Degree in Progress:
PhD in Psychology (Clinical Stream), Toronto Metropolitan University

Degrees:
MA in Psychology (Clinical Stream), Toronto Metropolitan University
BA in Psychology, Western University

Research Interests:
Melina is interested in the factors involved in the maintenance, treatment and mechanisms of change of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Her Master’s thesis examined the optimal delivery of a written imaginal exposure intervention for individuals with GAD. Specifically, whether writing about how to move forward from one’s worst-case scenario (termed written exposure with rescripting) has beneficial effects over and above writing repeatedly only about the worst fear coming true (standard written exposure). Her dissertation is an extension of this work, and examines how to further optimize the written exposure intervention.

Selected Publications:
Malivoire, B., Stewart, K.E., Tallon, K., Ovanessian, M.M., Pawluk, E.J., & Koerner, N. (2019, July). Negative urgency and generalized anxiety disorder symptom severity: The role of self-reported cognitive processes. Personality and Individual Differences.

Ovanessian, M.M., Koerner, N., Antony, M.M., & Dugas, M.J. (2019, April). A preliminary test of the therapeutic potential of written exposure with rescripting for generalized anxiety disorder. Journal of Experimental Psychopathology, 10, 1-23.

Parikh, S.V., Lam, R., Filteau, M.J., Ovanessian M.M., & Hill M. (2011).  Evaluation of a Disease-Management Intervention Designed to Reduce Depression Disability. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 17(2), 322-325.

Parikh, S.V., LeBlanc, S.R., & Ovanessian, M.M. (2010). Advancing Bipolar Disorder: Key Lessons from the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD). The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 55(3), 136-143.

Selected Conference Presentations:
Ovanessian, M.M., Koerner, N., Antony, M.M. & Dugas, M.J. (2016, October). A Comparison of Written Exposure With and Without Rescripting for the Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Poster to be presented at the meeting of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, New York, NY.

Ovanessian, M.M., Pawluk, E. J.,  Koerner, N. & Antony, M.M. (2016, June). Development and validation of the Digital Hoarding Questionnaire. Poster, Canadian Psychological Association, Victoria, BC.

Ovanessian, M.M., Tallon K., & Koerner, N. (2016, May). An Investigation of Gender Differences in Worry and Associated Cognitive Processes in Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Poster, Canadian Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies, Hamilton, ON.