Research

My research examines cognitive functioning and cognitive rehabilitation among adults with substance use disorders, traumatic brain injury, and co-occurring psychiatric conditions. I am particularly interested in developing and evaluating interventions that address cognitive difficulties, understanding how cognitive functioning influences treatment engagement and everyday functioning, and improving access to evidence-based care for underserved populations, including rural Veterans.

My work draws on clinical trials, intervention development, implementation science, and health services research. I am a member of the Brain Health Research and Informatics (BHRAIN) Lab at Oregon Health & Science University and maintain research collaborations with Brown University and the Providence VA Medical Center.

Research Focus

Cognitive functioning and rehabilitation Substance use disorders Rural Veterans' health Traumatic brain injury Intervention development and evaluation Telehealth and access to care Implementation science Health services research Clinical informatics and administrative data

Selected Publications

Shirley, K., Sano, E., & Gaudiano, B.A. · 2026 Veteran-informed design considerations for telehealth cognitive rehabilitation in substance use disorder care Psychological Services · Advance online publication
Shirley, K., Bolts, O., Pinto, L.A., Gaudiano, B.A., & Metrik, J. · 2026 A qualitative study of veteran and provider perspectives on a novel acute care transitions intervention for co-occurring mood and substance use disorders Psychological Services · Advance online publication
Clauss, K., Shirley, K., et al. · 2025 Clinically meaningful change following compensatory cognitive training in veterans with a history of mild traumatic brain injury: A brief report Applied Neuropsychology: Adult, 1–7
Shirley, K., Campbell, L.M., Maye, J.E., Sano, E., Pickell, D., Jak, A.J., O'Neil, M.E., & Twamley, E.W. · 2025 Feasibility of motivationally enhanced compensatory cognitive training for older Veterans with mild cognitive impairment Innovation in Aging, 9(Suppl 2), igaf122.3934 · Conference abstract
Loftis, J.M., Firsick, E., Shirley, K., et al. · 2023 Inflammatory and mental health sequelae of COVID-19 Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology, 15, 100186
Shirley, K., O'Neil, M., Boyd, S., & Loftis, J.M. · 2023 Differences in rates of impairment in adults who use methamphetamine using two sets of demographically corrected norms Applied Neuropsychology: Adult, 32(1), 216–224
Shirley, K., Sano, E., & O'Neil, M. · 2023 Pilot trial of compensatory cognitive training with Veterans in remission from alcohol use disorders Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 47(S1), 230 · Conference abstract
Shirley, K., Clauss, K., Cameron, D., et al. · 2023 Using the Federal Interagency Traumatic Brain Injury Research (FITBIR) informatics system to understand complex associations between traumatic brain injury and alcohol or substance use Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, 38(7), 1310 · Conference abstract
Shirley, K. & Loftis, J.M. · 2022 A spotlight on HCV and SARS-CoV-2 co-infection and brain function Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 217, 173403
Shirley, K., O'Neil, M., & Loftis, J. · 2022 Potential for inflated norms in neuropsychological assessment of individuals who use methamphetamine Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 28(S2), 578–579 · Conference abstract
Huckans, M., Boyd, S., Shirley, K., et al. · 2021 Cognition during active methamphetamine use versus remission Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 43(6), 599–610
O'Neil, M.E., Cameron, D., Shirley, K., et al. · 2021 Change in learning and memory partially mediates effects of compensatory cognitive training on self-reported cognitive symptoms Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 36(6), 429–436

Treatment Manuals

Huckans, M., Twamley, E.W., Tun, S., Hutson, L., Noonan, S., Savla, G., Jak, A.J., Schiehser, D., Storzbach, D., O'Neil, M.E., & Shirley, K. · 2025 Motivationally Enhanced Compensatory Cognitive Training for Addictions (ME-CCT-A) Treatment manual in dissemination · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Contact

drkateshirley [at] gmail [dot] com