A photo of Scott Powers.

Scott W. Powers, PhD, ABPP, FAHS


  • Pediatric Psychologist, Research, Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology
  • Cincinnati Children’s Research Foundation Endowed Chair
  • Scientific Director, Clinical Research and Trials
  • Co-Director, Headache Center
  • Director, Center for Child Behavior and Nutrition Research and Training
  • Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

About

Biography

As a pediatric psychologist, as well as a clinical child and adolescent psychologist, I practice evidence-based behavioral medicine. I treat children with migraine and other types of headache.

At Cincinnati Children’s, I am the scientific director of Clinical Research and Trials for the Research Foundation, the co-director of the Headache Center, and the director of the Center for Child Behavior and Nutrition Research and Training.

My research includes clinical trials in the areas of migraine and headache as well as child behavior and nutrition science. Migraine affects 10% of youth today. It’s one of the most common chronic illnesses of childhood and is the second most prevalent disabling condition worldwide. It affects people from childhood throughout most of their lives. My colleagues and I strive to develop the evidence-based treatments of tomorrow while building teams to provide the best care we can today. If youth have improvements in headache occurrence and related disability, then we may change the course of their lives.

Our team has published game-changing clinical trials in prestigious journals, such as the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), JAMA Pediatrics and Pediatrics.

During my career, I am honored to have received both the research and mentoring awards from the Society of Pediatric Psychology, a division of the American Psychological Association.

AB: Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN, 1985.

MS: Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID, 1987.

PhD: The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 1991.

Residency: Clinical Psychology, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI.

Fellowship: Pediatric Psychology, Brown University School of Medicine / Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, RI.

Certification: Clinical Psychology, Ohio State Board of Psychology, 1992. American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), 2003.

Interests

Preschoolers and toddlers; dietary adherence / nutrition and behavior; cystic fibrosis; chronic illness, coping and adherence; pediatric pain; pediatric headache; encopresis.

Services and Specialties

Behavioral Medicine, Headache Medicine

Interests

Clinical trials; migraine/headache; pediatric pain; adherence medicine; nutrition and behavior; cystic fibrosis

Research Areas

Clinical Psychology

Publications

Clinic-Based Characterization of Adolescents and Young Adults With Migraine: Psychological Functioning, Headache Days, and Disability. Gibler, RC; Marzouk, MA; Peugh, J; Reidy, BL; Ernst, MM; Daffin, ML; Powers, SW; Kabbouche Samaha, M; Kacperski, J; Hershey, AD; O'Brien, H; Slater, SK. Neurology: Clinical Practice. 2024; 14:e200294.

Preliminary prospective observational investigation of clinical outcomes among treatment-seeking youth with continuous headache. Gibler, RC; Knestrick, KE; Powers, SW; Hershey, AD; Kabbouche, M; Kacperski, J; Reidy, BL. Headache. 2024; 64:319-322.

Commentary: Enhancing Clinical Care for Patients With Early Childhood Concussion. Adam, E; Powers, S. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 2023; 48:982-983.

Characterization of Migraine in Children and Adolescents With Generalized Joint Hypermobility: A Case-Control Study. Ghosh, A; Horn, PS; Kabbouche Samaha, M; Kacperski, J; Lecates, SL; White, S; Powers, SW; Hershey, AD. Neurology: Clinical Practice. 2023; 13:e200188.

The 2023 Scottsdale Headache Symposium. Friedman, DI; Halker Singh, RB; Powers, SW. Headache. 2023; 63:1330-1331.

Melatonin for migraine prevention in children and adolescents: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial after single-blind placebo lead-in. Gelfand, AA; Allen, IE; Grimes, B; Irwin, S; Qubty, W; Greene, K; Waung, M; Powers, SW; Szperka, CL. Headache. 2023; 63:1314-1326.

Biopsychosocial treatment response among youth with continuous headache: A retrospective, clinic-based study. Reidy, BL; Riddle, EJ; Powers, SW; Slater, SK; Kacperski, J; Kabbouche, M; Peugh, JL; Hershey, AD. Headache. 2023; 63:942-952.

Impact of preventive pill-based treatment on migraine days: A secondary outcome study of the Childhood and Adolescent Migraine Prevention (CHAMP) trial and a comparison of self-report to nosology-derived assessments. Gibler, RC; Peugh, JL; Coffey, CS; Chamberlin, LA; Ecklund, D; Klingner, E; Yankey, J; Korbee, LL; Kabbouche, M; Kacperski, J; Porter, LL; Reidy, BL; Hershey, AD; Powers, SW. Headache. 2023; 63:805-812.

Virtual issue: Recent advances in pediatric headache: Bridging the data gap. Ackley, E; Gibler, RC; Orr, SL; Powers, S. Headache. 2023; 63:305-306.

Bridging the gap between preclinical scientists, clinical researchers, and clinicians: From animal research to clinical practice. Begasse de Dhaem, O; Wattiez, AS; de Boer, I; Pavitt, S; Powers, SW; Pradhan, A; Gelfand, AA; Nahman-Averbuch, H. Headache. 2023; 63:25-39.

From the Blog

How Can CBT Be Expanded Beyond Specialty Headache Centers?
Mind Brain Behavior

How Can CBT Be Expanded Beyond Specialty Headache Centers?

Scott W. Powers, PhD, ABPP, FAHS2/2/2022

Teaming Up to Solve a Headache About Headaches
Mind Brain Behavior

Teaming Up to Solve a Headache About Headaches

Scott W. Powers, PhD, ABPP, FAHS, Robert C. Coghill, PhD ...7/3/2019

Migraines in Kids: How Can We Best Prevent Them?
Blog Healthy Living

Migraines in Kids: How Can We Best Prevent Them?

By Scott Powers, PhD10/28/2016

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