Ashley Mason, PhD
Areas of Interest
- Non-pharmacologic treatments for depression
- Non-pharmacologic treatment for insomnia
- Food-craving experiences, stress-induced and reward-based eating
- Adherence to dietary recommendations, particularly carbohydrate-restricted diets, in type 2 diabetes
- Mindful eating interventions for problematic eating behavior
- The role of the endogenous opioid system in overeating behavior
- Psychosocial factors that shape metabolic risk among individuals care giving for a loved one
Experience and Current Work
Dr. Ashley Mason’s primary research interests focus on sleep, eating, and affect. Her National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-funded K23 research focuses on the role of the endogenous opioid system in overeating behavior. Her MZHF-funded research focuses on non-pharmacologic approaches to the treatment of insomnia and depression.
Her National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health-funded research uses ecological momentary assessment methodologies to assess food-craving experiences, and uses ecological momentary intervention components to de-couple the experience of craving from the action of indulging cravings.
She is also interested in investigating the psychosocial factors that shape metabolic risk among individuals who are caregivers for a loved one. These individuals are at increased risk for physical and psychological health problems and are a growing sector of the U.S. population.
Her doctoral work focused on (1) predictors and correlates of psychological adjustment and physical health following divorce; and (2) interpersonal perceptions of psychological distress in the contexts of post-divorce recovery and social evaluative threat.
Lab website: sealab.ucsf.edu
Sleep group website: oshersleepgroup.ucsf.edu
Education and Training
- National Center for Contemplative and Integrative Health Training in Research in Integrative Medicine (TRIM) Postdoctoral Fellowship, UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine
- Clinical Internship, Behavioral Medicine Veterans Administration, Palo Alto Medical Health Care System
- PhD, Clinical Psychology, University of Arizona
- MA, Clinical Psychology, University of Arizona
- BA, Psychology and Sociology (double-major), Northwestern University
Publications
View publications on UCSF Profiles
