Behavioral health. Support group meeting. Woman sharing her feelings with listeners.

Symptom Management and Behavioral Health

Research Overview

Symptom management and behavioral health and include improving quality of life and health outcomes associated with mental health and chronic conditions. Nursing faculty engage in interdisciplinary research focused on older adults, chronic pain, and substance use. Interventions are tested using digital health and other technologies to relieve symptom burdens and promote adoption of healthy behaviors.

Featured Faculty
Dr. Marian Wilson

Dr. Marian Wilson serves as the Nursing and Systems Science Department Chair and an Associate Professor at Washington State University’s College of Nursing. Board-certified in Pain Management Nursing, she focuses on improving health care for individuals with chronic pain and substance use disorders, often emphasizing non-pharmacologic interventions. Her research has been funded to explore internet-based self-management programs for pain and enhance sleep for those dealing with opioid addiction.

As a core faculty member in WSU’s Program of Excellence in Addictions Research and the Sleep and Performance Research Center, Dr. Wilson has contributed extensively to nursing and pain management literature. Her work advances understanding of effective chronic pain and addiction treatment strategies, blending research with practical applications. She also actively supports continuing education, co-presenting courses on pain management and substance use risks to educate health care professionals.

Beyond her research, Dr. Wilson engages with the public through platforms like The Broken Brain™ podcast, discussing cognitive behavioral management for pain and opioid addiction. A Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advocate at WSU, she combines leadership, advocacy, and scholarship to transform health care delivery and improve patient outcomes.

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Related WSU Centers

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The Washington State University College of Nursing BSN, MN and DNP programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), 655 K. Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, 202-887-6791.