Joslin Investigator Details

A Harvard Medical School Affiliate

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	Joslin Investigator:

Ann Goebel-Fabbri, PhD

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Ann E. Goebel-Fabbri, Ph.D.

Investigator

Joslin Diabetes Center

Instructor in Psychiatry

Harvard Medical School

8/1/1999 -

Eating Disorders and Diabetes

Dr. Ann Goebel-Fabbri is a clinical psychologist whose research is focused on a number of issues related to diabetes, disordered eating, and healthy weight loss. Her interests center around investigating the links between eating disorders (insulin omission, insulin under-dosing, meal-planning, exercise, and binge eating) and medical outcomes of type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Eating disorders are the most lethal psychiatric disorders that exist (American Anorexia Bulimia Association). Research indicates that women with diabetes have 2.4 times the risk for developing an eating disorder than women without diabetes. Insulin omission and reduction (a symptom of an eating disorder specific to diabetes) has a strong relationship to medical complications of diabetes, such as nerve damage, kidney disease, cardiac disease, and eye disease (the leading cause of new blindness in the US).

Along with Dr. Katie Weinger, Dr. Goebel-Fabbri completed a follow-up of a cohort of 350 female Joslin patients with type 1 diabetes - investigating the natural course of insulin omission and how this behavior relates to disordered eating behavior, diabetes-related distress, and medical complications of diabetes.

As a member of the Why WAIT team (Weight Achievement and Intensive Treatment), Dr. Goebel-Fabbri conducts behavioral weight loss groups aimed at improving glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Treatment outcomes are tracked and evaluated by the team for clinical research purposes.

Dr. Goebel-Fabbri serves as the behavioral consultant to the Joslin team of the Action for Health in Diabetes (LookAHEAD) project, a multi-center NIDDK-funded program examing the impact of weight loss and physical activity on cardiac outcomes in type 2 diabetes. She is also the supervising psychologist for the Joslin team of the Treatment Options in Diabetes type 2 Adolescents and Youth (TODAY) study, a multi-center NIDDK-funded program examing optimal treatments for youth and adolescents with type 2 diabetes.

BIOSKETCH:

Dr. Goebel-Fabbri received her PhD in clinical psychology from Boston University and completed her clinical training at Cambridge Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Joslin Diabetes Center, each affiliated with Harvard Medical School. In addition to her research, she works in the pediatric/adolescent unit and the behavioral health unit at Joslin Clinic in Boston. She specializes in the treatment of eating disorders in diabetes. Dr. Goebel-Fabbri has received grants for her research from the Harvard Scholars in Medicine program and the Harvard Center of Excellence in Women's Health. She speaks at national conferences and trainings about the topic of eating disorders and diabetes.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

Anderson, A. J., Goebel-Fabbri, A. E., & Jacobson, A. M. (2005). Behavioral research and psychological issues in diabetes. In C. R. Kahn, G. C. Weir, G. L. King, A. M. Jacobson, A. C. Moses, & R. J. Smith (Eds.), Joslin's Diabetes Mellitus, 14th Edition. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins.

Goebel-Fabbri, A. E., Musen, G., Sparks, C. R., Greene, J. A., Levenson, J. L., & Jacobson, A. M. (2005). Endocrine and metabolic disorders. In J. L. Levenson (Ed.), Textbook of Psychosomatic Medicine. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing.

Goebel-Fabbri, A. E., Fikkan, J., & Franko, D.L. (2003). Beyond the manual: The flexible use of cognitive behavioral therapy for bulimia nervosa. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 10, 41-50.

Goebel-Fabbri, A. E. (2002). Detecting and treating eating disorders in young women with type 1 diabetes. In B.J Anderson & R.R. Rubin (eds.) Practical Psychology for Diabetes Clinicians – 2nd Edition. Washington, DC: American Diabetes Association.

Goebel-Fabbri, A.E., Fikkan, J.L., Connell, A., Vangsness, L., & Anderson, B.J. (2002). Identification and treatment of eating disorders in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Treatments in Endocrinology 1 (3), 155-162.

Goebel-Fabbri, A.E., Weinger, K., Fikkan, J.L., Schwartz, E., & Anderson, B.J. (2002). Medical and psychological impact of insulin omission in type 1 diabetes: A ten year follow-up. Diabetes, 51 (Supplement 2), A436.

Goebel-Fabbri, A.E., Fikkan, J.L., Vangsness, L., Connell, A., Ficken, A., & Anderson, B.J. (2001). Binge eating, body mass index, and glycemic control in women with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes, 50 (Supplement 2), A392.