Patrick Bordnick
Dean, Tulane University School of Social Work
Areas of Expertise
Biography
Currently, Bordnick is the dean of the Tulane University School of Social Work. Bordnick has over 20 years of experience in clinical and laboratory research on cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, amphetamine, heroin, and nicotine addiction. Research interest areas include clinical medication trials, treatment development, human laboratory studies, behavioral disorders, health/behavioral health, virtual reality and mobile data collection. Bordnick has been the principal investigator on a NIH/NIDA R24 Center grant. In 2004, he received an international award for outstanding scientific merit in VR drug abuse research from the Canada Chair in Cyber Psychology.
Bordnick is a pioneer in the use of virtual reality for substance abuse assessment and intervention. From 2007 to 2016, Bordnick was the director of the Virtual Reality Clinical Research Lab (VRCRL) at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. The VRCRL under Dr. Bordnick’s direction developed virtual environments for alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, heroin and other behavioral disorders. The hallmark of his work has led to improvements in teaching, research therapies and integrated healthcare.
Bordnick envisions a world where humans interact seamlessly with technology to improve teaching, research, therapy and aid in knowledge building. Using technology to solve real-world problems has been the hallmark of his work. VRCRL Projects included: virtual reality systems for assessing drug use triggers and craving, virtual reality treatment software for nicotine and alcohol dependence, virtual reality programs for studying drug use contexts and clinical teaching systems based on artificial intelligence platforms.
Education
University of Georgia
University of Michigan
University of South Florida
Accomplishments
Visionary Award at the Recovery Research Awards and Summit, Washington DC
2017
Not Impossible Award for Blue Cross Blue Shield Faces of Fearless Healthcare Innovation Award
2017
Canadian Chair in Cyber Psychology Research, New Investigator Award for Scientific Merit
2004
Articles
Development and Testing of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Active Duty Service Members Who Served in Iraq and Afghanistan
2012
This study was an open-label, single-group, treatment-development project aimed at developing and testing a method for applying virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) to active duty service members diagnosed with combat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Forty-two service members with PTSD were enrolled, and 20 participants completed treatment. The PTSD Checklist-Military version, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory were used as outcome measures. Of those who completed post-treatment assessment, 75% had experienced at least a 50% reduction in PTSD symptoms and no longer met DSM-IV criteria for PTSD at post treatment...
Reactivity to Cannabis Cues in Virtual Reality Environments
2011
Virtual reality (VR) cue environments have been developed and successfully tested in nicotine, cocaine, and alcohol abusers. Aims in the current article include the development and testing of a novel VR cannabis cue reactivity assessment system. It was hypothesized that subjective craving levels and attention to cannabis cues would be higher in VR environments with cannabis cues compared to VR neutral environments. Twenty nontreatment-seeking current cannabis smokers participated in the VR cue trial...
A Preliminary Investigation of the Effectiveness of Attachment Therapy for Adopted Children with Reactive Attachment Disorder
2009
The purpose of this preliminary investigation was to examine the effectiveness of attachment therapy for adopted children diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). Although attachment therapy is widely utilized in the practice community, outcomes of such therapy have not been well documented. In this study a pretest–posttest one-group design was used with a sample of 24 adopted children who received attachment therapy from trained, licensed therapists...
Media Appearances
Using VR to beat addiction
“The therapist can accompany you while you’re in a bar or a party setting and teach you skills in that therapy session,” said Patrick Bordnick, PhD, MPH, Dean of Tulane University School of Social Work...
Using Virtual Reality to Beat Addiction
“The therapist can accompany you while you’re in a bar or a party setting and teach you skills in that therapy session,” said Dr. Patrick Bordnick, Dean of Tulane University School of Social Work...
This is how virtual reality treats mental health
“We have the [right] equipment,” says Dr. Patrick Bordnick, a Tulane University professor who studies VR therapy for addiction. ”That was a huge breakthrough: getting something that works and is affordable.”...
Tulane Today Mentions
Tulane awarded grant to strengthen resilience of disaster-prone communities
Tulane wins $2.27 million grant to combat burnout among health care workers
Anxiety and alcohol misuse among pandemic-related mental health challenges Americans face
Mental health experts offer coping tips for well-being after storms and other disasters
Coming soon: Social Work Trailblazers artwork from New Orleans Artist Terrance Osborne
Tulane School of Social Work to launch new online degree option
Tulane School of Social Work seeking public input on two COVID-19 surveys
Tulane School of Social Work provides self-care resources during COVID-19 crisis
National survey seeks musicians input on mental health and substance misuse challenges
Tulane social work dean looks back on 50 years of 'Sesame Street'
Tulane launches online Doctorate in Social Work with Noodle Partners
Tulane social work dean uses virtual reality to help those fighting addiction
Tulane dean recognized for work in virtual reality for addiction and autism
School of Social Work offers street-level health care
Tulane to launch new online MSW program
New SSW dean champions community, technology
Managing the emotional toll of disasters
Houston professor chosen new Tulane social work dean
