Information

Related Research Units

Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine Research
Perioperative Anesthesia Research
DART Lab Research

Research Overview

Dr. Joe Kossowsky's research revolves around the evaluation of progression of acute and chronic pain and comorbid psychiatric conditions, including the benefits of interventions (i.e., medications, multi-modal pain interventions, invasive procedures). There are three core areas:

  1. Network meta-analyses of existing intervention studies
  2. Development and implementation of a comprehensive and dynamic framework for assessing pain, functional, emotional and behavioral outcomes using clinical questionnaires and surveys, electronic health records, digital phenotyping and wearables
  3. Bioinformatic approaches focused on mapping associations between behavioral and clinical phenotypes with genotypes and genetic variants

Research Background

Joe Kossowsky PhD, MMSc. is a clinical investigator in the Division of Pain Medicine in the Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital. Following his graduate studies in Clinical Psychology and Neuroscience, Dr. Kossowsky obtained his PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Basel, Switzerland and a Master's degree in Biomedical Informatics from Harvard Medical School. He completed postdoctoral fellowships in the areas of pediatric pain, placebo research and biomedical informatics at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Anaesthesia at Harvard Medical School.

Publications

  1. Novel Phenotypes and Genotype-Phenotype Correlations in a Large Clinical Cohort of Patients With Kleefstra Syndrome. Clin Genet. 2025 Jan 02. View Abstract
  2. Social complexity of a fentanyl vaccine to prevent opioid overdose conference proceedings: Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study conference proceedings. Vaccine. 2025 Jan 12; 44:126324. View Abstract
  3. Environmental Bright Light Exposure, Depression Symptoms, and Sleep Regularity. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Jul 01; 7(7):e2422810. View Abstract
  4. The Indirect Effect of Sleep Quality on Stress-Related Psychosocial Outcomes in Adolescents: An Investigation Across Genders. Res Sq. 2024 Apr 03. View Abstract
  5. Topical Review: Getting into the head of youth with chronic pain: how theory of mind deficits may relate to the development and maintenance of pediatric pain. J Pediatr Psychol. 2024 03 20; 49(3):224-230. View Abstract
  6. Erector spinae plane blocks for opioid-sparing multimodal pain management after pediatric cardiac surgery. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2024 Dec; 168(6):1742-1750.e9. View Abstract
  7. Adolescent and Parent Perspectives on Digital Phenotyping in Youths With Chronic Pain: Cross-Sectional Mixed Methods Survey Study. J Med Internet Res. 2024 Jan 11; 26:e47781. View Abstract
  8. Selecting an Ecological Momentary Assessment Platform: Tutorial for Researchers. J Med Internet Res. 2024 Jan 04; 26:e51125. View Abstract
  9. Rescue designs in analgesic trials from 0 to 2 years of age: scoping review. Pediatr Res. 2024 Apr; 95(5):1237-1245. View Abstract
  10. Erratum to "Assessing Changes in Sleep Across Four Weeks Among Adolescents Randomized to Incentivized Cannabis Abstinence" [Drug Alcohol Depend. 252 (2023) 110989]. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2023 Dec 01; 253:111020. View Abstract
  11. Rest-activity rhythms across the lifespan: cross-sectional findings from the US representative National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Sleep. 2023 11 08; 46(11). View Abstract
  12. Assessing changes in sleep across four weeks among adolescents randomized to incentivized cannabis abstinence. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2023 11 01; 252:110989. View Abstract
  13. Returning Genetic Information About Risk for Alcohol Use Disorder to Adolescents: Findings of a Preliminary Qualitative Study of Precision Prevention. AJPM Focus. 2024 Feb; 3(1):100153. View Abstract
  14. The Association of Vaping With Social/Emotional Health and Attitudes Toward COVID-19 Mitigation Measures in Adolescent and Young Adult Cohorts During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Subst Abus. 2023 Jan-Apr; 44(1):73-85. View Abstract
  15. Editorial: Insights in general pediatrics and pediatric emergency care: 2022. Front Pediatr. 2023; 11:1181390. View Abstract
  16. Chronic pain concepts of pediatricians: a qualitative survey. Pain Rep. 2023 Jan; 8(1):e1060. View Abstract
  17. Sensory processing sensitivity in adolescents reporting chronic pain: an exploratory study. Pain Rep. 2023 Jan; 8(1):e1053. View Abstract
  18. Acceptability of a Fentanyl Vaccine to Prevent Opioid Overdose and Need for Personalized Decision-Making. Clin Infect Dis. 2022 08 15; 75(Suppl 1):S98-S109. View Abstract
  19. Estimating the prevalence of paediatric chronic pain in Switzerland: an online survey among paediatricians. Swiss Med Wkly. 2022 06 06; 152:w30194. View Abstract
  20. Effect of Open-label Placebo on Children and Adolescents With Functional Abdominal Pain or Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Pediatr. 2022 04 01; 176(4):349-356. View Abstract
  21. Instrumental Substance Use Among Youth with Rheumatic Disease-A Biopsychosocial Model. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2022 02; 48(1):51-65. View Abstract
  22. Association of parental and adolescent emotion-related factors with adolescent chronic pain behaviors. Pain. 2022 07 01; 163(7):e888-e898. View Abstract
  23. Initial Adjustment to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Associated Shutdown in Children and Adolescents With Chronic Pain and Their Families. Front Pain Res (Lausanne). 2021; 2:713430. View Abstract
  24. Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Pain Management of Children With Limb Fractures or Suspected Appendicitis: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study. Front Pediatr. 2021; 9:652854. View Abstract
  25. Explicit and implicit bias based on race, ethnicity, and weight among pediatric emergency physicians. Acad Emerg Med. 2021 09; 28(9):1073-1076. View Abstract
  26. Nonpharmacological Interventions for Pediatric Migraine: A Network Meta-analysis. Pediatrics. 2021 04; 147(4). View Abstract
  27. Association of Genetic Variants With Migraine Subclassified by Clinical Symptoms in Adult Females. Front Neurol. 2020; 11:617472. View Abstract
  28. Marijuana Use to Address Symptoms and Side Effects by Youth With Chronic Medical Conditions. Pediatrics. 2021 03; 147(3). View Abstract
  29. Genome-wide association analysis of opioid use disorder: A novel approach using clinical data. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2020 12 01; 217:108276. View Abstract
  30. Exposure to Parental Depressive Symptoms: A Longitudinal Analysis on the Association with Adolescents' Depressive Symptoms and Adjustment Problems. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2020 09; 41(7):522-533. View Abstract
  31. Genome-wide association analysis of insomnia using data from Partners Biobank. Sci Rep. 2020 04 24; 10(1):6928. View Abstract
  32. Efficacy, Safety, and Acceptability of Pharmacologic Treatments for Pediatric Migraine Prophylaxis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatr. 2020 04 01; 174(4):341-349. View Abstract
  33. "Placebo by Proxy" and "Nocebo by Proxy" in Children: A Review of Parents' Role in Treatment Outcomes. Front Psychiatry. 2020; 11:169. View Abstract
  34. Open-label placebo treatment of women with premenstrual syndrome: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open. 2020 02 17; 10(2):e032868. View Abstract
  35. Effects and Components of Placebos with a Psychological Treatment Rationale - Three Randomized-Controlled Studies. Sci Rep. 2019 02 05; 9(1):1421. View Abstract
  36. Computerization and the future of primary care: A survey of general practitioners in the UK. PLoS One. 2018; 13(12):e0207418. View Abstract
  37. Open-label placebo response - Does optimism matter? A secondary-analysis of a randomized controlled trial. J Psychosom Res. 2019 01; 116:25-30. View Abstract
  38. Effects of Childhood Life Events on Adjustment Problems in Adolescence: A Longitudinal Study. J Dev Behav Pediatr. 2018 Oct/Nov; 39(8):629-641. View Abstract
  39. How to address the placebo response in the prescription SSRIs and SNRIs in children and adolescents. Expert Opin Drug Saf. 2018 Jun; 17(6):537-540. View Abstract
  40. The Comfort Ability Pain Management Workshop: A Preliminary, Nonrandomized Investigation of a Brief, Cognitive, Biobehavioral, and Parent Training Intervention for Pediatric Chronic Pain. J Pediatr Psychol. 2018 04 01; 43(3):252-265. View Abstract
  41. The role of emotion regulation in chronic pain: A systematic literature review. J Psychosom Res. 2018 04; 107:38-45. View Abstract
  42. Is the rationale more important than deception? A randomized controlled trial of open-label placebo analgesia. Pain. 2017 Dec; 158(12):2320-2328. View Abstract
  43. Efficacy and Safety of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors, and Placebo for Common Psychiatric Disorders Among Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2017 10 01; 74(10):1011-1020. View Abstract
  44. Trust in the health care professional and health outcome: A meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2017; 12(2):e0170988. View Abstract
  45. Parental Attitudes About Placebo Use in Children. J Pediatr. 2017 02; 181:272-278.e10. View Abstract
  46. Oxytocin and Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2017 Jan; 50(1):5-13. View Abstract
  47. Genetic variation in catechol-O-methyltransferase modifies effects of clonidine treatment in chronic fatigue syndrome. Pharmacogenomics J. 2016 Oct; 16(5):454-60. View Abstract
  48. Impact of short-term meditation and expectation on executive brain functions. Behav Brain Res. 2016 Jan 15; 297:268-76. View Abstract
  49. Placebo effects in infants, toddlers, and parents. JAMA Pediatr. 2015 May; 169(5):505. View Abstract
  50. Moderation of antidepressant and placebo outcomes by baseline severity in late-life depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. 2015 Aug 01; 181:50-60. View Abstract
  51. Immediate rescue designs in pediatric analgesic trials: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Anesthesiology. 2015 Jan; 122(1):150-171. View Abstract
  52. Expectancy-induced placebo analgesia in children and the role of magical thinking. J Pain. 2014 Dec; 15(12):1282-93. View Abstract
  53. Pain and placebo in pediatrics: a comprehensive review of laboratory and clinical findings. Pain. 2014 Nov; 155(11):2229-2235. View Abstract
  54. The influence of the patient-clinician relationship on healthcare outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PLoS One. 2014; 9(4):e94207. View Abstract
  55. Responses to voluntary hyperventilation in children with separation anxiety disorder: implications for the link to panic disorder. J Anxiety Disord. 2013 Oct; 27(7):627-34. View Abstract
  56. The separation anxiety hypothesis of panic disorder revisited: a meta-analysis. Am J Psychiatry. 2013 Jul; 170(7):768-81. View Abstract
  57. Validation of the Illness Perception Questionnaire for Schizophrenia in a German-speaking sample of outpatients with chronic schizophrenia. Psychopathology. 2012; 45(4):259-69. View Abstract
  58. The role of subjective illness beliefs and attitude toward recovery within the relationship of insight and depressive symptoms among people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. J Clin Psychol. 2012 Apr; 68(4):462-76. View Abstract
  59. Assessing recovery from schizophrenia as an individual process. A review of self-report instruments. Eur Psychiatry. 2012 Jan; 27(1):19-32. View Abstract
  60. Separation anxiety disorder in children: disorder-specific responses to experimental separation from the mother. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2012 Feb; 53(2):178-87. View Abstract
  61. Focusing on the adult attachment style in schizophrenia in community mental health centres: validation of the Psychosis Attachment Measure (PAM) in a German-speaking sample. Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2012 Jul; 58(4):362-73. View Abstract
  62. How do socio-demographic and clinical factors interact with adherence attitude profiles in schizophrenia? A cluster-analytical approach. Psychiatry Res. 2011 May 15; 187(1-2):55-61. View Abstract
  63. Children suffering from separation anxiety disorder (SAD) show increased HPA axis activity compared to healthy controls. J Psychiatr Res. 2011 Apr; 45(4):452-9. View Abstract
  64. Vigilance and avoidance of threat in the eye movements of children with separation anxiety disorder. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2010 Feb; 38(2):225-35. View Abstract

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