Professor Kathleen M. Carroll died on 28 December 2020 following a short illness. Professor Carroll was a prolific researcher and advocate for addiction treatment. She led over 100 research projects funded by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), was an author on over 330 peer-reviewed publications, and authored several books, book chapters and treatment manuals. Professor Carroll’s manual for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for cocaine use disorders continues to be widely used and, since it’s publication in 1998 has been translated into over 14 languages.
Along with Dr Bruce Rounsavillle, Professor Carroll founded, and later led, the Psychotherapy Development Center (PDC), the only NIDA funded center of excellence devoted to behavioural therapies. Professor Carroll was the director of Psychosocial Research in the Division on Addictions at Yale School of Medicine and had previously worked as the Principle Investigator for NIDA’s Clinical Trials Network. She published over 20 articles in Addiction journal on subjects that included innovation dissemination, medication and the role of therapists in treatment outcome research.
Professor Carroll’s work bought about changes in how behavioural therapies were perceived, helping them to be widely recognised as effective and safe forms of addiction treatment. Alongside her research, Professor Carroll worked to improve implementation of empirically validated treatments into community settings. This work included helping develop online treatment tools including the online CBT course ‘CBT4CBT’, used to treat addiction disorders and co-occurring conditions.
Professor Carroll had a generous, kind and joyful personality along with what was often described as a mischievous sense of humour. Those who knew and worked with her will miss her greatly. Our thoughts and sympathies go to Kathleen’s family and friends at this time.
In lieu of flowers, Professor Carroll’s family has suggested making a donation to the Kathy Carroll Memorial Playground fund at Christian Community Action, 168 Davenport Ave., New Haven, CT 06519. The playground will provide a creative, safe, and fun outdoor play space for children in emergency housing.
An article describing Professor Carroll’s contribution to the field in detail can be found on the Yale School of Medicine website.
