Robert C. Gibler, PhD

Professional Background

I am a pediatric psychologist and behavioral health researcher with interests in helping children and teenagers who are living with chronic pain conditions including musculoskeletal pain, abdominal pain, and headache disorders like migraine.

Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists or recurs for 3 or more months, and this affects 1 in 5 children today. Pain can impact many important areas of life including school, extracurricular activities, and time with family and friends. As a researcher, I study non-medicine treatments for pediatric chronic pain, especially those that help children and teenagers stay physically active. My research involves teams of experts from many disciplines, including physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and dieticians. I am proud to have served as a therapist for multiple federally funded studies examining psychological and exercise-based treatments for chronic pain conditions like juvenile fibromyalgia and migraine.

My clinical practice in the Department of Pediatrics is called the Pain Coping Clinic. I provide cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which is a structured, short-term treatment that focuses on providing patients with skills they can use to manage pain and other symptoms like dizziness, nausea, and fatigue. My goal is to meet my patients where they are, validate their experiences, and learn their unique strengths and areas of challenge so we can work together to minimize the impact of pain in daily life.

In addition to my research and clinical service, I enjoy teaching and mentoring students, residents, and fellows who are learning about psychology. I am a member of several professional societies, including the Society of Pediatric Psychology (SPP), the American Headache Society (AHS), the United States Association for the Study of Pain (USASP), and the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP). I also serve on the editorial board for the peer-reviewed journal Headache.

When I am not at work, I like to stay active and busy. I enjoy being outdoors, playing sports, spending time with friends and family, taking trips to the beach, trying out new recipes, going to concerts and shows, and playing with my dog.

• BA, Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, OH
• MA, Clinical Psychology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
• PhD, Clinical Psychology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH
• Residency, Behavioral Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
• Post Doctoral Fellowship, National Institutes of Health T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship in Child Behavior and Nutrition Research (T32DK063929), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH

• Psychologist, State of Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board

• American Headache Society, Associate Editor, 2024 - Present
• American Headache Society, Member, 2021 - Present
• United States Association for the Study of Pain (USASP), Member, 2019 - Present
• International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), Member, 2017 - Present
• Society of Pediatric Psychology, Member, 2015 - Present

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Research

Overview

Dr. Gibler's research program aims to promote psychological well-being and improve physical functioning among children and adolescents living with chronic pain. He is particularly interested in combined psychological and exercise-based interventions for youth with chronic pain and other co-occurring medical conditions. The long-term goal of his research is to extend the reach of evidence-based pain rehabilitation interventions to youth who historically have faced barriers to receiving care.

• Gibler, R., C, Peugh, J., L, Pfeiffer, M, Thomas, S, Williams, S., E, Beasley, K, Bonnette, S., H, Collins, S, Beals-Erickson, S., E, Ounpuu, S, Briggs, M, Stinson, J., N, Myer, G., D, Kashikar-Zuck, S., M. 2023. Associations between patient-reported functional disability and measures of physical ability in juvenile fibromyalgia. PAIN, 165 (3), 589-595
• Li , R, Gibler, R., C, Rheel, E, Slack, K, Palermo, T., M. 2023. Recommendations for Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System pediatric measures in youth with chronic pain: a COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments systematic review of measurement properties.. PAIN, 165 (2), 258-295
• Kashikar-Zuck, S, Thomas, S, Bonnette, S, Gibler, R., C, DiCesare, C, Schille, A, Hulburt, T, Briggs, M., S, Ounpuu, S, Myer, G., D. 2024. Comparison of pain characteristics, strength, and movement patterns in adolescents with juvenile fibromyalgia and high versus low fear of movement. The Journal of Pain, 25 (9), 104586
• Gibler, R., C, Jastrowski Mano, K., E. 2021. Systematic Review of Autonomic Nervous System Functioning in Pediatric Chronic Pain.. The Clinical journal of pain, 37 (4), 281-294
• Gibler, R., C, Abelson, E, Williams, S., E, Lynch-Jordan, A., M, Kashikar-Zuck, S, Jastrowski Mano, K., E. 2022. Establishing the Content Validity of a Modified Bank of School Anxiety Inventory Items for Use Among Adolescents With Chronic Pain.. Journal of pediatric psychology, 47 (9), 1044-1056
• Gibler, R., C, Beckmann, E., A, Lynch-Jordan, A., M, Kashikar-Zuck, S, Mano KEJ. 2019. Characterizing Social and Academic Aspects of School Anxiety in Pediatric Chronic Pain.. The Clinical journal of pain, 35 (7), 625-632
• Jastrowski Mano, K., E, O'Bryan, E., M, Gibler, R., C, Beckmann, E. 2019. The Co-occurrence of Pediatric Chronic Pain and Anxiety: A Theoretical Review of a Developmentally Informed Shared Vulnerability Model.. The Clinical journal of pain, 35 (12), 989-1002
• Daffin, M, Lynch-Milder, M., K, Gibler, R., C, Murray, C, Green, C., M, Kashikar-Zuck, S. 2021. A qualitative study of risk and resilience in young adult women with a history of juvenile-onset fibromyalgia.. Pediatric rheumatology online journal, 19 (1), 128
• Gibler, R., C, Marzouk, M., A, Peugh, J, Reidy, B., L, Ernst, M., M, Daffin, M., L, Powers, S., W, Kabbouche Samaha, M, Kacperski, J, Hershey, A., D, O'Brien, H, Slater, S., K. 2024. Clinic-Based Characterization of Adolescents and Young Adults With Migraine: Psychological Functioning, Headache Days, and Disability.. Neurology. Clinical practice, 14 (3), e200294
• Noser, A., E, Gibler, R., C, Ramsey, R., R, Wells, R., E, Seng, E., K, Hommel, K., A. 2022. Digital headache self-management interventions for patients with a primary headache disorder: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.. Headache, 62 (9), 1105-1119