Education

• B.S. University of Scranton
• M.S. The University of Memphis
• Ph.D. The University of Memphis

Research Bio

Dr. Pfund’s research program focuses on understanding the effects of psychological treatments for addictive behaviors, including gambling disorders and substance use disorders. Specifically, he is interested in what makes treatments work and how to tailor treatment to specific individuals. Past research projects have focused on the association between treatment engagement (e.g., psychotherapy attendance, contingency management participation) and outcomes. Dr. Pfund frequently leverages systematic review and meta-analysis to conduct this research, and his research has been supported by grants from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the International Center for Responsible Gambling, and the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse.  

Current research projects

• Meta-analysis on the immediate and enduring effects of motivational interviewing for gambling disorder
• Meta-analysis on the effects of various cognitive-behavioral treatment components for gambling disorder
• Systematic review on the state of the evidence for motivational interviewing for substance use disorder
• Development a web-based portal to facilitate the initiation of gambling disorder treatment 
• Development of an open-access, meta-analytic database of treatments for gambling disorder

Recent Publications

• Pfund, R. A., King, S. A., Forman, D. P., Zech, J. M., Ginley, M. K., Peter, S. C., McAfee, N. W., Witkiewitz, K., & Whelan, J. P. (2023). Effects of cognitive-behavioral techniques for gambling on recovery defined by gambling, psychological functioning, and quality of life: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. https://doi.org/10.1037/adb0000910
• Pfund, R. A., Richards, D. K., Boness, C. L., Schwebel, F. J., Tonigan, J. S., Maisto, S. A., & Witkiewitz, K. (2022). Relative and interactive associations between psychosocial intervention and Alcoholics Anonymous attendance with alcohol use disorder outcomes. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.22-00042
• Pfund, R. A., Ginley, M. K., Boness, C. L., Rash, C. J., Zajac, K., & Witkiewitz, K. (2022). Contingency management for drug use disorder: Meta-analysis and application of Tolin’s Criteria. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1037/cps0000121
• Pfund, R. A., Ginley, M. K., Zajac, K., & Rash, C. J. (2022). Contingency management for treatment attendance: A meta-analysis. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 133, 108556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108556
• Witkiewitz, K., Pfund, R. A., & Tucker, J. A. (2022). Mechanisms of behavior change in substance use disorders with and without formal treatment. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 18, 497-525. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-072720-014802
• Pfund, R. A., Hallgren, K. A., Maisto, S. A., Pearson, M. R., & Witkiewitz, K. (2021). Dose of psychotherapy and long-term recovery outcomes: An examination of attendance patterns in alcohol use disorder treatment. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 89, 1026-1034. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000703
• Pfund, R. A., Peter, S. C., McAfee, N. W., Ginley, M. K., Whelan, J. P., & Meyers, A. W. (2021). Dropout from face-to-face, multi-session psychological treatments for problem and disordered gambling: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 35, 901-913. https://doi.org/10.1037/adb0000710
• Ginley, M. K., Pfund, R. A., Rash, C. J., & Zajac, K. (2021). Long-term efficacy of contingency management treatment based on objective indicators of abstinence from illicit substance use up to one-year following treatment: A meta-analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 89, 58-71. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000552
• Pfund, R. A., Peter, S. C., Whelan, J. P., Meyers, A. W., Ginley, M. K., & Relyea, G. E. (2020). Is more better? A meta-analysis of dose and efficacy in face-to-face psychological treatments for problem and disordered gambling. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 34, 557-568. https://doi.org/10.1037/adb0000560