My research interests focus on identifying the most effective assessment and treatment procedures for children engaging in severe problem behavior (e.g., self-injurious behavior, aggression). Additionally, I am interested in learning how to increase access and decrease costs associated with receiving these clinical services by studying the delivery of these clinical services via telehealth. My other research interests include identifying procedures for decreasing the likelihood treatment relapse will occur.
Teaching
Assistant Professor
(2015)
School of Medicine,
Psychiatry
Functional analysis and function-based treatment of severe behavior disorders. Translational research interests are behavioral momentum theory and behavioral economics.
Publications
Proterra, K., Ehrlich, S., & Romani, P. W. (2022). Training direct-care staff to implement sensory integration strategies on a psychiatric inpatient unit. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 35, 150 – 156. doi: 10.1111/jcap.12357
Romani, P. W. & Donaldson, A. M. (2022). Teaching rural educators to ask follow-up questions during open-ended interviews via telehealth. Advances in Developmental and Educational Psychology, 4, 147 – 159. doi: 10.25082/ADEP.2022.01.003
Romani, P. W. (2021, invited manuscript). Reflections on conducting pediatric mental health research as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics, 11, 35 – 37. doi: 10.1353.nib.2021.0012
Romani, P. W., Banks, T., Barnes, J. C., Murphy, J., Sannar, E. M., & Anderson, T. (2021). Use of a short-term psychiatric inpatient model to address problem behavior exhibited by youth with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 6, 447 – 458. doi: 10.1080/23794925.2021.1975517
Romani, P. W., Kennedy, S. M., Sheffield, K., Ament, A. M., Schiel, M., Hawks, J., & Murphy, J. (2021). Pediatric mental healthcare provider’s perceptions of the delivery of partial hospitalization and outpatient services via telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 5, 1-14. doi: 10.1080/23794925.2021.1931985
Romani, P. W., Ariefdjohan, M., Jensen Gaffey, L. L., Torres-Dominguez, M., & Lister, J. (2020). Relations between patient and staff-member characteristics and staff member injury on a psychiatric inpatient unit for children with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 33, 125 – 130. doi: 10.1111/jcap.12291
Hays, T. M. & Romani, P. W. (2020). Use of the Performance Diagnostic Checklist-Human Services to assess hand hygiene compliance in a hospital. Behavior Analysis in Practice. doi: 10.1007/s40617-020-00461-8
Lindgren, S. D., Wacker, D. P., Schieltz, K. M., Suess, A. N., O’Brien, M. J., Romani, P. W., Lee, J., & Waldron, D. (2020). A randomized controlled trial of functional communication training via telehealth for young children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. doi: 10.1007/s10803-020-04451-1
Lichtblau KR, Romani PW, Greer BD, Fisher WW, Bragdon AK. Remote treatment of sleep-related trichotillomania and trichophagia. J Appl Behav Anal. 2018 Apr;51(2):255-262. PubMed PMID: 29468679
Fisher WW, Greer BD, Mitteer DR, Fuhrman AM, Romani PW, Zangrillo AN. Further evaluation of differential exposure to establishing operations during functional communication training. J Appl Behav Anal. 2018 Apr;51(2):360-373. PubMed PMID: 29512153
Romani PW, Alcorn AS, Linares J. Improving Accuracy of Data Collection on a Psychiatric Unit for Children Diagnosed With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Behav Anal Pract. 2018 Dec 31;11(4):307-314. PubMed PMID: 30538904
Romani, P. W. (in press, invited manuscript). Reflections on conducting pediatric mental health research as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics.
Proterra, K., Ehrlich, S., & Romani, P. W. (in press). Training direct-care staff to implement sensory integration strategies on a psychiatric inpatient unit. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing.
Romani, P. W., Young, K., Boorse, A. L., & Carson, B. (in press). Evaluation of a telehealth training program to teach educators to implement behavioral assessment and treatment. Education and Treatment of Children.
4. Romani, P. W., Luehring, M. C., Hays, T. M., & Boorse, A. L. (in press). Comparisons of functional behavior assessment procedures to the functional analysis of problem behavior when evaluating social functions for problem behavior. Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice.
Romani, P. W., Fisher, W. W., Boorse, A. L., & Silver, S. B. (in press). Evaluation of generalization following behavioral skills training for implementing preference assessments. Seven Dimensions.
O’Brien, M. J., Romani, P. W., Berg, W. K., & Wacker, D. (in press). The effects of noncontingent reinforcement on task disengagement following failure of differential reinforcement treatment. Behavioral Interventions.
Romani, P. W., Schwien, M., Boydston, D., Lick, J., Hays, T. M., Luehring, M., C., & Richeson, B. (in press). The effect of napping on the function of problem behavior for one child with an acquired brain injury. Clinical Case Studies.
Romani, P. W., Ladyga, R., & McCleary, M. (in press). Use of didactic training and feedback to improve quality and acceptability of progress notes written by direct-care staff on a psychiatric inpatient unit. Behavioral Interventions.
Ringdahl, J. E., Crook, K., Berg, W. K., Wacker, D. P., Molony, M., Romani, P., Ryan, S., Ryan, A., & Zabala, K. (in press). Further evaluation of prompt density, rate of reinforcement, and the persistence of manding. Behavioral Interventions.
Clinical Interests
My clinical interests involve identifying the function (i.e., purpose) of problem behavior and developing function-based treatments to decrease problem behavior and increase appropriate behaviors (e.g., compliance with adult instructions).
Care Philosophy
I believe in a collaborative approach to assessing and treating problem behavior, and am sure to include the patient and their family's preferences into the treatment planning process.
Personal Interests
In my spare time, I enjoy running, hiking, reading, and being with my family.
Public Speaking Yes
I have presented at national and regional conferences on my clinical and research interests.
General Information
Graduate Schools:
PhD, University of Iowa
(2014)
Undergraduate Schools:
BS, University of Iowa (IA)
(2008)
Internships:
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Program
(2014)
Fellowships:
University of Nebraska Medical Center Program, Psychology
(2015)