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Yan Leykin, PhD

Position:

Professor

Contact Information:

yleykin@paloaltou.edu

Other Positions:

Professor

Programs:

PhD

Education:

PhD, Clinical Psychology, University of Pennsylvania (2008) 
MA, Clinical Psychology, University of Pennsylvania (2003) 
BA, Psychology, University of California, Berkeley (2001) 

Biography:

Yan Leykin, PhD is Professor in the Clinical Psychology PhD Program at Palo Alto University, and a licensed clinical psychologist. He received a BA in psychology from the University of California at Berkeley (2001), and a MA and a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Pennsylvania (2003 and 2008). Returning to the Bay Area, he completed a clinical internship at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, which was followed by a post-doctoral fellowship at the Psychology and Medicine program at the University of California, San Francisco. In 2010, he joined the UCSF Department of Psychiatry as Assistant Professor. In 2015, he joined the faculty at PAU. 

Dr. Leykin's research program focuses on two areas. First, he studies the decision-making of individuals with depression. He works to better understand the decisional considerations that shape the choices depressed individuals make (with an emphasis on treatment-related decisions), and to develop methods to improve decisions and decision-making. Second, he develops CBT-based internet interventions and other online resources for individuals for depression. He works to streamline and optimize fully-automated internet interventions, to customize them to individual users, and to encourage the use of these resources. His research has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, UCSF Academic Senate, UCSF Clinical and Translational Science Institute, and the Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society Scholars Seed Fund. 

Areas of Interest:

Research interests: judgment and decision-making of psychiatric populations, with a special focus on depression; cognitive behavioral interventions; internet interventions and technology-based resources for depression and other health conditions.

Selected Publications:

Daouk, S., Awaad, R., Maklad, S., Ahmed, B., Barakat, S., Muñoz, R. F., & Leykin, Y. (2021). Common and country-specific characteristics associated with suicidality in the Arab region. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 82(1), 19m13199. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.19m13199

Stephens, T. N., Tran, M. M., Bunge, E. L., Liu, N. H., Barakat, S., Garza, M. Leykin, Y. (2020). Children and adolescents attempting to participate in a worldwide online depression screener. Psychiatry Research, 22(7), 291, 113250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113250

Curland, R. A., Tran, M. M., Barba, F, & Leykin, Y. (2020). Depressed individuals’ reasons for and against trying to get better. Clinical Psychologist. Epub. https://doi.org/10.1111/cp.12211

Bharat, V., Habarth, J., Keledjian, N., & Leykin, Y. (2020). Association between subjective social status and facets of depression self-stigma. Journal of Community Psychology, 48(3), 1059–1065.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22314

Tran, M. M., Curland, R., A. & Leykin, Y. (2020). The association between personal knowledge of individuals with emotional or mental problems on treatment-seeking. Psychiatric Services, 71(4), 393-396.
https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201900190

Spangler, D. A., Muñoz, R. F., Chu, J., & Leykin, Y. (2020). Perceived utility of the Internet-Based Safety Plan in a sample of Internet users screening positive for suicidality. Crisis, 41(2), 146-149. doi:
10.1027/0227-5910/a000600.

Spangler, D. A., Muñoz, R. F., Chu, J., & Leykin, Y. (2019). Utilization of an automated Internet-based Safety Plan. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, 5, 129-138. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-019-00120-y

Siev, J., Lit, K., Leykin, Y. (2019). Perceived Decision-Making Styles Among Individuals with Obsessive-Compulsive and Hoarding Disorders. Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders. Epub.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocrd.2019.100472

Gill. S. K., Muñoz, R. F., Leykin, Y. (2018). The influence of perceived stress and depression on suicide-related beliefs in Caucasian and Indian adults. Crisis, 39(2), 127-136. doi: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000492.

Elefant, A., Contreras, O., Bunge, E. L., Muñoz, R. F., Leykin, Y. (2017). Micro-interventions produce immediate, but not lasting benefits in mood and distress. Internet Interventions, 10, 10-14. doi:
10.1016/j.invent.2017.08.004.

Rutter, T. M., Gross, M. S., Barakat, S., Dilley, J. W., Muñoz, R. F., & Leykin, Y. (2016). Sexual orientation and help-seeking for symptoms of depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 206, 87-93. doi:
10.1016/j.jad.2016.07.003

Liu, N. H., Contreras, O., Muñoz, R. F., & Leykin, Y. (2014). Assessing suicide attempts and depression among Chinese speakers over the internet. Crisis, 35(5), 322-329. doi: 10.1027/0227-5910/a000261.

Leykin, Y., Muñoz, R. F., Contreras, O., Latham, M. D. (2014). Results from a trial of an unsupported internet intervention for depressive symptoms. Internet Interventions, 1(4), 175-181. doi: 10.1016/j.invent.2014.09.002

Gill, S., Contreras, O., Muñoz, R. F., & Leykin, Y. (2014). Participant retention in an automated online monthly depression rescreening program: patterns and predictors. Internet Interventions, 1(1), 20-25. doi:
10.1016/j.invent.2014.02.003.

Gross, M. S., Liu, N. H., Muñoz, R. F., Contreras, O., & Leykin, Y. (2014). Using Google AdWords for international multilingual recruitment to health research websites. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 16(1), e18. doi: 10.2196/jmir.2986.

Leykin, Y., Aguilera, A., Pérez-Stable, E. J., & Muñoz, R. F. (2013). Prompting depression treatment seeking among smokers: A comparison of participants from six countries in an internet stop smoking RCT. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 31(3), 238-247. doi: 10.1080/15228835.2013.812502.

Leykin, Y., Muñoz, R. F. & Contreras, O. (2012). Are consumers of Internet health information “cyberchondriacs”? Characteristics of 24,965 users of a depression screening site. Depression and Anxiety, 29(1), 71-77. doi: 10.1002/da.20848

Leykin, Y., Aguilera, A., Torres, L. D., Pérez-Stable, E. J., & Muñoz, R. F. (2012). Interpreting the outcomes of automated Internet-based trials: Example of an international smoking cessation study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 14(1), e5. doi: 10.2196/jmir.1829.

Leykin, Y., Christopher, P. P. Holtzheimer, P. E., Appelbaum, P. S., Mayberg, H. S., Lisanby, S. H., & Dunn, L. B. (2011). Participants’ perceptions of deep brain stimulation research for treatment-resistant depression: Risks, benefits, and therapeutic misconception. AJOB Primary Research. 2(4), 33-41. doi: 10.1080/21507716.2011.627579

Leykin, Y., Weingardt, K, R. & Cucciare, M. A. (2011). Differential effects of online training on job-related burnout among substance abuse counselors. Journal of Substance Use, 16(2), 127-135. DOI: 10.3109/14659891.2010.526168

Leykin, Y., Aguilera, A., Torres, L. D., & Muñoz, R. F. (2011). Factor structure of CES-D delivered on the Internet in Spanish and English. Psychiatry Research, 185(1-2), 269-274. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2010.04.056

Leykin, Y., Roberts, C. S., & DeRubeis, R. J. (2011). Decision-making and depressive symptomatology. Cognitive Therapy & Research, 35(4), 333-341. DOI: 10.1007/s10608-010-9308-0

Leykin, Y. & DeRubeis, R. J. (2010). Decision-making styles and depressive symptomatology. Judgment and Decision Making, 5(7), 506-515.

Leykin, Y. & DeRubeis, R. J. (2009). Allegiance in psychotherapy outcome research: Separating association from bias. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 16(1), 54–65. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2850.2009.01143.x

Leykin, Y., DeRubeis, R. J., Shelton, R. C., & Amsterdam, J. D. (2007). Changes in patients’ beliefs about the causes of their depression following successful treatment. Cognitive Therapy and Research. 31(4), 437-449. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-007-9130-5

Leykin, Y., DeRubeis, R. J., Gallop, R, Amsterdam, J. D., Shelton, R. C., & Hollon, S. D. (2007). The relation of patients’ treatment preferences to outcome in a randomized clinical trial. Behavior Therapy. 38(3), 209-217. DOI: 10.1016/j.beth.2006.08.002

Leykin, Y., Amsterdam, J. D., DeRubeis, R. J., Gallop, R., Shelton, R. C., & Hollon, S. D. (2007). Progressive resistance to SSRI therapy but not to cognitive therapy in the treatment of moderate to severe major depressive episode. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 75(2), 267-76. DOI: 10.1037/0022-006X.75.2.267

Bharat, V., Bunge, E. L., Barrera, A. Z. & Leykin, Y. (2021). Emotional Well-Being of Information Technology Professionals Working in India. Journal of Indian Mental Health, 8(2), 140-147.

Goodmann, D., Daouk, S., Sullivan, M., Liu, N. H., Garza, M., Barakat, S., Muñoz, R. F., & Leykin, Y. (2021). Factor analysis of depression symptoms across five broad cultural groups. Journal of Affective Disorders, 282, 227-235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.12.159.

Leykin, Y., Muñoz, R. F., *Contreras, O., Latham, M. D. (2014). Results from a trial of an unsupported internet intervention for depressive symptoms. Internet Interventions, 1, 175-181. http://journalofinternetinterventions.com/results-trial-unsupported-internet-intervention-depressive-symptoms/ 

Liu, N. H., Contreras, O., Muñoz, R. F., & Leykin, Y. (2014). Assessing suicide attempts and depression among Chinese speakers over the internet. Crisis, 35, 323-329. PMID: 25115490 

Gross, M. S., Liu, N. H., Muñoz, R. F., Contreras, O., & Leykin, Y. (2014). Using Google AdWords for international multilingual recruitment to health research websites. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 16, e18. PMID: 24446166. http://www.jmir.org/16/1/e18 

Gill, S., Contreras, O., Muñoz, R. F., & Leykin, Y. (2014). Participant retention in an automated online monthly depression rescreening program: patterns and predictors. Internet Interventions, 1, 20-25. PMID: 25045623. http://journalofinternetinterventions.com/participant-retention-automated-online-monthly-depression-rescreening-program-patterns-predictors/ 

Leykin, Y., Muñoz, R. F. & *Contreras, O. (2012). Are consumers of Internet health information “cyberchondriacs”? Characteristics of 24,965 users of a depression screening site. Depression and Anxiety. 29, 71-77. PMID: 21681872 

Christopher, P. P., Leykin, Y., Appelbaum, P. S., Holtzheimer, P. E., Mayberg, H. S., & Dunn, L. B. (2012). Enrolling in deep brain stimulation research for depression: Influences on decision making. Depression and Anxiety, 29, 139-46. PMID: 22095837 

Leykin, Y., Thekdi, S. M., Shumay, D. M., Muñoz, R. F., Riba, M., & Dunn, L. B. (2012). Internet interventions for improving psychological well-being in psycho-oncology: Review and recommendations. Psycho-Oncology. 21, 1016-25. PMID: 21608075 

Leykin, Y., *Roberts, C. S., & DeRubeis, R. J. (2011). Decision-making and depressive symptomatology. Cognitive Therapy & Research, 35, 333-341. PMID: 21841849 

Leykin, Y., Aguilera, A., Torres, L. D., & Muñoz, R. F. (2011). Factor structure of CES-D delivered on the Internet in Spanish and English. Psychiatry Research, 185, 269-274. PMID: 20684849 

Leykin, Y., Christopher, P. P. Holtzheimer, P. E., Appelbaum, P. S., Mayberg, H. S., Lisanby, S. H., & Dunn, L. B. (2011). Participants’ perceptions of deep brain stimulation research for treatment-resistant depression: Risks, benefits, and therapeutic misconception. AJOB Primary Research. 2, 33-41. 

Leykin, Y. & DeRubeis, R. J. (2010). Decision-making styles and depressive symptomatology. Judgment and Decision Making, 5, 506-515. http://journal.sjdm.org/10/10119/jdm10119.html 

Leykin, Y. & DeRubeis, R. J. (2009). Allegiance in psychotherapy outcome research: Separating association from bias. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 18, 54-65. 

Leykin, Y., DeRubeis, R. J., Gallop, R, Amsterdam, J. D., Shelton, R. C., & Hollon, S. D. (2007). The relation of patients’ treatment preferences to outcome in a randomized clinical trial. Behavior Therapy. 38, 209-217. PMID: 17697846 

Leykin, Y., DeRubeis, R. J., Shelton, R. C., & Amsterdam, J. D. (2007). Changes in patients’ beliefs about the causes of their depression following successful treatment. Cognitive Therapy and Research. 31, 437-449. 

Leykin, Y., Amsterdam, J. D., DeRubeis, R. J., Gallop, R., Shelton, R. C., & Hollon, S. D. (2007). Progressive resistance to SSRI therapy but not to cognitive therapy in the treatment of moderate to severe major depressive episode. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 75, 267-76. PMID: 20595412 

Websites and Other Relevant Links:

Choice-making And Computer Technology for Unipolar depression (CACTUs) Lab