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Biography

Dr. Granholm is Professor, Vice Chair for Clinical Research, and Director of the Center for Mental Health Technology in the Department of Psychiatry at UC San Diego. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1991, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. At UCLA, he conducted research on neuropsychology, pupillometry, social skills training and family therapy for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Since joining the faculty at UCSD in 1993, Dr. Granholm has been an active basic and clinical researcher in the areas of neuropsychology, pupillometry, ecological momentary assessment, mobile interventions and cognitive behavior therapy in schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease. He developed Cognitive-Behavioral Social Skills Training (CBSST) for schizophrenia and has conducted several CBSST clinical trials.

Research Interests

Dr. Granholm’s recent research has primarily focused on (1) clinical trials of interventions to improve functioning and recovery outcomes in schizophrenia; and (2) early detection of risk and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. He developed an intervention called Cognitive-Behavioral Social Skills Training (CBSST), which combines two evidence-based psychotherapy interventions, cognitive-behavior therapy and social skills training, and has conducted several clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy of CBSST for improving negative symptoms and functioning in schizophrenia. His mobile interventions research, uses ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and interventions (EMI), which involve smartphone delivery of assessment questionnaires and cognitive-behavioral interventions in real time, real world contexts to improve motivation and functioning, and reduce social isolation and loneliness in schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Granholm’s basic neurocognitive and psychophysiology research has focused on the broad investigation of the relationships between neurocognition and aging, symptoms, and community functioning in schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease. His current basic research examines (1) associations between dysfunctional attitudes, amotivation, and goal-directed task effort, using pupillary responses as an index of task effort allocation; (2) early detection of risk for age-related cognitive decline; and (3) relationships between dysfunctional attitudes, motivation, neurocognition, and functioning in schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Clinical Focus

Dr. Granholm worked as a clinical psychologist at psychosocial rehabilitation programs for serious mental illness the VA San Diego Healthcare System for over 30 years. His primary clinical focus is on cognitive-behavioral and social skills training interventions and neuropsychological assessment for serious mental illness. He is also an active clinical supervisor and teacher of psychology interns, clinical psychology practicum students, psychiatry residents, post-graduate fellows and community providers from multiple disciplines (psychology, social work, vocational rehabilitation, occupational therapy, psychiatric nursing, and psychiatry).