Jessica M. Schwartzman, PhD
Jessica M. Schwartzman, PhD, is the Director of the Training and Research to Empower NeuroDiversity (TREND) Lab and a clinical psychologist for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Services in the Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Dr. Schwartzman is also Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics of Keck School of Medicine of USC and Adjoint Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Palo Alto University. She completed her predoctoral clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC).
Dr. Schwartzman’s clinical work focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of depressive and anxiety disorders in children, adolescents and adults, with specialty training in neurodivergent people. She employs cognitive-behavioral approaches and adapts standard techniques to the unique needs of neurodivergent youth and adults. Dr. Schwartzman has clinical expertise in psychological testing and risk management. She is fluent in Spanish and delivers psychological testing and psychotherapy to Spanish-speaking youth and families.
Depression and anxiety disorders, psychological testing, risk management
Education
PhD, Clinical Psychology, Palo Alto University, emphasis in Latinx/e mental health
Clinical Internship, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC)
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC)
Accomplishments
2023 – Licensed Clinical Psychologist, California #34424
2023 – National Register Health Service Psychologist #148905
Anxiety & Depression Association of America, Member
American Association of Suicidology, Committee Member (Suicide and Autism Committee)
International Society for Autism Research, Member
Anxiety & Depression Association of America, 2022 | Research Track (Career Development Leadership Program) Distinction
2022 – NIMH Career Development Award (K23)
2022 – NIH Clinical Research Loan Repayment Program
2022 – Alies Muskin Career Development Leadership Program – Anxiety and Depression Association of America
2019 – David Zeaman Graduate Award, Gatlinburg Annual Conference
2019 – Dissertation Research Award, American Psychological Association
Adapted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression in Youth with Autism Grant, Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research
Relationship Between Comorbid Mood Disorders and Employment Participation, Satisfaction, and Outcomes Among Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder Grant, Vanderbilt Frist Center for Autism and Innovation
Resilience Intervention for Parents of Children with Autism: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Grant, Maternal and Health Research Institute
Predictors of Stress and Resilience in Parents of Children with Autism Grant, Stanford Autism Research Working Group
Reward responsivity and depression in autism spectrum disorder: A multimethod approach, Grant number: KL2TR002245, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
Depressive and anxiety disorders in children, adolescents and adults with specialty training in neurodivergent people
Publications
Schwartzman JM, Roth MC, Paterson AV, Jacobs AX, Williams ZJ. Community-guided, autism-adapted group cognitive behavioral therapy for depression in autistic youth (CBT-DAY): Preliminary feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy. Autism. 2023 Nov;27:13623613231213543. PMID: 38009186.
Schwartzman JM, Muscatello RA, Corbett BA. Assessing suicidal thoughts and behaviors and nonsuicidal self-injury in autistic and non-autistic early adolescents using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Autism. 2023 Nov;27(8):2310-2323. PMID: 37050857.
Schwartzman JM, Williams ZJ, Paterson AV, Jacobs AX, Corbett BA. Community-guided measurement-based care for autistic youth and adults receiving psychotherapy: A conceptual overview and pilot implementation study of MBC-AUT. Autism. 2023 Aug;27(6):1658-1675. PMID: 36632662.
Schwartzman JM, Williams ZJ, Corbett BA. Diagnostic- and sex-based differences in depression symptoms in autistic and neurotypical early adolescents. Autism. 2022 Jan;26(1):256-269. PMID: 34180264.
Schwartzman JM, Smith JR, Bettis AH. Safety Planning for Suicidality in Autism: Obstacles, Potential Solutions, and Future Directions. Pediatrics. 2021 Dec 1;148(6):e2021052958. PMID: 34851408.
Schwartzman JM, Corbett BA. Higher depressive symptoms in early adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder by self- and parent-report compared to typically-developing peers. Res Autism Spectr Disord. 2020 Sep;77:101613. PMID: 32802155.
Schwartzman JM, Bonner HR. Behavioral and Social Activation in Autism and Associations with Youth Depressive Symptoms from Youth and Caregiver Perspectives. J Autism Dev Disord. 2023 Jun 22. PMID: 37347373.
Schwartzman JM, Roth MC, Paterson AV, Jacobs AX, Williams ZJ. Community-guided, autism-adapted group cognitive behavioral therapy for depression in autistic youth (CBT-DAY): Preliminary feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy. Autism. 2023 Nov 27:13623613231213543. PMID: 38009186.
Schwartzman JM, Muscatello RA, Corbett BA. Assessing suicidal thoughts and behaviors and nonsuicidal self-injury in autistic and non-autistic early adolescents using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Autism. 2023 Nov;27(8):2310-2323. PMID: 37050857.
Schwartzman JM, Williams ZJ, Paterson AV, Jacobs AX, Corbett BA. Community-guided measurement-based care for autistic youth and adults receiving psychotherapy: A conceptual overview and pilot implementation study of MBC-AUT. Autism. 2023 Aug;27(6):1658-1675. PMID: 36632662.
Schwartzman JM, Williams ZJ, Corbett BA. Diagnostic- and sex-based differences in depression symptoms in autistic and neurotypical early adolescents. Autism. 2022 Jan;26(1):256-269. PMID: 34180264.
Schwartzman JM, Smith JR, Bettis AH. Safety Planning for Suicidality in Autism: Obstacles, Potential Solutions, and Future Directions. Pediatrics. 2021 Dec 1;148(6):e2021052958. PMID: 34851408.
Corbett BA, Schwartzman JM, Libsack EJ, Muscatello RA, Lerner MD, Simmons GL, White SW. Camouflaging in Autism: Examining Sex-Based and Compensatory Models in Social Cognition and Communication. Autism Res. 2021 Jan;14(1):127-142. PMID: 33220170.
Schwartzman JM, Corbett BA. Higher depressive symptoms in early adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder by self- and parent-report compared to typically-developing peers. Res Autism Spectr Disord. 2020 Sep;77:101613. PMID: 32802155.
Schwartzman JM, Bonner HR. Behavioral and Social Activation in Autism and Associations with Youth Depressive Symptoms from Youth and Caregiver Perspectives. J Autism Dev Disord. 2023 Jun 22. PMID: 37347373.
Schwartzman JM, Millan ME, Uljarevic M, Gengoux GW. Resilience Intervention for Parents of Children with Autism: Findings from a Randomized Controlled Trial of the AMOR Method. J Autism Dev Disord. 2022 Feb; 52(2):738-757. PMID: 33774741.
Research
Dr. Schwartzman's research aims to understand interpersonal relationships in peer and family contexts in neurodivergent people and associations with adverse mental health outcomes. Using robust quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches, she focuses on identifying and directly targeting interpersonal mechanisms of depression and suicide risk in neurodivergent people; advancing measurement approaches to depression and suicide risk in neurodivergent people; and the examination of and interventions for caregiver-child stress as well as fostering perceived resilience in caregivers of neurodivergent youth.