James Edwin Aikens, Ph.D.

James E. Aikens, Ph.D.

Professor and Associate Chair for Research Programs
Dr. Max and Buena Lichter Research Professor of Family Medicine
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Administrative Contact

Rania Clark

(586) 556-1648
ajilatr@med.umich.edu

Biography

Dr. Aikens is Professor of Family Medicine, and Associate Chair for Research in the University of Michigan Department of Family Medicine, a health psychology researcher in the area of the self-management of chronic conditions, and a practicing clinical psychologist at Briarwood Family Medicine where he provides short-term psychological intervention for adults with common anxiety and/or depressive symptoms. He also provides classroom teaching on brief cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in primary care, research methods, and other topics. He has authored over 100 research articles and has directed numerous grant-funded research studies. He is a member of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, North American Primary Care Research Group, American Psychological Association, and American Diabetes Association.

He sees patients at Briarwood Family Medicine →

Areas of Interest

  • Integrating self-management support with technology to improve chronic illness self-management
  • Activating depressed patients’ social support networks to improve outcomes
  • Epidemiologic investigation of factors affecting diabetes self-management
  • Explaining heterogeneity in depression treatment response
  • Developing and validating self-report instruments
  • Depression and Primary Care Psychiatry
  • Clinical Informatics and Technology

Credentials

Advanced Degrees
  • Ph.D., Medical (Clinical) Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Ala., 1992
  • M.A., Medical (Clinical) Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Ala., 1990
Fellowship
  • Clinical Fellow, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, 1993

Publications

Key Publications
  1. Mayberry L.S., Piette J.D., Lee A.A., Aikens J.E. Out-of-home informal support important for medication adherence, diabetes distress, hemoglobin A1c among adults with type 2 diabetes. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 42(3):493-501, 2019.
  2. Lee, A.A., Aikens, J.E., Rosland, A.M., Piette, J.D. Functional support and burden among out-of-home supporters of heart failure patients with and without depression. Health Psychology, 39(1): 29-36, 2020.
  3. Piette J.D., Striplin D., Fisher L., Aikens J.E., Lee A., Marinec N., Mansabdar M., Chen J., Gregory L.A., Kim C.S. Effects of accessible health technology and caregiver support post-hospitalization on 30-day readmission risk: A randomized trial. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, 46(2): 109-117, 2020.
  4. Saslow L.R., Moskowitz J.T., Mason A.E., Daubenmier J., Liestenfeltz B., Missel A.L., Bayandorian H., Aikens J.E., Kim S., Hecht F.M. Intervention enhancement strategies among adults with type 2 diabetes in a very low-carbohydrate web-based program: Evaluating the impact with a randomized trial. JMIR Diabetes, 5(3):e15835, 2020.
  5. Piette J.D., Striplin D., Aikens J.E., Lee A., Marinec N., Mansabdar M., Chen J., Gregory L.A., Kim C.S. Impacts of post-hospitalization accessible health technology and caregiver support on 90-day acute care use and self-care assistance: a randomized clinical trial. American Journal of Medical Quality, 36(3):145-155, 2021.
  6. Kanzler K.E., Kilpela L.S., Pugh J., Garcini L.M., Gaspard C.S., Aikens J.E., Reynero E., Tsevat J., Lopez E.S., Johnson-Esparza Y., Ramirez A.G., Finley E.P. Methodology for task-shifting evidence-based psychological treatments to non-licensed/lay health workers: protocol for a systematic review. BMJ Open, 11(2):e044012, 2021.
  7. Aikens J.E., Valenstein M., Plegue M.A., Sen A., Marinec N., Achtyes E., Piette J.D. Technology-facilitated depression self-management linked with lay supporters and primary care clinics: Randomized controlled trial in a low-income sample. Telemedicine and e-Health, 28(3):399-406, 2022. 
  8.  Missel, A. L., O’Brien, A. V, Maser, H., Kanwal, A., Bayandorian, H., Martin, S., Carrigan, P., McNamee, R., Daubenmier, J., Isaman, D. J. M., Padmanabhan, V., Smith, Y. R., Aikens, J. E., Saslow, L. R. Impact of an online multicomponent very low-carbohydrate program in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A pilot study. Fertility and Sterility Reports, 2(4):386-395, 2021.
  9. Lin Y.K., Richardson C.R., Dobrin I., DeJonckheere M.J., Mizokami-Stout K., Fetters M.D., Aikens J.E., Fisher S.J., Ye W., Pop-Busui R. Beliefs around hypoglycemia and their impacts on hypoglycemia outcomes in people with type 1 diabetes and high risks for hypoglycemia despite using advanced diabetes technologies. Diabetes Care, 45(3):520-528, 2022.
  10. Sukchaisong, N., Pichayapinyo, P., Lagampan, S., Saslow, L. R., Aikens, J. E. Effectiveness of the mindfulness-based diabetes self- and family management support program among adults with uncontrolled diabetes: A randomized controlled trial. PRIJNR, 26(3):517-532, 2022.

 

Locations

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Briarwood Family Medicine
1801 Briarwood Circle
Building 10
Ann Arbor, MI  48108
734-539-5000

If you had unlimited funding to complete your research, what would you attempt to accomplish?

Think about the next half-century rather than the next few years. Create something like the Apollo Program or Human Genome Project. A vast but agile network of experts, technicians, and end-users designing individualized plans based on optimized feedback from wearable technology, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and much more.

In the News

James Edwin Aikens, Ph.D.
September 23, 2022

As the new Associate Chair of Research Programs for Family Medicine, Professor James E. Aikens, Ph.D. is aiming high

Aikens views his role as an opportunity to serve and support all family medicine researchers, clinicians and educators; expand existing research cores; facilitate the success of incoming faculty members; and serve the entire department’s research needs.

James Edwin Aikens, Ph.D.
July 27, 2022

James E. Aikens, Ph.D., named new Associate Chair for Research Programs

James Edwin Aikens, Ph.D.
April 27, 2022

Delivering automated support via phone to patients with depression and their caregivers shows positive impact on health outcomes

Research led by Professor James E. Aikens, Ph.D., finds that the simple automated telephone system can also alleviate primary care staff's workload in helping those experiencing depressive symptoms.