Selected Publications
A Pull to Be Close: The Differentiating Effects of Oxytocin and Grief Stimulus Type on Approach Behavior in Complicated Grief
Arizmendi, B.J., Seeley, S.H., Allen, J.J.B., Killgore, W.D.S., Andrews-Hanna, J., Weihs, K., & O'Connor, M-F. (2023). European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation, 7(3), 100339.
The Relationship of Prolonged Grief Disorder Symptoms With Hemodynamic Response to Grief Recall Among Bereaved Adults
Palitsky, R., Wilson, D.T., Friedman, S.E., Ruiz, J.M., Sullivan, D.,O’Connor, M.-F. (2023). Psychosomatic Medicine, 85(6), 545-550.
Dwelling in Prolonged Grief: Resting State Functional Connectivity During Oxytocin and Placebo Administration
Seeley, S.H., Andrews-Hanna, J.R., Allen, J.J.B., & O'Connor, M.-F. (2022). Human Brain Mapping, 1-13.
From Grief to Grievance: Combined Axes of Personal and Collective Grief Among Black Americans
Wilson D.T., & O'Connor M.-F. (2022). Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13:850994.
Grieving as a Form of Learning: Insights From Neuroscience Applied to Grief and Loss
O'Connor, M.-F., & Seeley, S.H. (2022). Current Opinion in Psychology, 43, 317–322.
A Controlled Trial of Two Mind-Body Interventions for Grief in Widows and Widowers
Knowles, L.M., Jovel, K.S., Mayer, C.M., Bottrill, K.C., Kaszniak, A.W., Sbarra, D.A., Lawrence, E.E. & O’Connor, M.-F. (2021). Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 89(7), 640–654.
Can Less Ever Be More? A Model of Emotion Regulation Repertoire of Social Support (ERROSS)
Stelzer, E.-M., & O’Connor, M.-F. (2021). Emotion Review, 13, 125-138.
Wish You Were Here: The Dutch, German, and English Yearning in Situations of Loss Short Form
Eisma, M., Stelzer, E., Lenferink, L.I.M., Knowles, L.M., Gastmeier, S.K., Angelopoulou, M., Doering, B.K., & O’Connor, M.-F. (2020). Journal of Clinical Psychology, 1-20.
Think Again: Adaptive Repetitive Thought as a Transdiagnostic Treatment for Individuals Predisposed to Repetitive Thinking Styles
Lawrence, A.V., Alkozei, A., Irgens, M.S., Acevedo-Molina, M.C., Brener, S.A., Chandler, A.B., Chau, R.F., Doyle, C.Y., McKinney, A.L., Price, S.N., Shanholtz, C.E., Van Etten, E.J., Ver Hoeve, E.S., Sbarra, D.A., & O’Connor, M.-F. (2020). Journal of Psychotherapy Integration. Advance online publication.
Prolonged Grief Disorder and the Cultural Crisis
Stelzer, E., Zhou, N., Maercker, A., O’Connor, M.-F., & Killikelly, C. (2020). Frontiers in Psychology, 10: 2982.
Gender Differences in Grief Narrative Construction: A Myth or Reality?
Stelzer, E., Atkinson, C., O’Connor, M.F., & Croft, A. (2019). European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 10:1,1688130.
Grief: A Brief History of Research on How Body, Mind, and Brain Adapt
O’Connor, M.F. (2019). Psychosomatic Medicine, 81(8):731-738. PMID: 31180982.
A Systematic Review of the Association Between Bereavement and Biomarkers of Immune Function
Knowles, L.M., Ruiz, J.M., & O’Connor, M.F. (2019). Psychosomatic Medicine, 81(5):415-433.
Recruitment and Retention in Clinical and Experimental Bereavement Research: Lessons Learned From Creating a Research Registry
Stelzer, E., Knowles, L.M., Wilson, D.T., & O’Connor, M.F. (2020). Death Studies, 44:12, 771-777.
The Role of Personal and Communal Religiosity in the Context of Bereavement
Stelzer, E.M., Palitsky, R., Hernandez, E.N., Ramirez, E.G., O’Connor, M.F. (2019). Journal of Prevention and Intervention in the Community, May 29, 1-17. PMID 31140951.
Yearning Predicts Subgenual Anterior Cingulate Activity in Bereaved Individuals
McConnell, M.H., Killgore, W.D.S., & O’Connor, M.F. (2018). Heliyon, 4, e00852. PMC6197542.
Intranasal Oxytocin and OXTR Genotype Effects on Resting State Functional Connectivity: A Systematic Review
Seeley, S.H., Chou, Y., & O’Connor, M.F. (2018). Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 95, 17–32.
Low-Dose Aspirin for Prevention of Cardiovascular Risk in Bereavement: Results From a Feasibility Study
Karl, S., Fallon, M., Palitsky, R., Martinez, J.A., Gündel, H. & O’Connor, M-F. (2018). Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 87, 112-113.
Maladaptive Repetitive Thought as a Transdiagnostic Phenomenon and Treatment Target: An Integrative Review
Kaplan, D.M., Palitsky, R., Carey, A.L., Crane, T.E., Havens, C.M., Medrano, M.R., Reznik, S.J., Sbarra, D.A., & O’Connor, M-F. (2018). Journal of Clinical Psychology, 1126-1136.
Planning for Two: A Literature Review on Caregiver Stress Near the End-of-Life (PDF)
Wilson, D.T. & O’Connor, M-F. (2017). Arizona Geriatrics Society Journal, 23(2), 1-5.
A Pilot Study of Virtual Support for Grief: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Outcomes
Knowles, L., Stelzer, E.M., Jovel, K. & O'Connor, M.-F. (2017). Computers in Human Behavior, 73, 650-658.
The Hispanic Health Paradox: From Epidemiological Phenomenon to Contribution Opportunities for Psychological Science
Ruiz, J., Hamann, H., Mehl, M. R., & O'Connor, M.-F. (2016). Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 19(4), 462-476.
Dyadic Coping and Salivary Interleukin-6 Responses to Interpersonal Stress
Reed, R. G., O’Connor, M.-F., Pace, T. W. W., Raison, C. L., & Butler, E. A. (2016). Journal of Family Psychology, 31(3), 367-373.
Yearning and Its Measurement in Complicated Grief
Robinaugh, D.J., Mauro, C., Bui, E., Stone, L., Shah, R., Wang, Y., Skritskaya, N.A., Reynolds, C.F., Zisook, S., O’Connor, M.-F., Shear, K. & Simon, N.M. (2016). Journal of Loss and Trauma, 21(5), 410-420.
The Utility of a Virtual Trier Social Stress Test: Initial Findings and Benchmarking Comparisons
Fallon, M., Serrano Careaga, J., Sbarra, D., O’Connor, M-F. (2016). Psychosomatic Medicine, 78(7), 835-840.
Absent, But Not Gone: Interdependence in Couples’ Quality of Life Persists After a Partner’s Death
Bourassa, K. J., Knowles, L., Sbarra, D. A. O’Connor, M-F. (2016). Psychological Science, 27(2), 270-281.
Disrupted Prefrontal Activity During Emotion Regulation in Complicated Grief: An fMRI Investigation
Arizmendi, B.J., Kaszniak, A.W., O’Connor, M.-F. (2016). NeuroImage, 12, 968-976. NIHMSID 727740.
Broadening the Definition of Resilience and “Reappraising” the Use of Appetitive Motivation
Soenke, M., O’Connor, M.-F., & Greenberg, J. (2015). Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 38.
Coping Flexibility, Forward Focus and Trauma Focus in Older Widows and Widowers
Knowles, L. M. & O’Connor, M.-F. (2015). Bereavement Care, 34, 17-23.
What Is “Normal” in Grief?
O’Connor, M.-F., Arizmendi, B.J. (2015). Australian Critical Care, 8, 58-62.
Psychological Distress Following Marital Separation Interacts With a Polymorphism in the Serotonin Transporter Gene to Predict Cardiac Vagal Control in the Laboratory
Hasselmo, K., Sbarra, D.A., O’Connor, M.-F., & Moreno, F.A. (2015). Psychophysiology, 52, 736-44.
Neuropsychological Correlates of Complicated Grief in Older Spousally Bereaved Adults
O’Connor, M.-F., & Arizmendi, B.J. (2014). Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 69, 12-18.
Virtually Supportive: A Feasibility Pilot Study of an Online Support Group for Dementia Caregivers in a 3D Virtual Environment
O’Connor, M.-F., Arizmendi, B.J., Kaszniak, A.K. (2014). Journal of Aging Studies, 30, 87-93. NIHMSID 593742.
Social Engagement and User Immersion in Exploring a Virtual World
Grinberg, A.M., Serrano Careaga, J., Mehl, M.R., O'Connor, M.-F. (2014). Computers in Human Behavior, 36, 479-486.
Developing the Yearning in Situations of Loss Scale: Convergent and Discriminant Validity for Bereavement, Romantic Breakup and Homesickness
O'Connor, M.-F. & Sussman, T. (2014). Death Studies, 38, 450-458.
Divergent Gene Expression Responses to Complicated Grief and Non-Complicated Grief
O’Connor, M.-F., Schultze-Florey, C.R., Irwin, M.R., Cole, S.W. (2014). Brain, Behavior and Immunity, 37, 78-83. NIHMSID 553078.
Detection of Altered Hippocampal Morphology in Multiple Sclerosis-Associated Depression Using Automated Surface Mesh Modeling
Gold, S.M., O'Connor, M.-F., Sicotte, N.L. (2014). Human Brain Mapping, 35, 30-37. PMC3748203.
Catecholamine Predictors of Complicated Grief Treatment Outcomes
O’Connor, M.-F., Shear, M.K., Fox, R., Skritskaya, N., Campbell, B., Ghesquiere, A., Glickman, K. (2013). International Journal of Psychophysiology, 88, 349-352. NIHMS413016.
When Grief Makes You Sick: Bereavement Induced Systemic Inflammation Is a Question of Genotype
Schultze-Florey, C.R., Martinez-Maza, O., Magpantay, L., Breen, E.C., Irwin, M.R., Gündel, H., O’Connor, M.-F. (2012). Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 26, 1066-71. PMC3601554.
Immunological and Neuroimaging Biomarkers of Complicated Grief
O’Connor, M.-F. (2012). Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 14, 141-148. PMC3384442.
Diurnal Cortisol in Complicated and Non-Complicated Grief: Slope Differences Across the Day
O’Connor, M.-F., Wellisch, D. K., Stanton, A. L., Olmstead, R., & Irwin, M. R. (2012). Psychoneuroendocrinology, 37, 725-728. PMC3258306.
Complicated Grief and Related Bereavement Issues for DSM‐5
Shear M.K., Simon N., Wall M., Zisook S., Neimeyer R., Duan N., Reynolds C., Lebowitz B., Sung S., Ghesquiere A., Gorscak B., Clayton P., Ito M., Nakajima S., Konishi T., Melhem N., Meert K., Schiff M., O'Connor M-F., First M., Sareen J., Bolton J., Skritskaya N., Mancini AD., & Keshaviah A. (2011). Depression and Anxiety, 28(2), 103-117.
Smaller Cornu Ammonis 2-3/Dentate Gyrus Volumes and Elevated Cortisol in Multiple Sclerosis Patients With Depressive Symptoms
Gold, S.M., Kern, K.C., O'Connor, M.-F., Montag, M.J., Kim, A., Yoo, Y.S., Giesser, B.S., Sicotte, N.L. (2010). Biological Psychiatry, 68, 553-9. PMID: 20646680.
Links Between Behavioral Factors and Inflammation
O’Connor, M.-F., Irwin, M.R. (2010). Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 87, 479-82. PMC2866374.
To Assess, to Control, to Exclude: Effects of Biobehavioral Factors on Circulating Inflammatory Markers
O’Connor, M. F., Bower, J. E., Cho, H. J., Creswell, J. D., Dimitrov, S., Hamby, M. E., ... & Thomas, K. S. (2009). Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 23(7), 887-897.
When Grief Heats Up: Proinflammatory Cytokines Predict Regional Brain Activation
O’Connor, M.-F., Wellisch, D.K., Irwin, M. (2009). NeuroImage, 47, 891-896. PMC2760985.
Oxytocin Enhances the Experience of Attachment Security
Buchheim, A., Heinrichs, M., George, C., Pokorny, D., Koops, E., Henningsen, P., O'Connor, M-F., & Gündel, H. (2009). Psychoneuroendocrinology, 34(9), 1417-1422.
Craving Love? Enduring Grief Activates Brain’s Reward Center
O'Connor, M. F., Wellisch, D. K., Stanton, A. L., Eisenberger, N. I., Irwin, M. R., & Lieberman, M. D. (2008). Neuroimage, 42(2), 969-972.
Baseline Vagal Tone Predicts BOLD Response During Elicitation of Grief
O’Connor, M.-F., Gündel, H., McRae, K., Lane, R.D. (2007). Neuropsychopharmacology, 32, 2184-9.
Sex Differences in Monocyte Expression of IL-6: Role of Autonomic Mechanisms
O’Connor, M.-F., Motivala, S., Valladares, E.M., Olmstead, R. and Irwin, M. (2007). American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 293, R145-151.
Pro-inflammatory Cytokines and Depression in a Familial Cancer Registry
O’Connor, M.-F., Irwin, M., Seldon, J., Kwan, L., Ganz, P.A. (2007). Psycho-Oncology, 16, 499-501.
Bereavement and the Brain: Invitation to a Conversation Between Bereavement Researchers and Neuroscientists
O’Connor, M.-F. (2005). Death Studies, 29, 905-922.
Emotional Disclosure for Whom? The Role of Vagal Tone in Bereavement
O’Connor, M.-F., Allen, J.J.B., & Kaszniak, A.W. (2005). Biological Psychology, 68, 135-146.
Finding Boundaries Inside Prison Walls: Case Study of a Terminally Ill Inmate
O’Connor, M.-F. (2004). Death Studies, 28, 63-76.
Functional Neuroanatomy of Grief: An fMRI Study
Gündel, H., O’Connor, M. F., Littrell, L., Fort, C., & Lane, R. D. (2003). American Journal of Psychiatry, 160(11), 1946-1953.
Making Meaning of Life Events: Theory, Evidence and Research Directions for an Alternative Model
O’Connor, M.-F. (2002). Omega: Journal of Death and Dying, 46, 56-75.
Autonomic and Emotion Regulation in Bereavement and Depression
O’Connor, M.-F., Allen, J.J.B., & Kaszniak, A.W. (2002). Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 52, 183-185.