Andrea Witwer, Ph.D.
LEND Director, IDD Psychology Faculty
Developmental Clinics, IDD Psychology, LEND
(614) 685-8721 andrea.witwer@osumc.eduBiography:
Discipline(s):
Psychology
Education
Andrea Witwer graduated from The Ohio State University with a Ph.D. in Psychology. She then completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, with an emphasis on Developmental Disabilities. She also has a Competency-Based Clinical Certification in Dual Diagnosis from NADD.
Research
Dr. Witwer has extensive experience providing interdisciplinary clinical services and conducting research in the field of intellectual and developmental disability (IDD). Dr. Witwer has published research related to co-occurring emotional, behavioral and psychiatric disorders in those with autism spectrum disorders and other developmental disabilities as well as assessment of autism spectrum disorders. She is currently an investigator on the Nisonger Center Rehabilitation and Research Training Center on Health and Function for People with Intellectual and Developmental disabilities. The goal of her project is to identify promising practices in the treatment of psychiatric disorders in individuals with intellectual disability and to provide a research framework for future research in this area. She is also a co-investigator for the National Training Initiative to support children impacted by the opioid crisis (Project SCOPE) and in actively involved in the curriculum development and implementation of this project.
Education and Service
Dr. Witwer a faculty member of the Intellectual and Developmental Disability Psychology Doctorate Program at Ohio State University and the Associate Director of the Nisonger Center’s Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities Training Program (LEND). Within these roles she provides ongoing interdisciplinary graduate training related to the assessment and treatment of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Clinically, Dr. Witwer is the lead psychologist of the interdisciplinary training clinics at the OSU Nisonger Center serving children, adolescents and young adults with a range of developmental disabilities including autism spectrum disorder. Dr. Witwer supervises psychology graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and provides supervision in the Nisonger Clinics.
Recent Publications
Benninger*, T. L., Norris, M., & Witwer, A. N. (2025). Measurement invariance of the Child Behavior Checklist in autistic toddlers. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 119, 102500. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2024.102500
Weber, S., Hardesty, C., Witwer, A., Dahl, E., Bush, E., Thomas, J, Baker, T., Dudley, A. & Moody., E. (2024, November). Project SCOPE: A National Training Initiative to improve capacity of providers to support children impacted by prenatal opioid exposure using the ECHO modelTM. Frontiers in Public Health, Sec Children and Health. http://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1478039
Witwer, A.N., Rosencrans*, M.E., Taylor, C.A., Cobranchi, C., Krahn, G.L., Havercamp, S.M. (2024). Working with adults with intellectual disability and clinicians to advance mental health treatment: Informing practice guidelines and research. Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities. DOI:10.1080/19315864.2024.2308297
Roley-Roberts*, M.E., Edrees, H., Thomas, J., Weber, S., Ramsey, R., Walton, J., & Witwer, A.N. (2023). Impact of an asynchronous training for the early intervention and childcare workforce addressing the developmental impact of the opioid crisis on young children. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 27(8), 1361-1369. DOI10.1007/s10995-023-03679-4
Witwer, A. N., Walton, K., Held, M. K.,* Rosencrans, M.,* Cobranchi, C., Fletcher, R., Crane, J. M., Chapman, R., & Havercamp, S. & Nisonger RRTC (2022). A scoping review of psychological interventions, accommodations, and assessments for adults with intellectual disability. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000474
Witwer, A.N., Walton, K., & Held, M. K. (2022). Taking an evidence-based child- and family-centered perspective on early autism intervention. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 29(4), 420–422. https://doi.org/10.1037/cps0000122 (INVITED COMMENTARY)
Witwer, A. N., Rosencrans, M. E.*, Held, M. K.*, Cobranchi, C., Crane, J.*, Chapman, R., Havercamp, S. M. & Nisonger RRTC. (2022). Psychotherapy treatment outcome research in adults with ID: Where do we go from here?. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1037/cps0000053
Rosencrans, M.* Arango, P., Sabat, C., Buck, A., Brown, C., Tenorio, M., Witwer, A. (2021). The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Health, Wellbeing, and Access to Services of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 114. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2021.103985.
Nogay, N.H., Walton, J., Roberts, K.M., Nahikian-Nelms, M. & Witwer, A.N. (2020). The Effect of the Low FODMAP Diet on Gastrointestinal Symptoms, Behavioral Problems and Nutrient Intake in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04717-8.
Kamara, D.,* Walton, K., & Witwer, A. N. (2020). Socioemotional and Autism Spectrum Disorder Screening for Toddlers in Early Intervention: Agreement Among Measures. Journal of Early Intervention, doi 1053815119880607.
Benninger, T*. & Witwer, AN (2017). Psychometric Properties of Two Measures of Crisis and Distress in Parents of Children With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 10(1).
Havercamp, S., Witwer, A.N., Jaydeokar, S., McCarthy, J. (2016) Learning Disorders. In Fletcher, R.J., Loschen, E., Stavrakaki, C., First, M. (Eds). Diagnostic Manual – Intellectual Disability: A Textbook of Diagnosis of Mental Disorders in Persons with Intellectual Disability. Kingston, NY National Association for the Dually Diagnosed.
Witwer, A.W., Lawton, K., & Aman, M.G. (2014). Intellectual Disabilities. In E.J. Mash & R.A. Barkley (Eds). Child Psychopathology (pp.593-625). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Witwer, A.N., Lecavalier, L. Norris, M. (2012). Reliability and Validity of the Children’s Interview for Psychiatric Syndromes-Parent Version in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Autism Spectrum Disorders, DOI 10.1007/s10803-012-1442-y.
Witwer, A.N. & Lecavalier, L. (2010). Validity of comorbid psychiatric disorders in youngsters with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities. 22, 367-380.
Witwer, A.N. & Lecavalier, L. (2008). Psychopathology in children with intellectual disability: Risk markers and correlates. Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 1, 75 – 96. Witwer, A.N. & Lecavalier, L. (2008). Examining the validity of autism spectrum disorder subtypes. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38, 1611-1624.
*Trainee/student