The Neuropsychology Laboratory
Karen I. Mason, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology
College of Natural & Behavioral Sciences
California State University, Dominguez Hills
kmason@csudh.edu

Welcome to the Neuropsychology Laboratory!  Below you will find a list of ongoing and completed projects as well as those currently in development.  Over the past 12 years, Dr. Mason’s research has focused on the effects of HIV on neurocognitive functioning, drug and alcohol abuse in HIV, and the study of neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric predictors of antiretroviral medication adherence.  Currently, her research examines ethnic disparities in HIV/AIDS, with a focus on HIV-associated resilience.  Other areas of research include: psychological and neurocognitive functioning in college students with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and psychological functioning in children with developmental disorders.

Ongoing Projects

• Psychological functioning in HIV-infected adults
• Ethnic disparities in HIV-associated resilience
• Neuropsychological and psychosocial functioning in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Projects in Development

• HIV/AIDS Awareness in college students
• The effect of stigma and perceived risk in getting tested for HIV
• Psychosocial functioning in children with AD/HD and/or learning disorders
• Gender differences in antiretroviral medication adherence

Completed Projects

• The synergistic effects of ethnicity and aging on neurocognitive functioning in HIV
• Ethnic disparities in antiretroviral medication adherence

Sample of Dr. Mason’s Publications:

Barclay, T. R., Hinkin, C. H., Mason, K. I., Reinhard, M. J., Marion, S. D., Levine, A. J., & Castellon, S. A. (2007).  Age-associated predictors of medication adherence in HIV-positive adults: Health beliefs, self-efficacy, and neurocognitive status.  Health Psychology, 26(1), 40-49.

Durvasula, R. S., Myers, H. F., Mason, K. I., & Hinkin, C.  (2006). Relationship between alcohol use/abuse, HIV infection and neuropsychological performance in African American men.  Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 28(3), 383-404.

Levine, A., Hinkin, C, Castellon, S., Mason, K., Lam, M., Robinet, M., Longshore, D., Newton, T., Myers, H., Durvasula, R., & Hardy, D. (2005). Variations in patterns of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) adherence. AIDS & Behavior, 9(3), 355-362.

Hinkin, C. H., Hardy, D. J., Mason, K. I., Castellon, S. A., Durvasula, R. S., Lam, M. N., & Stefaniak, M.  (2004).  Medication adherence in HIV-infected adults: effect of patient age, cognitive status, and substance abuse. AIDS, 18, Suppl. 1,  S19-25.

Hinkin, C. H., Castellon, S. A., Durvasula, R. S., Hardy, D. J., Lam, M. N., Mason, K. I., Thrasher, D., Goetz, M. B., & Stefaniak, M.  (2002). Medication adherence among HIV+ adults: effects of cognitive dysfunction and regimen complexity. Neurology, 59, 1944-1950.

Evans, D. L., & Mason, K. I. (2002). Neuropsychiatric manifestations of HIV-1 infection and AIDS. In K. L. Davis, D. Charney, J. T. Coyle, & C. Nemeroff (Eds.), Neuropsychopharmacology - The Fifth Generation of Progress (pp. 1281-1299).  Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Hinkin, C. H., Hardy, D. J., Mason, K. I., Castellon, S. A., Lam, M. N., Stefaniak, M. & Zolnikov, B. (2002). Verbal and spatial working memory performance among HIV-infected adults. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 8, 1-7.

Mason, K. I., Campbell, A., Hawkins, P., Madhere, S., Johnson & Takushi-Chinen, R. (1998).  Neuropsychological functioning in HIV seropositive African American women with a history of drug use. Journal of the National Medical Association, 90 (11), 665-674.

Student Presentations/Published Abstracts:

Dodson, C. & Mason, K. (2008). Executive function influences depression, anxiety and resiliency in HIV-infected men.  Western Psychological Association Annual Meeting, April 10-13, Irvine, CA.

Maury, T. & Mason, K. (2008).  Social competence in children with a learning disorder and/or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.  Western Psychological Association Annual Meeting, April 10-13, Irvine, CA.

Maalouf, H. & Mason, K. I.  (2008). Ethnic disparities in the association between spirituality and resiliency in HIV-infected adults.  American Psychological Association Annual Convention, August 14-17, Boston, MA.

  Becker, B. (Faculty mentor-K. Mason) (2007, November).   Using electronic diaries to investigate psychopathological problems that arise in a family setting.  Paper presented at California State University, Dominguez Hills Student Research Day, Carson, CA.

Maalouf, H. (Faculty mentor – K. Mason) (2007, November). The effect of spirituality and resiliency among individuals with HIV. Paper presented at California State University, Dominguez Hills Student Research Day, Carson, CA.

Dodson, C. (Faculty mentor – K. Mason) (2007, November). The impact of neurocognition on depression and resilience in HIV-positive men.  Paper presented at California State University, Dominguez Hills Student Research Day, Carson, CA.

Albertella, M., & Mason, K. I. (2007). Disturbances in Mood Contribute to Discrepancies between Subjective and Objective Measures of Executive Functioning in College Students with “Probable” Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. [abstract] Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society.

Albertella, M.  (Faculty mentor-K. Mason) (2006, November). Metacognition in college students with probable Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: The ability for accurate self-assessment.  Paper presented at California State University, Dominguez Hills Student Research Day, Carson, CA.

Maalouf, H. (Faculty mentor-K. Mason) (2006, November). The influence of social support on academic success among college students with “probable ADHD.” Paper presented at California State University, Dominguez Hills Student Research Day, Carson, CA.

Okano, S. (Faculty mentor-K. Mason) (2006, November). Academic performance and self-efficacy in individuals with “probable ADHD.” Paper presented at California State University, Dominguez Hills Student Research Day, Carson, CA.

Proctor, K. (Faculty mentor-K. Mason) (2006, November). ‘Probable ADHD’ and comorbid disorders of anxiety and depression in college students. Paper presented at California State University, Dominguez Hills Student Research Day, Carson, CA.

Reynosa, A.  (Faculty mentor-K. Mason) (2006, November). Undiagnosed childhood AD/HD symptoms in college students with ‘probable’ AD/HD.  Paper presented at California State University, Dominguez Hills Student Research Day, Carson, CA.

Mason, K., Divinity, R., Hinkin, C., & Myers, H.  (2006). Ethnicity Uniquely Contributes to Differences in the Neurocognitive Functioning of HIV-Infected Adults.  American Psychological Association Annual Convention, August 10-13, New Orleans, LA.

Mason, K. I., Bekele, A., Rodriguez, N., & Hinkin, C.  (2005). Ethnic Disparities in the Health of HIV-Infected Adults: A Preliminary Study.  Hawaii International Conference on Social Sciences, June 13-16, 2005, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Bekele, A., Rodriguez, N., & Mason, K. I.  (2005). The Effects of Gender and Older Age on Mood in HIV/AIDS: A Preliminary Investigation.  Hawaii International Conference on Social Sciences, June 13-16, Honolulu, Hawaii.

  Price, M. (Faculty mentor- K. Mason) (2005, November). Are there ethnic disparities in the neurocognitive and psychological functioning of those infected with HIV? Paper presented at California State University, Dominguez Hills Student Research Day, Carson, CA.