Edelgard Wulfert

Biography

Edelgard Wulfert, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of Psychology, works with pathological gamblers at the Center for Problem Gamblers in Albany. She can offer opinions, commentary and advice for problem gamblers whose addiction leads them from sports teams to scratch tickets, casinos to Keno. Wulfert offers to share her expertise and to explain the science behind the trends. Wulferthas been a member of the UAlbany Department of Psychology faculty since 1988. Wulfert is a productive scholar who maintains an active research program and has published and lectured extensively in the field of behavior analysis, with particular research interests in substance abuse and sexual risk behaviors. She earned her doctorate in 1987 from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro.

Research Interest

My research interests focus on deficits in self-regulation, particularly in the area of pathological gambling and alcohol abuse. I conduct basic and applied work. My basic research focuses on the elucidation of the role of physiological arousal, cue reactivity, stress, and cognitive distortions in addictive behaviors. My applied research consists of assessment and treatment studies. At present, I am focusing almost exclusively on pathological gambling, because this disorder allows us to study addictive behavior in its "purest" form, i.e., without the confounding effects of substances. We have developed and are currently testing the efficacy of an innovative Cognitive-Motivational Behavior Therapy for pathological gamblers. Our goal is to improve our conceptual understanding of addiction, including its treatment, the maintenance of treatment gains, and the relapse process. Specific areas of interest follow. Deficits in Self-Regulation Addictive Behaviors Pathological Gambling Alcohol Abuse Assessment and Treatment Research Physiological Arousal and Cue Reactivity Motivational Interviewing Interventions Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies