Robert A. Murphy | Scholars@Duke

Robert A. Murphy
Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Dr. Murphy is a licensed clinical psychologist focused on child traumatic stress, including its treatment and prevention and development and dissemination of evidence-based interventions. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University School of Medicine. Dr. Murphy serves as Executive Director for the Center for Child & Family Health (CCFH), a community and three university partnership (Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina Central University) dedicated to research, training, and intervention related to child trauma and maltreatment. Interests include treatment and prevention of child maltreatment and traumatic stress, dissemination of evidence based interventions, and improving mental health care for military families. In partnership with the Duke Sanford School of Public Policy Center for Child and Family Policy, he has been active in the development and evaluation, via two randomized controlled trials, of a brief, postnatal, universal nurse home visiting program (Family Connects) that has demonstrated improved parenting and parental distress, as well as reduced emergency medical care costs and lower rates of reported child maltreatment. Since 2003, CCFH has been a community treatment and services center within the National Child Traumatic Stress Network focused on improving access to evidence based mental health care for foster care youth and developing trauma informed child welfare systems.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Psychiatry, Child & Family Mental Health & Community Psychiatry, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences 2021
Affiliate of the Center for Child and Family Policy, Center for Child and Family Policy, Sanford School of Public Policy 2015

Contact Information

1121 W Chapel Hill St., Suite 100, Durham, NC 27701
Box 104424, Durham, NC 27710
robert.murphy@duke.edu (919) 419-3474

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., University of Massachusetts - Amherst 1996
- M.S., University of Massachusetts - Amherst 1993
- B.A., University of Massachusets, Boston 1989
Previous Appointments & Affiliations
- Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Psychiatry, Child & Family Mental Health & Community Psychiatry, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences 2013 - 2020
- Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Clinical Science Departments 2006 - 2013
- Associate Clinical Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Clinical Science Departments 2005 - 2006
- Instructor, Temporary in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Clinical Science Departments 2004 - 2005
Academic Positions Outside Duke
- Adjunct Associate Professor, UNC Gillings School of Public Health. 2010 - 2019
Expertise
Subject Headings
Global Scholarship
- Expertise
  - Malawi (Country)
- Research
  - Kenya (Country)
Research
Selected Grants
- Major League Baseball's Welcome Back Veterans awarded by McCormick Foundation 2011 - 2017
Fellowships, Supported Research, & Other Grants
- Family Connects International awarded by Pritzker Family Foundation 2017 - 2019
- Toward Continuous, Community Wide Support for Children and Families to Promote Child Well-being and Kindergarten Readiness awarded by The Duke Endowment 2017 - 2018
- Toward Universal Reach & Impact during the Prenatal Period in Guilford County, NC: P & D Phase awarded by The Duke Endowment 2017 - 2019
- Trauma Informed Community Care Center awarded by SAMHSA 2016 - 2020
- Family Member Assessment Component of the Millennium Cohort Family Study awarded by Abt Associates 2016 - 2019
- Evidence Based Mental Health Treatment & Dissemination awarded by The Duke Endowment 2015 - 2020
- Family Coping and Resilience Program awarded by NC GlaxoSmithKline Foundation 2013 - 2017
- Longitudinal Follow-up of a Universal, Postnatal Home Visiting Program awarded by NICHD 2012 - 2018
- Fostering Hope Community Treatment and Services awarded by SAMSHA 2009 - 2012
- Durham Family Initiative awarded by The Duke Endowment 2002 - 2019
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Academic Articles
  - Baziyants, G. A., Dodge, K. A., Bai, Y., Goodman, W. B., O’Donnell, K., & Murphy, R. A. (2023). The effects of a universal short-term home visiting program: Two-year impact on parenting behavior and parent mental health. Child Abuse Negl, 140, 106140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106140
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  - Goodman, W. B., Dodge, K. A., Bai, Y., Murphy, R. A., & O’Donnell, K. (2022). Evaluation of a Family Connects Dissemination to Four High-Poverty Rural Counties. Matern Child Health J, 26(5), 1067–1076. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-021-03297-y
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  - Dodge, K. A., Benjamin Goodman, W., Bai, Y., Murphy, R. A., & O’Donnell, K. (2021). Maximizing the return on investment in Early Childhood Home Visiting through enhanced eligibility screening. Child Abuse Negl, 122, 105339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105339
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  - LoSavio, S. T., Murphy, R. A., & Resick, P. A. (2021). Treatment Outcomes for Adolescents Versus Adults Receiving Cognitive Processing Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder During Community Training. J Trauma Stress, 34(4), 757–763. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22668
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  - Goodman, W. B., Dodge, K. A., Bai, Y., Murphy, R. A., & O’Donnell, K. (2021). Effect of a Universal Postpartum Nurse Home Visiting Program on Child Maltreatment and Emergency Medical Care at 5 Years of Age: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Jama Netw Open, 4(7), e2116024. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.16024
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  - Briggs, E. C., Fairbank, J. A., Tunno, A. M., Lee, R. C., Corry, N. H., Pflieger, J. C., … Murphy, R. A. (2020). Military Life Stressors, Family Communication and Satisfaction: Associations with Children's Psychosocial Outcomes. J Child Adolesc Trauma, 13(1), 75–87. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40653-019-00259-z
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  - Goodman, W. B., Dodge, K. A., Bai, Y., O’Donnell, K. J., & Murphy, R. A. (2019). Randomized controlled trial of Family Connects: Effects on child emergency medical care from birth to 24 months. Dev Psychopathol, 31(5), 1863–1872. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579419000889
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  - Dodge, K. A., Goodman, W. B., Bai, Y., O’Donnell, K., & Murphy, R. A. (2019). Effect of a Community Agency-Administered Nurse Home Visitation Program on Program Use and Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Jama Netw Open, 2(11), e1914522. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.14522
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  - LoSavio, S. T., Dillon, K. H., Murphy, R. A., & Resick, P. A. (2019). Therapist stuck points during training in cognitive processing therapy: Changes over time and associations with training outcomes. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 50(4), 255–263. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000224
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  - Chase, R. M., Carmody, K. A., Lent, M., Murphy, R., Amaya-Jackson, L., Wray, E., … Murray, K. (2019). Disseminating parent-child interaction therapy through the learning collaborative model on the adoption and implementation of an evidence-based treatment. Children and Youth Services Review, 101, 131–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.03.043
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  - Dillon, K. H., LoSavio, S. T., Henry, T. R., Murphy, R. A., & Resick, P. A. (2019). The Impact of Military Status on Cognitive Processing Therapy Outcomes in the Community. J Trauma Stress, 32(2), 330–336. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22396
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  - Goodman, W. B., O’Donnell, K., Murphy, R. A., Dodge, K. A., & Duke University, . (2019). Moving Beyond Program to Population Impact: Toward a Universal Early Childhood System of Care. J Fam Theory Rev, 11(1), 112–126. https://doi.org/10.1111/jftr.12302
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  - LoSavio, S. T., Dillon, K. H., Murphy, R. A., Goetz, K., Houston, F., & Resick, P. A. (2019). Using a Learning Collaborative Model to Disseminate Cognitive Processing Therapy to Community-Based Agencies. Behav Ther, 50(1), 36–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2018.03.007
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  - Fairbank, J. A., Briggs, E. C., Lee, R. C., Corry, N. H., Pflieger, J. C., Gerrity, E. T., … Murphy, R. A. (2018). Mental Health of Children of Deployed and Nondeployed US Military Service Members: The Millennium Cohort Family Study. J Dev Behav Pediatr, 39(9), 683–692. https://doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0000000000000606
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  - Amaya-Jackson, L., Hagele, D., Sideris, J., Potter, D., Briggs, E. C., Keen, L., … Socolar, R. (2018). Pilot to policy: statewide dissemination and implementation of evidence-based treatment for traumatized youth. Bmc Health Serv Res, 18(1), 589. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3395-0
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  - Murphy, R. A. (2018). How Medicaid and Managed Care Can Support Evidence-Based Treatment in North Carolina That is Informed by Adverse Childhood Experiences. N C Med J, 79(2), 119–123. https://doi.org/10.18043/ncm.79.2.119
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  - Berlin, L. J., Martoccio, T. L., Appleyard Carmody, K., Goodman, W. B., O’Donnell, K., Williams, J., … Dodge, K. A. (2017). Can typical US home visits affect infant attachment? Preliminary findings from a randomized trial of Healthy Families Durham. Attach Hum Dev, 19(6), 559–579. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2017.1339359
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  - McMaster, H. S., LeardMann, C. A., Speigle, S., Dillman, D. A., & Millennium Cohort Family Study Team, . (2017). An experimental comparison of web-push vs. paper-only survey procedures for conducting an in-depth health survey of military spouses. Bmc Med Res Methodol, 17(1), 73. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-017-0337-1
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  - Nocera, M., Shanahan, M., Murphy, R. A., Sullivan, K. M., Barr, M., Price, J., & Zolotor, A. (2016). A statewide nurse training program for a hospital based infant abusive head trauma prevention program. Nurse Educ Pract, 16(1), e1–e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2015.07.013
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  - Zolotor, A. J., Runyan, D. K., Shanahan, M., Durrance, C. P., Nocera, M., Sullivan, K., … Barr, R. G. (2015). Effectiveness of a Statewide Abusive Head Trauma Prevention Program in North Carolina. Jama Pediatr, 169(12), 1126–1131. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2015.2690
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  - Shanahan, M., Fleming, P., Nocera, M., Sullivan, K., Murphy, R., & Zolotor, A. (2014). Process evaluation of a statewide abusive head trauma prevention program. Eval Program Plann, 47, 18–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2014.07.002
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  - Dodge, K. A., Goodman, W. B., Murphy, R. A., O’Donnell, K., Sato, J., & Guptill, S. (2014). Implementation and randomized controlled trial evaluation of universal postnatal nurse home visiting. Am J Public Health, 104 Suppl 1(Suppl 1), S136–S143. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301361
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  - Murphy, R. A., Sink, H. E., Ake, G. S., Carmody, K. A., Amaya-Jackson, L. M., & Briggs, E. C. (2014). Predictors of treatment completion in a sample of youth who have experienced physical or sexual trauma. J Interpers Violence, 29(1), 3–19. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260513504495
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  - Murphy, R. A., & Fairbank, J. A. (2013). Implementation and dissemination of military informed and evidence-based interventions for community dwelling military families. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev, 16(4), 348–364. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-013-0149-8
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  - Dodge, K. A., Goodman, W. B., Murphy, R. A., O’Donnell, K., & Sato, J. (2013). Randomized controlled trial of universal postnatal nurse home visiting: impact on emergency care. Pediatrics, 132 Suppl 2(Suppl 2), S140–S146. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2013-1021M
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  - Alonso-Marsden, S., Dodge, K. A., O’Donnell, K. J., Murphy, R. A., Sato, J. M., & Christopoulos, C. (2013). Family risk as a predictor of initial engagement and follow-through in a universal nurse home visiting program to prevent child maltreatment. Child Abuse Negl, 37(8), 555–565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2013.03.012
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  - Fraser, J. G., Lloyd, S., Murphy, R., Crowson, M., Zolotor, A. J., Coker-Schwimmer, E., & Viswanathan, M. (2013). A comparative effectiveness review of parenting and trauma-focused interventions for children exposed to maltreatment. J Dev Behav Pediatr, 34(5), 353–368. https://doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0b013e31828a7dfc
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  - Dodge, K. A., Goodman, W. B., Murphy, R., O’Donnell, K., & Sato, J. (2013). Toward Population Impact from Home Visiting. Zero Three, 33(3), 17–23.
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  - O’Donnell, K., Murphy, R., Ostermann, J., Masnick, M., Whetten, R. A., Madden, E., … Positive Outcomes for Orphans (POFO) Research Team, . (2012). A brief assessment of learning for orphaned and abandoned children in low and middle income countries. Aids Behav, 16(2), 480–490. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-011-9940-z
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  - Zolotor, A. J., Robinson, T. W., Runyan, D. K., Barr, R. G., & Murphy, R. A. (2011). The emergence of spanking among a representative sample of children under 2 years of age in North Carolina. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2(JUN). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2011.00036
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  - Murphy, R. A. (2010). Multi-system responses in the context of child maltreatment and intimate partner violence. Child Abuse Negl, 34(8), 555–557. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2007.07.013
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  - Gossart-Walker, S., & Murphy, R. A. (2010). Children and HIV. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195159226.003.0019
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  - Runyan, D. K., Hennink-Kaminski, H. J., Zolotor, A. J., Barr, R. G., Murphy, R. A., Barr, M., … Nocera, M. (2009). Designing and testing a shaken baby syndrome prevention program - the period of PURPLE crying: Keeping babies safe in North Carolina. Social Marketing Quarterly, 15(4), 2–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/15245000903304635
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  - Harpaz-Rotem, I., Berkowitz, S., Marans, S., Murphy, R. A., & Rosenheck, R. A. (2008). Out-of-home placement of children exposed to violence. Children and Society, 22(1), 29–40. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1099-0860.2006.00073.x
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  - Harpaz-Rotem, I., Murphy, R. A., Berkowitz, S., Marans, S., & Rosenheck, R. A. (2007). Clinical epidemiology of urban violence: responding to children exposed to violence in ten communities. J Interpers Violence, 22(11), 1479–1490. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260507305571
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  - Murphy, R. A., Kasprow, W. J., & Rosenheck, R. A. (2005). Predictors of children's involvement in parents' treatment among homeless veterans in community residential care. Psychiatr Serv, 56(9), 1147–1149. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.56.9.1147
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  - DeSena, A. D., Murphy, R. A., Douglas-Palumberi, H., Blau, G., Kelly, B., Horwitz, S. M., & Kaufman, J. (2005). SAFE Homes: is it worth the cost? An evaluation of a group home permanency planning program for children who first enter out-of-home care. Child Abuse Negl, 29(6), 627–643. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2004.05.007
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  - Murphy, R. A., Rosenheck, R. A., Berkowitz, S. J., & Marans, S. R. (2005). Acute service delivery in a police-mental health program for children exposed to violence and trauma. Psychiatr Q, 76(2), 107–121. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-005-2334-2
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  - Murphy, R. A., & Halgin, R. P. (1995). Influences on the Career Choice of Psychotherapists. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 26(4), 422–426. https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.26.4.422
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Education, Training, & Certifications

Previous Appointments & Affiliations

Academic Positions Outside Duke

Subject Headings

Global Scholarship

Expertise

Research

Selected Grants

Fellowships, Supported Research, & Other Grants

Selected Publications

Academic Articles