the construct network of trait disinhibition to the neuroimaging domain: Validation of a bridging scale for use in the European IMAGEN project. Assessment.
