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Tamara J. Somers

Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neurosciences
Box 102506, Durham, NC 27710
2400 Pratt Street, North Pavil, 7 Floor, Room 7046, Durham, NC 27705

Overview


Tamara J. Somers, PhD, is a Clinical Psychologist and Faculty Member in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Dr. Somers conducts research developing, testing, and implementing behavioral interventions for pain and other symptoms in patients with chronic disease (e.g., cancer, arthritis). She is particularly interested in developing behavioral interventions that are personalized to the needs of individual patients and using innovative delivery methods to deliver the interventions. Grant awards from the NIH, American Cancer Society, and other funding agencies support her research. Dr. Somers also co-directs a clinical psychology training program at the Duke Cancer Institute (DCI) that trains graduate students, clinical psychology interns, and post-doctoral fellows in psychosocial and behavioral symptom management interventions. 

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences · 2024 - Present Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neurosciences, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute · 2013 - Present Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published February 12, 2021
This Nurse Treated Cancer Patients for Years. Then Her Husband Became One.

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Recent Publications


Relationships between pain cognitions and physical function in a sample of racially diverse, sedentary individuals with chronic pain.

Journal Article Pain Pract · April 2025 BACKGROUND: Pain from musculoskeletal pain conditions is often persistent, bothersome, and negatively impacts physical function. Individuals with musculoskeletal pain report difficulty with walking and regular activities. For some, this may be related to o ... Full text Link to item Cite

Web-Based Pain Coping Skills Training (PCST) for Managing Aromatase Inhibitor-Associated Arthralgia in Breast Cancer Survivors: Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol.

Journal Article Contemp Clin Trials · February 2025 BACKGROUND: Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are a cornerstone of adjuvant systemic therapy for postmenopausal patients with hormone-receptor positive (HR+) breast cancer. Although AIs decrease cancer recurrence rates and improve survival rates, approximately 50 ... Full text Link to item Cite

Assessing the utility of the PC-PTSD-5 as a screening tool among a cancer survivor sample.

Journal Article Cancer · December 1, 2024 INTRODUCTION: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) is an intensive and invasive procedure used in cancer treatment that can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. These symptoms are frequently overlooked in oncology and general hea ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Education, Training & Certifications


University of Pittsburgh · 2007 Ph.D.