Bio


Dr. Edwards is a graduate of the University of Houston and Stanford University. She completed her clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship at the Palo Alto VA Medical Center, specializing in Behavioral Medicine. She is a cognitive behavioral therapist with experience in mindfulness-based interventions (e.g. ACT, MBSR) and she is board certified in biofeedback.

Clinical Focus


  • Behavioral Medicine
  • Cardiology
  • Clinical Psychology

Academic Appointments


Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations


  • Board Member, American Heart Association Bay Area Board of Directors (2022 - Present)
  • Medical Advisory Board, SCAD Alliance (2016 - Present)
  • Medical Advisory Board, Cardiac Therapy Foundation of the Midpeninsula (2013 - Present)

Professional Education


  • Board Certification: Biofeedback Certification International Alliance, Biofeedback
  • Fellowship, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Behavioral Medicine (2009)
  • Internship, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Behavioral Medicine (2008)
  • Ph.D., University of Houston, Clinical Psychology (2008)

Current Research and Scholarly Interests


Potential impact of brief behavioral interventions to improve adjustment, coping, medical adherence, and cardiovascular health among cardiac patients.

Psychosocial challenges of patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD).

Assessment and training in evidence-based psychological therapies.

Clinical Trials


  • Angiographic and Psychosocial Evaluation of Peripartum vs. Non: SCAD Not Recruiting

    This multi-site international clinical research project is a collaboration between investigators from multiple institutions in the USA, Canada, and Europe. Approximately 7 to 11 sites will participate and provide data for analysis. Clinical operations (for data collection and analysis) across sites will be managed by Stanford. The study purpose is to determine differences in clinical and imaging presentation, in-hospital management and prognosis in peripartum and non-peripartum SCAD patients.

    Stanford is currently not accepting patients for this trial.

    View full details

All Publications


  • Heart Rate Variability Markers as Correlates of Survival in Recipients of Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Oncology nursing forum Scheiber, C. n., Johnston, L. n., Packer, M. n., Gevirtz, R. n., Edwards, K. S., Palesh, O. n. 2018; 45 (2): 250–59

    Abstract

    To assess pre-/post-transplantation changes in autonomic tone, as measured by heart rate variability (HRV), among patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and to look at those changes as they relate to post-transplantation survival rates. .Data were derived from a sample of 27 English-speaking patients undergoing allogeneic or autologous HCT at Stanford University. .A survival analysis using the Kaplan-Meier estimator was employed to explore whether increased HRV would enhance survival probabilities over time among patients undergoing HCT..An increased probability of survival was significantly related to increases in two HRV indexes.HRV may be a useful predictor of mortality among patients undergoing HCT. Interventions deliverable by nurses could be used to enhance HRV for patients identified as being at risk for early mortality.

    View details for PubMedID 29466350

  • Group Telephone Consultation After Online Self-Administered Training: Acceptability and Feasibility TRAINING AND EDUCATION IN PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY Edwards, K. S., Rosen, R. C., Smith, L. D., Garvert, D. W., Graham, B. C., Hoyman, L. C., Humphrey, S., Ruzek, J. I. 2017; 11 (3): 198–206

    View details for DOI 10.1037/tep0000153

    View details for Web of Science ID 000407395000014

  • Anxiety Sensitivity or Interoceptive Sensitivity An Analysis of Feared Bodily Sensations EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT Norton, P. J., Edwards, K. 2017; 33 (1): 30–37
  • Interdisciplinary psychosocial care for families with inherited cardiovascular diseases. Trends in cardiovascular medicine Caleshu, C., Kasparian, N. A., Edwards, K. S., Yeates, L., Semsarian, C., Perez, M., Ashley, E., Turner, C. J., Knowles, J. W., Ingles, J. 2016; 26 (7): 647-653

    Abstract

    Inherited cardiovascular diseases pose unique and complex psychosocial challenges for families, including coming to terms with life-long cardiac disease, risk of sudden death, grief related to the sudden death of a loved one, activity restrictions, and inheritance risk to other family members. Psychosocial factors impact not only mental health but also physical health and cooperation with clinical recommendations. We describe an interdisciplinary approach to the care of families with inherited cardiovascular disease, in which psychological care provided by specialized cardiac genetic counselors, nurses, and psychologists is embedded within the cardiovascular care team. We report illustrative cases and the supporting literature to demonstrate common scenarios, as well as practical guidance for clinicians working in the inherited cardiovascular disease setting.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.tcm.2016.04.010

    View details for PubMedID 27256036

  • A Standardized Patient Methodology to Assess Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Skills Performance: Development and Testing in a Randomized Controlled Trial of Web-Based Training TRAINING AND EDUCATION IN PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY Edwards, K. S., Parish, S. J., Rosen, R. C., Garvert, D. W., Spangler, S. L., Ruzek, J. I. 2016; 10 (3): 149-156

    View details for DOI 10.1037/tep0000119

    View details for Web of Science ID 000383107400004

  • Online Self-Administered Training of PTSD Treatment Providers in Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention Skills: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS Ruzek, J. I., Rosen, R. C., Garvert, D. W., Smith, L. D., Sears, K. C., Marceau, L., Harty, B., Stoddard, A. M. 2014; 27 (6): 703-711

    Abstract

    Despite potential advantages in scalability and efficiency of web-based training for trauma providers, few controlled trials of feasibility and effectiveness of web-based mental health training have been performed. Our study compared web-based training in 3 intervention skills (motivation enhancement [ME], goal setting [GS], behavioral task assignment [BTA]) with web-based training plus telephone consultation, and a no-training control. The primary outcome measures included objective measures of skills acquisition (standardized patient assessments). Results showed significant differences among the training conditions. The overall tests of differences among the groups were statistically significant for ME and BTA skills (p < .001 and p = .005, respectively), but not for GS (p = .245). The web training plus consultation group improved in ME skills by 0.35 units compared to 0.12 units in the web only group (p < .001) and no change in the control group (p = .001). For BTA skills, the web training plus consultation improved by 0.27 units compared to 0.17 units in the web only group (p = .175) and no change in the control group (p = .004). Overall, these findings support the use of web-based dissemination for large-scale training programs for trauma providers in health care delivery systems. Further studies are needed to clarify the specific role of consultation as an adjunct to web-based training.

    View details for DOI 10.1002/jts.21977

    View details for Web of Science ID 000346598700010

    View details for PubMedID 25522731