William V. Lechner

Graduate Areas: Clinical

• Adult Substance Use Disorders

• Adult Psychopathology

Research Interests

My research examines the effects of neurocognitive deficits in addiction. I am Principal Investigator of a National Institutes of Health sponsored clinical trial studying the ability of cognitive training combined with neuromodulation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex to improve executive function deficits as they relate to addictive behaviors. My research also examines the bi-directional relationship between psychopathology and addiction; specifically, alcohol and nicotine use.

You can read more about my ongoing clinical trial here:

Lab Site: 

Available Spring 2018

Courses Taught

Drugs and Behavior

Publications:

Lechner, W.V., Gunn, R.L., Minto, A., Philip, N.S., Brown, R.A., Uebelacker, L.A., Price, L.H., Abrantes, A.M. (In press). Effects of Negative Affect, Urge to Smoke, and Working Memory Performance (n-back) on Nicotine Dependence. Substance Use and Misuse.

Lechner, W. V. Day, A.M., Leventhal, A.M., Metrik, J., Kahler, C.W. (2016). Effects of alcohol-induced working memory decline on alcohol consumption and adverse consequences of use. Psychopharmacology, 233(1), 83-88.

Lechner, W. V., Knopik, V. S., McGeary, J. E., Spillane, N. S., Tidey, J. W., McKee, S. A., Kahler, C. W. (2016). Influence of the A118G Polymorphism of the OPRM1 Gene and Exon 3 VNTR Polymorphism of the DRD4 Gene on Cigarette Craving After Alcohol Administration. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 18(5), 632-636.

Lechner, W.V., Janssen, T., Kahler, C.W., Audrain-McGovern, J., Leventhal, A.M. (2017). Bi-directional Associations of Electronic and Combustible Cigarette Use Onset Patterns with Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents. Preventive Medicine, 96:73-78.

Lechner, W. V., Meier, E., Wiener, J. L., Grant, D. M., Gilmore, J., Judah, M. R., Wagener, T. L. (2015). The comparative efficacy of first- versus second-generation electronic cigarettes in reducing symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Addiction, 110(5), 862-867.

Lechner, W.V., Shadur, J.M., Banducci, A., Grant, D.M., Morse, M., Lejuez, C.W (2014). The mediating role of depression in the relationship between anxiety sensitivity and alcohol dependence. Addictive Behaviors, 39(8), 1243-1248.

Judah, M. R., Grant, D. M., Lechner, W. V., Mills, A. C. (2013). Working memory load moderates late attentional bias in social anxiety. Cognition and Emotion, 27, 502 – 511.

Lechner, W.V., Lejuez, C.W., Chen, K.W., Dahne, J., Pickover, A. (2013). The prevalence of Substance Use Disorders and Psychiatric Disorders as a function of Psychotic Symptoms. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 131(1-2), 78 – 84.

Lechner, W. V., Grant, D. M., Meier, E., Mills, A. C., Judah, M. R., & Dempsey, J. P. (2014). The influence of stress on the affective modulation of the startle response to nicotine cues. Journal of Applied Psychophysiology & Biofeedback, 39(3-4), 279-285.

Lechner, W. V., Tackett, A. P., Grant, D. M., Tahirkheli, N. N., Driskill, L. M., & Wagener, T. L. (2015). Effects of duration of electronic cigarette use. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 17(2), 180-185.

Lechner, W.V., Meier, E., Miller, M.B., Wiener, J.L., Fils-Aime, Y. (2012). Changes in smoking related behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs over four years following a campus wide anti-tobacco intervention.  Journal of American College Health, 7(6): 612-619.