Elaine F. Walker

Elaine F. Walker
EducationWashington University in St. Louis (BA)
University of Missouri–St. Louis (PhD)
AwardsFellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Scientific career
FieldsClinical psychology, developmental psychopathology, schizophrenia research
WorkplacesEmory University
Cornell University

Elaine F. Walker is a clinical psychologist and the Charles Howard Candler Professor of psychology and neuroscience at Emory University.[1] Her research focuses on the development and prediction of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. She is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Biography

Walker received her B.A. in psychology from Washington University in St. Louis in 1974 and was an intern in the Department of Child Psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine from 1976 to 1977. In 1979, she received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Missouri and completed a post-doctorate research fellowship at the University of Southern California under the guidance of Dr. Sarnoff Mednick.

Walker began her teaching career as an instructor in psychology at California State University, Los Angeles from 1978 to 1979. She joined Cornell University in 1979 as an assistant professor in human development and family studies and psychology and was promoted to associate professor in 1985.[2]

Since 1986, Walker has taught and conducted research at Emory University.[3] She joined Emory as an associate professor in the departments of psychology and psychiatry and became a professor in the Department of Psychology and the graduate neuroscience program in 1989. She was the Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor[4] from 1994 to 2016 and became the Charles Howard Candler Professor[3] in 2016. Aside from being a professor of psychology and teaching courses in abnormal psychology, personality and psychopathology,[3] she serves as the director of the Mental Health and Development Research Program at Emory University.[5]

Among the positions Walker has held at Emory, she directed clinical training in psychology from 1992 to 1995 and the graduate program in clinical psychology from 1994 to 1998. She chaired the Department of Psychology from 2003 to 2006.[6] Outside the university, she served on the executive board of the Society for Research in Psychopathology and was the society's president from 1999 to 2000.[7] Walker also served as editor-in-chief of the Association for Psychological Science's journal Psychological Science in the Public Interest.[8] From 2019 to 2026, she chaired the association's publications committee.[9]

Research

Walker's research is in developmental psychopathology and focuses on the developmental course of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders. Her early studies examined emotion recognition, attention, neuropsychological functioning, and positive and negative symptoms in people with schizophrenia.[10][11][12] She later used childhood home movies and longitudinal high-risk samples to investigate whether neuromotor, emotional and social differences could be observed before the onset of psychosis.[13] This research examined childhood movement abnormalities, social withdrawal and emotional expression as possible early indicators of later psychotic illness.[14][15]

A recurring theme in Walker's research is the interaction between neurodevelopment and stress.[16] With Donald Diforio, she proposed a neural diathesis–stress model of schizophrenia linking neurodevelopmental vulnerability with stress-related changes in the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, cortisol secretion and dopamine activity.[17] Her subsequent work examined changes in stress sensitivity during puberty and adolescence, including the relationships among cortisol, hormones, stressful experiences and emerging psychotic symptoms.[18][19]

Since the 2000s, Walker has studied adolescents and young adults considered to be at clinical high risk for psychosis. Through the North American Prodrome Longitudinal Study, she has investigated factors associated with the persistence or remission of attenuated symptoms and the transition to psychosis.[20] This work has combined longitudinal clinical assessments with measures of movement, cognition, social functioning, neuroendocrine activity, neuroimaging, electroencephalography, inflammation and genetic risk.[21] She has also contributed to studies developing individualized models for estimating psychosis risk.[22]

Her later research has examined negative symptoms and functional outcomes,[23] as well as the relationships of childhood adversity,[24] discrimination,[25] neighborhood conditions, sleep, substance use and social engagement with psychosis risk.[26][27][28] She has also studied 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and 3q29 microdeletion syndrome as genetic models of neurodevelopmental vulnerability to psychosis.[29][30]

Honors and awards

Selected books

  • Harvey, P. D.; Walker, E. F., Eds. (1987). Positive and Negative Symptoms in Psychosis: Description, Research and Future Directions. Erlbaum.
  • Walker, E. F., ed. (1991). Schizophrenia: A Life-Course Developmental Perspective. Academic Press.
  • Walker, E. F.; Dworkin, R.; Cornblatt, B., eds. (1992). Progress in Experimental Personality and Psychopathology Research. Springer.
  • Rosenhan, D.; Seligman, M.; Walker, E. F. (2001). Abnormal Psychology. Norton Publishing Company.
  • Cicchetti, D.; Walker, E. F., eds. (2003). Neurodevelopmental Mechanisms in Psychopathology. Cambridge University Press.
  • Romer, D.; Walker, E. F., eds. (2007). Adolescent Psychopathology and the Developing Brain: Integrating Brain and Prevention Science. Oxford University Press.

Selected works

  • Walker, E., Savoie, T., & Davis, D. (1994). Neuromotor precursors of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 20, 441–452. doi:10.1093/schbul/20.3.441
  • Walker, E. F., & Diforio, D. (1997). Schizophrenia: A neural diathesis-stress model. Psychological Review, 104(4), 667–685. doi:10.1037/0033-295X.104.4.667
  • Walker, E. F., Walder, D. J., & Reynolds, F. (2001). Developmental changes in cortisol secretion in normal and at-risk youth. Development and Psychopathology, 13(3), 721–732. doi:10.1017/S0954579401003169
  • Walker, E., Mittal, V., & Tessner, K. (2008). Stress and the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis in the developmental course of schizophrenia. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 4(1), 189–216. doi:10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.4.022007.141248
  • Walker, E. F., & Goldsmith, D. R. (2022). Schizophrenia: A scientific graveyard or a pragmatically useful diagnostic construct? Schizophrenia Research, 242, 141. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2022.01.022
  • Walker, E. (2022). The permeable boundary between biological and psychological processes in the origins of psychosis. Psychiatry Research, 317, 114853. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114853
  • Sefik, E., Boamah, M., Addington, J., Bearden, C. E., Cadenhead, K. S., Cornblatt, B. A., et al. (2023). Sex- and age-specific deviations in cerebellar structure and their link with symptom dimensions and clinical outcome in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 49(2), 350–363. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbac169
  • Ku, B. S., Collins, M., Anglin, D. M., Diomino, A. M., Addington, J., Bearden, C. E., et al. (2023). Associations between childhood ethnoracial minority density, cortical thickness, and social engagement among minority youth at clinical high-risk for psychosis. Neuropsychopharmacology, 48(12), 1707–1715. doi:10.1038/s41386-023-01649-6
  • Ku, B. S., Aberizk, K., Feurer, C., Yuan, Q., Druss, B. G., Jeste, D. V., & Walker, E. F. (2024). Aspects of area deprivation index in relation to hippocampal volume among children. JAMA Network Open, 7(6), e2416484. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.16484
  • Walker, E. F., Aberizk, K., Yuan, E., Bilgrami, Z., Ku, B. S., & Guest, R. M. (2024). Developmental perspectives on the origins of psychotic disorders: The need for a transdiagnostic approach. Development and Psychopathology, 36(5), 2559–2569. doi:10.1017/S0954579424000397
  • Guest, R. M., Aberizk, K., Addington, J., Bearden, C. E., Cadenhead, K. S., Cannon, T. D., et al. (2025). Cultural variables influence performance on the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery among people at clinical high risk for psychosis. Schizophrenia Research, 280, 60–68. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2025.04.019

References

  1. ↑ "Elaine Walker". Emory Center for Ethics.
  2. ↑ "Cornell University Media Services Photo Section records, 1970–1986". Cornell University Library. Box 23, Job 1156, Sheet 7. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "Elaine F. Walker". Department of Psychology. Emory University. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  4. ↑ "Emory psychologists Walker and Lilienfeld receive top national honor". Emory News Center. 24 May 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  5. ↑ "Institutional Environment". Emory University School of Medicine. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  6. ↑ Sweeney, Kate (22 April 2026). "Emory celebrates three faculty elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences". Emory University. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  7. ↑ "SRP 1999: Minutes of the General Membership Meeting". Society for Research in Psychopathology. 19 November 1999. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  8. ↑ Drew, Amy (30 January 2015). "A Look Back at Elaine Walker's PSPI Editorship". APS Observer. Vol. 28. Association for Psychological Science. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  9. ↑ Bauer, Patricia J. (January 2024). "Attention to Authenticity: An Essential Analogue to Focus on Rigor and Replicability". Psychological Science. 35 (1): 3–6. doi:10.1177/09567976231220895. PMID 38096250.
  10. ↑ Walker, Elaine F.; Marwit, Samuel J.; Emory, Eugene (1980). "A cross-sectional study of emotion recognition in schizophrenics". Journal of Abnormal Psychology. 89 (3): 428–436. doi:10.1037/0021-843X.89.3.428. PMID 7410710.
  11. ↑ Green, Michael; Walker, Elaine (1985). "Neuropsychological performance and positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia". Journal of Abnormal Psychology. 94 (4): 460–469. doi:10.1037/0021-843X.94.4.460. PMID 4078151.
  12. ↑ Green, Michael; Walker, Elaine (1986). "Attentional performance in positive- and negative-symptom schizophrenia". Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 174 (4): 208–213. doi:10.1097/00005053-198604000-00003. PMID 3958701.
  13. ↑ Drew, Amy (2 July 2013). "Uncovering Neurodevelopmental Origins of Psychosis and Adolescent Mental Health: A Tribute to Elaine F. Walker". APS Observer. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  14. ↑ Walker, Elaine F.; Grimes, Karen E.; Davis, David M.; Smith, Adina J. (1993). "Childhood precursors of schizophrenia: Facial expressions of emotion". American Journal of Psychiatry. 150 (11): 1654–1660. doi:10.1176/ajp.150.11.1654. PMID 8214173.
  15. ↑ Schiffman, Jason; Walker, Elaine; Ekstrom, Morten; Schulsinger, Fini; Sorensen, Holger; Mednick, Sarnoff (2004). "Childhood videotaped social and neuromotor precursors of schizophrenia: A prospective investigation". American Journal of Psychiatry. 161 (11): 2021–2027. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.161.11.2021. PMID 15514402.
  16. ↑ Scarborough, Senta (3 May 2023). "Psychology professor Elaine Walker's life-changing impact honored with Cuttino Award". Emory News Center. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  17. ↑ Walker, Elaine F.; Diforio, Donald (1997). "Schizophrenia: A neural diathesis-stress model". Psychological Review. 104 (4): 667–685. doi:10.1037/0033-295X.104.4.667. PMID 9337628.
  18. ↑ Walker, Elaine F.; Sabuwalla, Zainab; Huot, Rebecca (2004). "Pubertal neuromaturation, stress sensitivity, and psychopathology". Development and Psychopathology. 16 (4): 807–824. doi:10.1017/S0954579404040027. PMID 15704816.
  19. ↑ Walker, Elaine; Mittal, Vijay; Tessner, Kevin (2008). "Stress and the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis in the developmental course of schizophrenia". Annual Review of Clinical Psychology. 4: 189–216. doi:10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.4.022007.141248. PMID 18370616.
  20. ↑ "Psychosocial Research at NIMH: A Primer". National Institute of Mental Health. 8 September 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
  21. ↑ Addington, Jean; et al. (2022). "North American Prodrome Longitudinal Study (NAPLS 3): Methods and baseline description". Schizophrenia Research. 243: 262–267. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2020.04.010. PMID 32317224.
  22. ↑ Cannon, Tyrone D.; et al. (2016). "An Individualized Risk Calculator for Research in Prodromal Psychosis". American Journal of Psychiatry. 173 (10): 980–988. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2016.15070890. PMID 27363508.
  23. ↑ Gupta, Tina; et al. (2021). "Deconstructing Negative Symptoms in Individuals at Clinical High-Risk for Psychosis: Evidence for Volitional and Diminished Emotionality Subgroups That Predict Clinical Presentation and Functional Outcome". Schizophrenia Bulletin. 47 (1): 54–63. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbaa084. PMID 32955097.
  24. ↑ LoPilato, Allison M.; et al. (2019). "Impact of childhood adversity on corticolimbic volumes in youth at clinical high-risk for psychosis". Schizophrenia Research. 213: 48–55. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2019.01.048. PMID 30745068.
  25. ↑ Michaels, Timothy I.; et al. (2023). "Ethnoracial discrimination and the development of suspiciousness symptoms in individuals at clinical high-risk for psychosis". Schizophrenia Research. 254: 125–132. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2023.02.021. PMID 36857950.
  26. ↑ Ku, Benson S.; et al. (2022). "The Association Between Neighborhood Poverty and Hippocampal Volume Among Individuals at Clinical High-Risk for Psychosis: The Moderating Role of Social Engagement". Schizophrenia Bulletin. 48 (5): 1032–1042. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbac055. PMID 35689540.
  27. ↑ Zaks, Nina; et al. (2022). "Sleep Disturbance in Individuals at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis". Schizophrenia Bulletin. 48 (1): 111–121. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbab104. PMID 34536012.
  28. ↑ Santesteban-Echarri, Olga; et al. (2022). "Cannabis use and attenuated positive and negative symptoms in youth at clinical high risk for psychosis". Schizophrenia Research. 248: 114–121. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2022.08.005. PMID 36030758.
  29. ↑ Weisman, Omri; et al. (2017). "Subthreshold Psychosis in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: Multisite Naturalistic Study". Schizophrenia Bulletin. 43 (5): 1079–1089. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbx005. PMID 28204757.
  30. ↑ Sanchez Russo, Rossana; et al. (2021). "Deep phenotyping in 3q29 deletion syndrome: recommendations for clinical care". Genetics in Medicine. 23 (5): 872–880. doi:10.1038/s41436-020-01053-1. PMID 33564151.
  31. ↑ 2007 Annual Report (PDF) (Report). William T. Grant Foundation. 2007.
  32. ↑ "Walker receives national award for schizophrenia research". Emory University. 25 September 1995.
  33. ↑ "Elaine Walker receives Zubin Award". Emory Report. Emory University. 18 November 1996.
  34. ↑ Jones, Stacey (19 May 1997). "'Everything old is new again' for 152nd commencement". Emory University.
  35. 1 2 "Award Winners Archive". Society for Research in Psychopathology. 18 November 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
  36. ↑ "2013 James McKeen Cattell Fellow Award: Elaine F. Walker". Association for Psychological Science.
  37. ↑ "AAAS Honors Accomplished Scientists as 2018 Elected Fellows". American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
  38. ↑ Scarborough, Senta (3 May 2023). "Psychology professor Elaine Walker's 'life-changing' impact honored with the Cuttino Award for Excellence in Mentoring". Emory News.
  39. ↑ "2026 New Member List". American Academy of Arts and Sciences. 2026.
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