Connell School of Nursing

Barbara E. Wolfe, PhD, APRN, CS, FAAN

professor & director, center for nursing research

barbara wolfe

Office

Cushing Hall 433 A
617-552-1804
wolfeb@bc.edu



educational history

  • PhD Boston College
  • MSN Yale University
  • BSN Syracuse University


recent publications


Articles
  • Keel, P. K., Wolfe, B. E., Gravener, J. A., & Jimerson, D. C. (in press). Disorder-related distress and disability in purging disorder. Psychological Medicine.
  • Wolfe, B.E. (in press). Issues of body weight and eating behavior in psychiatric-mental health nursing practice. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association.
  • Daley, K. A., Jimerson, D. C., Heatherton, T. F., Metzger, E. D., & Wolfe, B. E. (in press), State self-esteem ratings in women with bulimia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in remission. International Journal of Eating Disorders.
  • Keel, P. K., Wolfe, B. E., Liddle, R. A., De Young, K. P., & Jimerson, D. C. (in press). Clinical features and physiological response to a test meal in purging disorder and bulimia nervosa. Archives of General Psychiatry.
  • Keel, P. K., Wolfe, B. E., Gravener, J. A., & Jimerson, D. C. (2007). Co-morbidity and disorder-related distress and impairment in purging disorder. Psychological Medicine, 10, 1-8 [Epub ahead of print].
  • Morgan, J. C., Wolfe, B. E., Metzger, E. D., Jimerson, D. C. (2007). Obsessive-compulsive characteristics in women who have recovered from bulimia nervosa. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 7, 381-385
  • Wolfe, B. E. (2005).  Reproductive health in women with eating disorders.  Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 34, 225-263.
  • Wolfe, B. E., Jimerson, D. C., Orlova, C., & Mantzoros, C. S. (2004).  Effect of dieting on plasma leptin, soluble leptin receptor, adiponectin and resistin levels in healthy volunteers.  Clinical Endocrinology, 61, 32-338.
  • Jimerson, D. C., & Wolfe, B. E. (2004).  Neuropeptides in eating disorders.  CNS Spectrum, 9, 516-522.
  • Wolfe, B. E., & Gimby, L. B. (2003).  Caring for the hospitalized patient with an eating disorder.  Nursing Clinics of North America, 38, 75-99.
Books & Book Chapters
  • Wolfe, B. E. & Simonelli, M. C. (in press).  Eating disorders in pregnancy.  In P. J. Hillard (Ed.), The 5-Minute OB/GYN Clinical Consult.  Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
  • Wolfe, B. E., Metzger, E. D., Flanagan, L., & Jimerson, D. C. (2007).  Eating disorders.  In T. M. Buttaro, J. Trybulski, P. P. Bailey, & J. Sandberg-Cook (Eds.), Primary care: A collaborative practice (3rd ed.).  St. Louis, MO: Mosby.
  • Jimerson, D. C., & Wolfe, B. E. (2006). Psychobiology of eating disorders. In S. Wonderlich, J. Mitchell, M. de Zwaan, & Steiger H. (Eds.), Eating disorders review: Part II (pp.1-15). Oxford, UK: Radcliffe Publishing.
  • Jimerson, D. C., Wolfe, B. E., & Naab, S. (2006).  Eating disorders.  In C. E. Coffey, R. A. Brumback, D. R. Rosenberg, & K. Voeller (Eds.), Pediatric Neuropsychiatry (pp. 307-320).  Philadelphia, PA:  Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
  • Jimerson, D. C., & Wolfe, B. E. (2002).  Eating disorders: Neurobiology and symptomatology. In A. K. Asbury, G. M. McKhann, W. I. McDonald, P. J. Goadsby, & J. C. McArthur (Eds.), Diseases of the nervous system: Clinical neuroscience and therapeutic principles (3rd ed., pp. 808-815).  Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

international presentations

  • Test meal responses to citalopram in patients with bulimia nervosa and healthy controls.  Paper presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Eating Disorders Research Society, Port Douglas, Australia, September 2, 2006.
  • Mental health nursing, a changing landscape: Hypothetical with Geoffrey Robertson.  Panel participant, Australian and New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses 30th International Conference. Canberra, Australia, September 21, 2004.
  • Mental health nursing: Changing roles for changing times.  Plenary, Australian and New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses 30th International Conference.  Canberra, Australia, September 24, 2004.

Dr. Wolfe’s research focuses on the psychobiology of eating disorders. In particular, her work focuses on the relationship between neurotransmitter functioning and mood, impulsivity, and eating behavior. One of her current projects explores the regulation of the neurotransmitter serotonin in anorexia nervosa and its relationship to treatment response (Funded by the National Institute of Mental Health). Her research also explores the influence of dieting on neurotransmitter precursor availability and related behaviors.

Dr. Wolfe received her BSN from Syracuse University, her MSN for Yale University, and PhD from Boston College. She is certified as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse in the specialty of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing. She is an active member of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, serving as President from 2003-2004. She is also a member of the Eating Disorders Research Society, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, and a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing.


research interests

Psychobiology of eating disorders (anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa), focusing on the role fo the neurotransmitter serotonin and its regulation of eating behavior, depression and impulsivity; examine the extent to which intermittent and/or persistent dieting may have a contributory role to the chronicity and risk for relapse of eating disorder symptoms in vulnerable populations.


appointments & awards

  • NIH / NIMH, R01 Research Grant (MH057395, Competing Renewal); PI: B. E. Wolfe; Serotonin Regulation in Eating Disorders.
  • NIH / NIMH, R21 Exploratory Research Grant (MH071689); Subcontract PI: B. E. Wolfe (Project PI: D. C. Jimerson); Symptoms, Serotonin, & Amino Acids in Anorexia Nervosa.
  • 2006-2009 Member, NIH, CSR, HOP IRG Nursing Science: Adults and Older Adults (NSAA) Study Section
  • Member, Editorial Board:
    - Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association
  • Member, Editorial Review Panel:
    - Research in Nursing & Health
  • Member, Editorial Review Panel:
    - Advances in Nursing Science
  • Member, Editorial Board:
    - Harvard Mental Health Letter
  • 2007 Research Award, Massachusetts Association for Registered Nurses
  • 2004 Nancy Valentine Excellence in Leadership Award, New England Chapter, American Psychiatric Nurses’ Association