Academic Information
PhD in Clinical Psychology, 2007
University of Tuebingen (Germany) and University Hospital of Tuebingen, Dep. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

Diploma (Masters) in Clinical Psychology, 2002
University of Tuebingen and University Hospital of Tuebingen, Dep. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

Research Interests
My research focuses on the treatment of tobacco dependence. I have a strong interest to understand the determinants of cessation, cessation failure and relapse, and to investigate subgroups of smokers, to highlight their special risks and needs for additional therapy components. I am also interested in the improvement of existing smoking cessation intervention methods, and the development of new treatment strategies.

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

• Collins SE, Torchalla I, Schröter M, Buchkremer G, Batra A (in press). Development and validation of a cluster-based classification system to facilitate treatment tailoring. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research.

• Batra A, Collins SE, Torchalla I, Schröter M, Buchkremer G (in press, published online in 10/2007). Multidimensional smoker profiles and their prediction of smoking following a pharmacobehavioral intervention. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment.

• Torchalla I, Albrecht F, Buchkremer G, & Längle G (2004). Wohnungslose Frauen mit psychischer Erkrankung - eine Feldstudie [Homeless women with psychiatric disorders – a field study]. Psychiatrische Praxis 31: 228-235.

Non-Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

• Torchalla I, Batra A (2007) Mit individuellen Konzepten gegen die Tabaksucht [Individualized treatment of tobacco dependence]. Der Neurologe und Psychiater: 27-32.
• Schröter M, Torchalla I, Batra A (2007). Grundlagen der Tabakabhängigkeit und Entwöhnungsbehandlung [Principles of tobacco dependence and smoking cessation counseling]. Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie up2date 1: 245-259.
• Batra A, Collins S, Torchalla I (2004). Rauchen bei Kindern und Jugendlichen. [Smoking in children and adolescents]. Kind, Jugend, Gesellschaft 49; 3: 71-74.

Abstracts and Presentations

Abstracts in Peer-Reviewed Journals

• Batra A, Collins S, Schröter M, Torchalla I, Buchkremer G (2006) Individualisierte Behandlung von Rauchersubtypen [Individualized treatment adapted to smoker subtypes]. Nervenarzt 77, Suppl. 3: 249.

• Batra A, Collins SE, Schröter M, Torchalla I, Buchkremer G (2006) Subklinische psychopathologische Phänotypen der Raucher – Ansatzpunkt für eine risikogruppenspezifische Raucherentwöhnungstherapie [Subclinical psychopathological smoker profiles as a base of risk-group specific therapy]. Sucht 52: 61.

• Torchalla I, Schröter M, Friederich HM, Buchkremer G, Batra A (2005) Smoking-cessation therapy adapted to biological and psychological outcome predictors. Nicotine & Tobacco Research 7; 4: 650-651.

• Batra A, Schröter M, Torchalla I, Friederich HM, Kaspar P, Buchkremer G (2004) Prädiktoren der Tabakabstinenz nach einer professionell unterstützten Tabakentwöhnung [Abstinence predictors following a pharmacobehavioral smoking cessation intervention]. Nervenarzt 75, Suppl. 2: 184.

• Bajinski C, Bauer P, Schröter M, Torchalla I, Riess O, Batra A (2004) Die Genetik der Tabakabhängigkeit – Prädiktoren der Tabakabstinenz [Genetics of tobacco dependence]. Nervenarzt 75, Suppl. 2: 187.

Conference Posters

• Torchalla I, Collins SE, Schröter M, Batra A (September, 2006). Rauchertypen und differentielle Behandlungserfolge – Implikationen für die Therapie [Smoker subtypes and differential abstinence rates – Consequences for therapeutic strategies]. 45th Congress of the German Association for Psychology (DGPs), Nuernberg.

• Collins SE, Torchalla I, Schröter M, Buchkremer G, Batra A (May, 2006). Smoking cessation based on psychological moderators: Development and validation of a cluster-based classification system to facilitate treatment tailoring. 2nd Meeting of the German Addiction Research Network, Dresden.

• Batra A, Collins SE, Schröter M, Torchalla I (May, 2006). Smoking cessation treatments adapted to biological and psychological outcome predictors – a chance for improvement of treatment outcome. " Understanding Addiction: Mediators and Moderators of Behaviour Change Processes.” 2nd Meeting of the German Addiction Research Network, Dresden.

• Batra A, Collins SE, Schröter M, Torchalla I, Buchkremer G (March, 2006). Subklinische psychopathologische Phänotypen der Raucher – Ansatzpunkt für eine risikogruppenspezifische Raucherentwöhnungstherapie [Subclinical smoker subtypes – consequences for the development of adapted therapy]. Annual Meeting of the German Society for Addiction Research and Addiction Therapy, Regensburg.

Oral Presentations

• Torchalla I (December, 2007). Genderspezifische Aspekte der Tabakabhängigkeit [Gender-aspects in the treatment of tobacco dependence]. 5th German Conference on Tobacco Control of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg.

• Torchalla I (September, 2007). Psychologische Aspekte der Tabakabhängigkeit [Psychological aspects of tobacco dependence]. „Präventika” – 1st Conference on Health and Prevention of the German Association for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases (DGPr), Karlsruhe.

• Torchalla I, Collins SE, Schröter M, Buchkremer G, Batra A. (February, 2006). Psychologische Phänotypen und differentielle Behandlungserfolge in der Tabakentwöhnung [The prediction of smoking cessation treatment effects by psychological phenotypes]. 6th Winter Seminar of the Baden-Württemberg Addiction Research Network, Baiersbronn.

• Torchalla I, Collins SE, Schröter M, Buchkremer G, Batra A (October, 2004). Biological and psychological predictors of tobacco abstinence. 6th European Conference of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT Europe), Tuebingen.

• Torchalla I (June, 2004). Tabakabhängigkeit [Tobacco dependence]. European Conference for Party-drugs „Addicted to Party“ of the Association for Drugs and Intoxicants (FDR), Erfurt.

Other Pursuits and Interests
In addition to my research activities I have attended an intensive, 5-year cognitive-behavioral therapy training. In my spare time I like kayaking, hiking, playing volleyball, and spending time with my two teenager kids.

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