The Keefer Lab
Advancing the science of behavioral gastroenterology through rigorous clinical trials, mentorship, and validated patient-reported outcome measures.
Recently Funded Behavioral Trials
PCORI 17-05887
Subspecialty Medical homes for patients living with inflammatory bowel diseases
Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Multi-site, randomized controlled non-inferiority trial of a digital v. face-to-face behavioral intervention for people living with IBD and comorbid mental health concerns.
G - 2401-08140
Combination therapy of Resilience Intervention with Biologics in Crohn’s disease [CATHARSIS]
Funded by the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable trust
Single-site, randomized controlled efficacy trial comparing two types of behavioral intervention delivered at the time of a new biologic drug start in people living with Crohn’s disease.
Keefer Lab Mentees
Dr. Keefer has an active history of mentorship. She is primary mentor on several individual training grants and a co-investigator on a T32 for gastroenterology fellows at Mount Sinai.
She is particularly invested in mentoring junior faculty into K23 awards in gastroenterology to ensure the next generation of patient-centered outcomes researchers. Current K23 mentorship includes:
K23DK131334
A Biobehavioral Approach to Understand Problematic Avoidant/Restrictive Eating in Adults with Functional Dyspepsia [Helen Burton-Murray PhD]
K23NR020044
A Comprehensive Self-Management Intervention for individuals with Inflammatory Bowel Disease [Kendra Kamp, PhD]
K23DK134814
A Fully Remote Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial to Investigate the Impact of Insomnia Treatment on Crohn’s disease [Jessica Salwen-Deremer, PhD]
K23DK131338
Approaches and Outcomes of Shared Decision-making and Patient Centered Care Delivery in Barrett's Esophagus [Swathi Eluri, MD]
K23DK138875
A Positive Psychology Intervention for Irritable Bowel Syndrome [Elizabeth Madva, MD]
K23DK142064
Digital Mind Body Intervention among Black and Hispanic Patients Living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease [Ruby Greywoode, MD]
Former & Current Mentees
Sarah Ballou, PhD
Hyder Said, MD
Dustin Carlsen, MD, MS
Jordyn Feingold, MD, MAPP
Livia Guadagnoli, PhD
Kendra Kamp, PhD
Elizabeth Madva, MD
Sydney Phlegar
Esther Stein, PsyD
Itishree Trivedi, MD
Salva Balbale, PhD
Meredith Craven, PhD, MPH
Lori Gawron, MD
Robert Hirten, MD
Josie Lee
Andrea Mecquel, PhD, MAPP
Alicia Philippou, MD
Barbara Storch, PhD
Rena Yadlapati, MD
Alyse Bedell, PhD
Candela de Amorrortu
Ksenia Gorbenko, PhD
Marisa Izaguirre, MD
Taryn Lores, PhD
Michelle Mendiolaza, PhD
Jessica Salwen-Deremer, PhD
Tiffany H. Taft, PsyD
Helen Burton-Murray, PhD
Swathi Eluri, MD
Ruby Greywoode, MD
Ian Kahrilas, PhD
Yuying Luo, MD
Hannibal Person, MD
Priya Sehgal, MD, MPH
Elyse Thakur, PhD
Dr Keefer’s Validated Patient-Reported Outcome Measures
Dr Keefer’s Validated Patient-Reported Outcome Measures. I have a strong background in psychometrics, having validated several patient reported outcome measures across the spectrum of digestive disorders.
Many of these measures have been translated and adopted by pharma and/or the FDA as patient reported outcome measures for clinical trials.
IBD Self-Efficacy Scale (IBD-SES)
Keefer L, Kiebles JL, Taft TH. The role of self-efficacy in inflammatory bowel disease management: preliminary validation of a disease-specific measure. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2011;17(2):614–20.h
(Short 13-item version: BMC Gastroenterology 2024)
Adolescent IBD Self-Efficacy Scale (IBDSES-A)
Izaguirre MR, Taft T, Keefer L. Validation of a self-efficacy scale for adolescents and young adults with inflammatory bowel disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2017
Eosinophilic Esophagitis Quality of Life Scale, Adult (EoE-QOL-A)
Taft TH, et al. Prospective assessment of disease-specific quality of life in adults with eosinophilic esophagitis. Dis Esophagus. 2011 (originally); further data in Dis Esophagus 2018;31(4).
Esophageal Hypervigilance and Awareness Scale (EHAS)
Taft TH, et al. Validation of the oesophageal hypervigilance and anxiety scale for chronic oesophageal disease. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2018.
(Short form EHAS-7: ScienceDirect, CGH 2020)
Northwestern Esophageal Quality of Life Scale (NEQOL)
Taft TH, Riehl M, Sodikoff JB, et al. Development of the Northwestern Esophageal Quality of Life Scale: a hybrid measure for use across esophageal conditions. Am J Gastroenterol. 2016.
Dysphagia Stress Test (DST)
Taft TH, et al. The dysphagia stress test for rapid assessment of swallowing difficulties in esophageal conditions. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2019.
Perceived Stigma Scale (IBS/IBD)
Jones MP, Keefer L, Bratten J, Taft TH, Crowell MD, Levy R, Palsson O. Development and initial validation of a measure of perceived stigma in irritable bowel syndrome. Psychol Health Med. 2009;14(3):367–74.
Taft TH, Keefer L, et al. Perceptions of illness stigma in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome. Qual Life Res. 2011.
Springer
Health-Related Quality of Life and Perceived Stigma in Eosinophilic Esophagitis, ScienceDirect 2024
IBD Resilience Scale (RISE-IBD)
Initial development and validation of a disease-specific resilience measure for inflammatory bowel disease: the RISE-IBD instrument. BMC Gastroenterol. 2025.
Dr Keefer’s Hypnosis Protocols
Based on the North Carolina protocol for Irritable Bowel Syndrome by Olafur Palsson, PsyD, these protocols have been adapted and tested in randomized controlled trials for management of gastrointestinal symptoms.
Gut-directed hypnotherapy for inflammatory bowel diseases
Gut-directed hypnotherapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease
To request the protocols
licensed clinician
basic training in hypnotherapy through an accredited institution
completion of the Rome GastroPsych Hypnosis course
agree to use only for personal, clinical use
may not record or distribute the scripts without permission.
Access Protocols
Eligible professionals can request access to the standardized scripts for clinical or research use.