Matison McCool, Ph.D

mccool_headshot.jpgResearch Assistant Professor

mwmccool@unm.edu
Research Gate Page
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PhD, Clinical Psychology, University of North Carolina Wilmington
MA, Clinical Psychology, University of North Carolina Wilmington
BS, The University of Texas at Dallas

Research Interests

Intensive longitudinal designs
Psychophysiological stress
Mindfulness
Machine Learning
Wearable sensors
Behavioral skills
Individualized harm reduction/recovery measurement

Primary Research Area

I incorporate the use of wearable sensors (electrocardiogram/photoplethysmography) into existing and new treatment modalities to help improve real-time outcomes for individuals struggling with substance use disorders. By understanding the effects of individual treatment components on stress, I aim to help decrease the harms associated with substance use by creating science-informed adaptive interventions. I am also interested in advanced quantitative methods (multilevel modeling, machine learning, multilevel measurement modeling) to help better understand the relationship between predictors and substance use outcomes in daily life. My current work focuses on using electrocardiogram sensors to understand how psychophysiological self-regulation may change because of mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) and how that change may affect drinking outcomes. 


  • McCool, M. W., Schwebel, F. J., Pearson, M. R., & Tonigan, J. S. (2024). Examining early adherence measures as predictors of subsequent adherence in an intensive longitudinal study of individuals in mutual help groups: One day at a time. Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research, 48(8), 1552-1564. https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.15385
  • McCool, M. W., Mochrie, K. D., Lothes, J. E., Guendner, E., St. John, J., & Noel, N. E. (2023). Dialectical behavior therapy skills and urges to use alcohol and substances: An examination of diary cards. Substance Use & Misuse, 58(11), 1409–1417. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2023.2223283
  • McCool, M. W., & Pearson, M. R. (2024). Beyond frequency and quantity of cannabis consumption among college students: Context of using cannabis relates to cannabis-related outcomes. Cannabis. https://doi.org/10.26828/cannabis/2024/000225