Personal profile
Research interests
Dr. Jamal Essayli's primary research interests include:
- Improving the implementation and effectiveness of evidence-based psychosocial treatments for eating disorders, particularly cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), in real-world clinical settings
- Investigating fear and anxiety as psychological mechanisms that contribute to the development, maintenance and treatment of eating disorders
- Understanding body image experiences among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals
Teaching and educational interests
Dr. Jamal Essayli provides training and supervision in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for eating disorders to students and mental health providers at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. He also supervises undergraduate research assistants on a number of studies.
Clinical interests
Dr. Jamal Essayli is a licensed clinical psychologist who treats children, adolescents and young adults (ages 10 to 30) with eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. He also serves as the program director for the adult partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient program for eating disorders at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, where he oversees the development, implementation and evaluation of innovative and empirically informed psychosocial interventions for eating disorders.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 2 Zero Hunger -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Adolescent and Young Adult Perceptions of Online Versus In-Person Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders
Thomas, J., Pasewicz, A. M., Billman Miller, M. G., Friedberg, R. & Essayli, J. H., 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: International Journal of Eating Disorders.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Eating Disordered Youth
Essayli, J. H., 2026, Neuromethods. Humana Press Inc., p. 221-249 29 p. (Neuromethods; vol. 231).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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Expanding the Scope of Open Weighing to Target Anxiety About the Consequences of Weight Gain in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders
Essayli, J. H., Hill, K. A., Zickgraf, H. F., Forrest, L. N. & Levinson, C. A., Jan 2026, In: International Journal of Eating Disorders. 59, 1, p. 47-53 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access1 Link opens in a new tab Scopus citations -
Assessing Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN) Clinicians’ Knowledge, Practice, and Attitudes toward Anorexia Nervosa, Atypical Anorexia Nervosa, and Amenorrhea
Spanos, K. E., Wright, T. S., DeAngelis, C. & Essayli, J. H., Jun 2025, In: Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. 38, 3, p. 351-357 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Bulimia nervosa severity levels based on shape/ weight overvaluation explain more variance in clinical characteristics than DSM-5 severity levels
Abber, S. R., Billman Miller, M. G., Hamilton, A., Ortiz, S. N., Jacobucci, R. C., Essayli, J. H., Joiner, T. E., Smith, A. R. & Forrest, L. N., Jun 30 2025, In: Psychological medicine. 55, e181.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access