Diane LaChapelle

Education

• BSc (Hons) McMaster University
• MA & PhD (Clinical Psychology) University of Regina, L.Psyc (Province of NB)

My research interests fall in the area of health and rehabilitation psychology focusing on adjustment to chronic illness and disability. I am particularly interested in factors that impact adjustment to chronic pain from the perspectives of both the person with pain and the professionals/community members who try to help them.

My research is founded in social psychological, health/rehabilitation, cognitive-behavioural, and acceptance and commitment based theories. Recent projects have focused on the process of acceptance of chronic pain, identifying stereotypes about patients with pain that are held by patients themselves, health care providers and the general community, the sociocommunications model of pain, and the value/effectiveness of self-management programs from the perspectives of both patients and health professionals.

Selected publications

Bailey, S.J. & LaChapelle, D.L. (2015). Judgements of responsibility and injustice in the assessment of a soldier’s pain. Presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the British Pain Society, Glasgow, Scotland, April 21-23, 2015.

Gullickson, K. & LaChapelle, D.L. (2015). Learning to Live with Arthritis: Partners’ Definitions of Acceptance. Presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the British Pain Society, Glasgow, Scotland, April 21-23, 2015.

Crump, L. & LaChapelle, D.L. (2015). Who would want to date me? The impact of chronic pain on new romantic relationships. Presented at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the British Pain Society, Glasgow, Scotland, April 21-23, 2015.

LaChapelle, D.L., Lavoie, S., Higgins, N.C., & Hadjistavropoulos, T. (2014). Attractiveness, Diagnostic Ambiguity, and Disability Cues Impact Perceptions of Women with Pain. Rehabilitation Psychology, 59(2), 162-170. Doi: 10.1037/a0035894.

Bailey, S.J., LaChapelle, D.L., Lefort, S.M., Gordon, A., Hadjistavropoulos, T. (2013). Evaluation of Chronic Pain-Related Information Available to Consumers on the Internet. Pain Medicine, 14(6), 855-864. doi: 10.1111/pme.12087.

LaChapelle, D.L., Lavoie, S., & Boudreau, A. (2008). The Meaning and Process of Pain Acceptance. Perceptions of Women Living with Arthritis/Fibromyalgia. Pain Research & Management, 13(3), 201-210.

Teaching

• Undergraduate courses: Foundations of Clinical Psychology (Pscy 2313), Foundations of Social Psychology (Psyc 2403), Health Psychology (Psyc 3033).
• Graduate courses: Evidence Based Practice of Clinical Psychology and Assessment Skills with Adults

Professional awards

• 2016 Award for Excellence in Professional Training - Academic, Canadian Council of Professional Psychology Programs
• 2011 Service Appreciation Award for contributions to the Arthritis Society New Brunswick Division and National Board of Directors
• 2005 Canadian Psychological Association, President's New Researcher Award