Melissa Dackis, Ph.D. is an Attending Psychologist in the Child Outpatient Psychiatry Department (COPD) at Montefiore Medical Center and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Dackis is a licensed clinical psychologist with expertise in treating children, adolescents, and adults using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).

Dr. Dackis specializes in the treatment of anxiety and stress disorders (Social Anxiety Disorder, Separation Anxiety Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder), mood disorders (Depression, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder), as well as Borderline Personality Disorder, suicidal ideation and behavior, and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) using evidence-based treatments.

Dr. Dackis provides provides diagnostic assessments, individual therapy, and group therapy for children, adolescents, and families in the Anxiety and Mood Program (AMP) and the Adolescent Depression and Suicide Program (ADSP). Dr. Dackis is a member of the Adolescent DBT team, leads Adolescent DBT Graduate Group, and is a supervising psychologist for psychology interns, externs, and psychiatry fellows.

Dr. Dackis completed her Bachelor of Science at Duke University where she graduated magna cum laude. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Rochester with a specialization in Developmental Psychopathology. Dr. Dackis completed her predoctoral internship at NYU/Bellevue Hospital Center and her postdoctoral fellowship at CBT/DBT Associates. She joined the team at Montefiore after working as a Staff Psychologist at CBT/DBT Associates. Dr. Dackis has extensive research experience in the area of developmental psychopathology and has author several joural articles in this area (see below). Dr. Dackis is particularly interested in the impact of childhood maltreatment and other trauma on risk and resiliency throughout development.  

Publications

Dackis, M.D., Rogosch, F.A., & Cicchetti. (2015). Child maltreatment, callous–unemotional traits, and defensive responding in high-risk children: An investigation of emotionmodulated startle response. Multilevel Developmental Perspectives on Child Maltreatment [Special Issue 4 Part 2]. Development and Psychopathology, 27, 1527-1545

Doom, J.R., Cicchetti, D., Rogosch, F.A., & Dackis, M.N. (2013). Child Maltreatment and Gender Interactions as Predictors of Differential Neuroendocrine Hormone Profiles. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 38(8), 1442-1454.

Dackis, M.N., Rogosch, F.A., Oshri, A., & Cicchetti, D. (2012). The Role of Limbic System Irritability in Linking History of Childhood Maltreatment and Psychiatric Outcomes in Low-Income, High-Risk Women: Moderation by FKBP5. The Contributions of Genetic/Genomic Sciences to Developmental Psychopathology [Special Issue]. Development & Psychopathology. 24(4), 1237-1252.

Rogosch, F.A., Dackis, M.N., Cicchetti, D. (2011). Child Maltreatment and Allostatic Load: Consequences for Physical and Mental Health in Children from Low-Income Families. Allostatic Load [Special Issue, Part 2]. Development & Psychopathology, 23(4), 1107-1124.

Presentations

Dackis, M.N., Santucci, C., Peros, O., Torres, K., & Pimentel, S. (2017, November). The “High Risk List”: Validation of a clinician-rated assessment of risk in a community mental health clinic. Poster accepted for presentation at the Association for Behavioral and Cogntivie Therapy 51st Annual Convention. San Diego, CA.

Dackis, M.N., Rogsoch, F.A, & Cicchetti, D. (2015, March). Childhood Maltreatment and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Impacts on Emotion-Modulated Startle in Children. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Biennial Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.

Dackis, M.N., Rogsoch, F.A, & Cicchetti, D. (2011, March). Childhood Maltreatment Adversely Affects Limbic System Functioning and Leads to Maladaptive Intergenerational Outcomes. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD). Biennial Meeting, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Dackis, M.N., & Rogosch, F.A. (2011, March). Mother’s Childhood Maltreatment History Moderates Relations Between Perceived Parenting Stress and Maladaptive Parenting Behavior. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Biennial Meeting, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Delmolino, L.M., Fiske, K.E., & Dackis, M.N. (2008). Comparing the use of momentary time sampling and partial interval recording in stereotypy data collection. Paper presented at the Association for Behavior Analysis (ABA) Conference, Chicago, IL.

Dackis, M.N., Evans, L., Grieve, P. G., Myers, M. M., Fifer, W. P., & Monk, C. E. (2007, March). Maternal antenatal anxiety is associated with alterations in newborn EEG activation to an orthostatic tilt challenge. Poster presented at the Society for Research in Child Development (SRCD) Biennial Meeting, Boston, MA.