Mary Beth Spitznagel

Research Areas:

• Clinical - Assessment 
• Clinical - Health
• Clinical - Adult

Does Dr. Spitznagel plan to recruit a doctoral student for the next incoming class?

Specialty:

Adult Clinical Psychology, Veterinary Psychology, Human Animal Interaction

Research Interests:

Veterinary Psychology, Human Animal Interaction, Caregiver Burden, Occupational Distress, Burden Transfer, Stress, Burnout

Lab Site:

Spitznagel Veterinary Psychology Lab

Courses Frequently Taught:

• Introduction to Psychological Assessment (graduate)
• Advanced Psychological Assessment (graduate)
• Clinical Neuroanatomy (graduate/undergraduate)
• Psychology of Exercise (undergraduate)

Selected Recent Publications:

• Bennett NE, Fellows M, Gober M, Spitznagel MB. (2026). Caregiver burden in cat owners: A qualitative study of chronic illness management. Human-Animal Interactions. doi.org/10.1079/hai.2026.0029
• Spitznagel MB, Martin J, Knudsen E, Albers A, Gober M. (2025). Development and psychometric validation of a canine caregiver burden assessment tool. Human Animal Interactions, 13, 1. doi.org/10.1079/hai.2025.0052
• Ang D, Ballantyne K, Cousins-Whitus E, Spitznagel MB (2025). Examining burden transfer in veterinary behaviorists. Veterinary Behavior. doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2025.08.007
• Spitznagel MB, Martin JT, Bennet NE, Was C, Fulkerson CM, Weisman J, Giori L, Kelly-Snyder E, Updegraff ASG, Twohig MP, Levin ME. (2025). Effects of embedded Acceptance and Commitment Training in veterinary medical and technology programs as students transition into the workforce: A study protocol. PLOS ONE. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0334898
• Gannon K, Cousins E, Martin J, Updegraff, A, Was C, Carlson MD, Spitznagel MB. (2024). Exploration of mental health stigma in veterinary teams in the USA before and after evidence-based psychoeducation for burden transfer. Veterinary Record Open. doi: 0.1002/vro2.84
• Spitznagel MB, Martin JT, Was C, Updegraff ASG, Sislak M, Wiborg L, Fulkerson CM, Twohig MP. (2023). Self-paced acceptance and commitment training program reduces burden transfer, stress, and burnout in veterinary healthcare teams. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. doi.10.2460/javma.23.01.0037
• Blokland K, Coe J, Spitznagel MB. (2023). Veterinary team members experiencing high levels of burden transfer are more likely to report burnout and a less-optimal psychosocial work environment. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. doi: 10.2460/javma.23.06.0354
• Kuntz K, Ballantyne K, Cousins E, Spitznagel MB. (2023). Assessment of caregiver burden in owners of dogs with behavioral problems and factors related to its presence. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, doi.10.1016/j.jveb.2023.05.006
• Spitznagel MB, Updegraff ASG, Was C, Martin JT, Wiborg LM, Sislak M, Twohig MP. (2022). Acceptance and commitment training program reduces burden transfer, stress, and burnout in veterinary healthcare teams. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.22.05.0196
• Spitznagel MB, Martin JM, Carlson MD, Fulkerson CM. (2022). Validation of the Burden Transfer Inventory–Abbreviated and examination across veterinary medicine positions and settings. Veterinary Record Open. doi: 10.1002/vro2.46.
• Spitznagel MB, Patrick K, Hillier A, Gober M, Carlson MD. (2022). Caregiver burden, treatment complexity, and the veterinarian-client relationship in owners of dogs with skin disease. Veterinary Dermatology. doi: 10.1111/vde.13065
• Spitznagel MB, Anderson JR, Marchitelli B, Bibbo J, Sislak M, Carlson MD. (2021). Owner quality of life, caregiver burden, and anticipatory grief:  How they differ and why it matters. Veterinary Record. doi/10.1002/vetr.74.
• Shaevitz M, Tullius J, Callah RT, Fulkerson C, Spitznagel MB. (2020). Early caregiver burden in owners of pets with suspected cancer:  Relationship to owner psychosocial outcomes, communication behavior, and treatment factors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. doi: 10.1111/jvim.15905.
• Spitznagel MB, Ben-Porath YS, Rishniw M, Kogan L, Carlson MD. (2019). Development and validation of a Burden Transfer Inventory measure for predicting veterinarian stress related to client behavior. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 254, 124-132.  
• Spitznagel MB, Jacobson DM, Cox MD, Carlson MD (2017). Caregiver burden in owners of a sick companion animal: A cross-sectional observational study. Veterinary Record. doi: 10.1136/vr.104295