Linda S. Ruehlman, Ph.D.
Psychologist
CEO and Director of Research
Goalistics, LLC
University of Cincinnati B.A. 1978 Psychology
University of Cincinnati M.A. 1981 Experimental Psychology
Arizona State University Ph.D. 1986 Social Psychology
CEO and Director of Research, Goalistics, LLC, Tempe, Arizona 2008-present
General Partner and Director of Research, Psychological Assessment and Training, LLC,
Tempe, Arizona 2006-2010
General Partner and Director of Research, Consultants in Behavioral Research, Tempe,
Arizona 1985-2010
Instructor, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona. 1996-2007
Member, Mental Health Small Business Grant Review Panel, National Institute of Mental
Health. 1994-1998
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona. 1985-1995
Principal Investigator: “Development of a Psychosocial Screening Instrument”; Phase I Small
Business Innovation Research Grant, National Institute of Mental Health (1 R43 MH
44010-01A1). 3/1/89-8/31/89. $39,620.
Principal Investigator: “Development of the Multidimensional Health Profile”; Phase II Small
Business Innovation Research Grant, National Institute of Mental Health (2 R44 MH44010).
8/15/91-7/31/93. $421,843.
Principal Investigator: “Work Goals and Health Outcomes: A Goal Systems Analysis”; Phase I
Small Business Innovation Research Grant, National Institute of Mental Health (1 R43
MH50398). 9/30/92-3/31/93. $49,998.
Principal Investigator: “Development of the Comprehensive Pain Assessment System”,
Phase I Small Business Innovation Research Grant, National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke (1 R43 NS38772). 7/20/99-7/15/2000. $112,977.
Principal Investigator: “Development of the Gambling Practices Scale”, Phase I Small
Business Innovation Research Grant, National Institute of Mental Health (1 R43 MH 64842),
5/01/01-11/30/01, $126,347.
Principal Investigator: “Development of the Comprehensive Pain Assessment System”,
Phase II Small Business Innovation Research Grant from the National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2 R44 NS3 8772), 03/07/2002-02/29/2004. $962,932.
Principal Investigator: “Development of the Comprehensive Pain Assessment System”,
Supplement to Phase II Small Business Innovation Research Grant, National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke (2 R44 NS3 8772-03S1), 09/24/2003-02/29/2004.
$62,500.
Principal Investigator: “Development of the Pain Self-Management Program”, Phase I Small
Business Innovation Research Grant, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
(1 R43 NS048743), 10/1/2004-3/31/2005. $140,360.
Principal Investigator: “Development of the Pain Self-Management Program”, Phase II Small
Business Innovation Research Grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders
and Stroke (2 R44 NS048743), 09/15/2007-03/31/2010. $928,703.
Principal Investigator: “Development of the Pain Self-Management Program”, Supplement
Small Business Innovation Research Grant from the National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke (3 R44NS048743-04S1), 04/01/2009-03/31/2010, $35,280
Principal Investigator: “Development of the Depression Self-Management Program”, Phase I
Small Business Innovation Research Grant, National Institute of Mental Health (1 R43
MH087006), 05/18/2010-01/17/2011, $176,501
Principal Investigator: “Control Your Cravings: A Web-Based Transdiagnostic Self-Management Program”,
Phase I Small Business Innovation Research Grant, National
Institute on Drug Abuse (1R43DA033010), 07/15/2012 – 12/31/2012, $219,717.
Principal Investigator: “Development of the Partner Pain Support Program”, Phase I Small
Business Innovation Research Grant, National Institute of Nursing Research
(1R43NR014382-01A1), 02/07/2014-09/30/2014, $223,149.
Principal Investigator: “Development of the Building Efficacy for Successful Tapering (BEST)
Program”, Phase I Small Business Innovation Research Grant, National Institute on Drug
Abuse (1R43DA040988-01A1), 05/01/2017-01/31/2018. $225,473.
Co-Investigator: “Equalizing Access to Non-opioid Strategies with Community-embedded
Online Pain Management Tools”, National Science Foundation (2228582), 10/01/2022-
03/31/2023. $49,999.
Principal Investigator: “Training Psychologists and Nurse Practitioners in the Use of an
Evidence-Based Online Pain Self-Management Program: Leveraging the Power of Expert
Guidance and Telehealth”, National Institute of Mental Health (1R43MH135524-01A1),
08/01/2023-07/31/2025. $305,909.
(support from NIH for Commercialization of Small Business
Innovation Research [SBIR]-developed products)
National Institutes of Health, Niche Assessment Program Award for the “Development of the
Chronic Pain Management Program”, 2005.
National Institutes of Health, NIH Commercialization Assistance Program Award for
“Development of the Pain Self-Management Program”, 2011-2012.
National Institutes of Health, Niche Assessment Program Award for the “Development of the
Building Efficacy for Successful Tapering (BEST) Program”, 2018.
National Institutes of Health, Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) Needs Assessment
Award for “Training Psychologists and Nurse Practitioners in the Use of an Evidence-Based
Online Pain Self-Management Program: Leveraging the Power of Expert Guidance and Telehealth”, 2025.
National Institutes of Health, Concept to Clinic: Commercializing Innovation Validation and Execution
(C3i) for “Training Psychologists and Nurse Practitioners in the Use of an Evidence-Based
Online Pain Self-Management Program: Leveraging the Power of Expert Guidance and Telehealth”,
2025-2026 Program
Inland Northwest Community Foundation. Marian Wilson (PI). “Testing an Internet-based
Depression Management Program for Patients with Chronic Illnesses and Depressive
Symptoms”. Contract to provide program support and subscriptions to the Goalistics “Think
Clearly About Depression Program”. 2015, $1,600
Paradigm Management Services. Contract to provide program support and subscriptions to
the Goalistics “Chronic Pain Management Program” for injured workers. 2016, $1,400
Washington State University Alcohol and Drug Abuse Research Program. Marian Wilson (PI).
Internet-based Pain Self-Management for Persistent Pain Populations on Methadone
Maintenance”. Contract to provide program support and subscriptions to the Goalistics
“Chronic Pain Management Program”. 2015-2016, $5,100
Opioid Post-Marketing Requirement Consortium (OPC). “A randomized, Double-Blind,
Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trial of Structured Opioid Discontinuation Versus Continued
Opioid Therapy in Suboptimal and Optimal Responders to High-Dose Long-Term Opioid
Analgesic Therapy for Chronic Pain”. Contract to provide custom software development,
program support, and subscriptions to the Goalistics “Chronic Pain Management Program”.
2016-2018, $189,905
Washington State University Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program and Northwest Spine and
Pain Treatment. Marian Wilson (PI). Feasibility and Receptivity of a Health Coach to Increase
Engagement in Online Pain Self-Management. Contract to provide program support and
subscriptions to the Goalistics “Chronic Pain Management Program”. 2017, $1,000
University of Cincinnati. Theresa Winhusen (PI). “EMPOWER: Evaluating the Ability to
Reduce Morphine Equivalent Dose for Chronic Pain Patients Receiving Opioid-Therapy
Through a Web-Based E-Health Self-Management Program: A Randomized Multi-Site
Clinical Trial. Grant #1R01DA044248 – 01. Contract to provide custom software
development, program support, and subscriptions to the Goalistics “Chronic Pain
Management Program”. 2017-2021, $76,592
Washington State University. Marian Wilson (PI). “Resources and Education Leading to
Improved Pain Care Equity for Washingtonians”, a grant funded by the Washington State
Health Care Authority. Contract to Goalistics: #SPC006205. Contract to provide consultation
in the development of a website to provide pain management education and resources to
persons with pain, family/friends, and health care providers in the state of Washington.
11/1/2023 – 6/30/2025, $80,000.
Sosis, R., Karoly, P., & Ruehlman, L. (1980). Perceived treatment success with involuntary
clients: An exploratory study. Psychological Reports, 46, 907-910.
Karoly, P., & Ruehlman, L. (1982). Gender differences in adolescents’ reports of self-control
problems. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 6, 235-237.
Karoly, P. & Ruehlman, L. (1983). Affective meaning and depression: A semantic differential
analysis. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 7, 41-50.
Ruehlman, L., West, S., & Pasahow, R. (1985). Depression and evaluative schemata. Journal
of Personality,53, 46-92.
Ruehlman, L. (1985). Depression and affective meaning for current concerns. Cognitive
Therapy and Research, 9, 553-560.
Ruehlman, L. & Wolchik, S.A. (1988). Personal goals and interpersonal support and
hindrance as factors in psychological distress and well-being. Journal of Personality and
Social Psychology, 55, 293-301.
Wolchik, S.A., Ruehlman, L., Braver, S., & Sandler, I. (1989). Social support of children of
divorce: Direct and stress buffering effects. American Journal of Community Psychology, 17,
485-501.
Ruehlman, L. & Karoly, P. (1991). With a little flak from my friends: Development and
Preliminary validation of the Test of Negative Social Exchange (TENSE). Psychological
Assessment, 3, 97-104.
Okun, M., Ruehlman, L., & Karoly, P. (1991). Application of investment theory to predicting
part-time community college student intent and institutional persistence/departure behavior.
Journal of Educational Psychology, 83, 212-220
Karoly, P. & Ruehlman, L. (1995). Goal cognition and its clinical implications: Development
and preliminary validation of four motivational assessment instruments. Assessment, 2, 113-
129.
Lecci, L., Karoly, P., Ruehlman, L., & Lanyon, R. (1996). Goal-relevant dimensions of
hypochondriacal tendencies and their relation to symptom manifestation and psychological
distress. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 105, 42-52.
Karoly, P. & Ruehlman, L. (1996). The motivational implications of pain: Chronicity,
psychological distress, and work goal construal in a national sample of adults. Health
Psychology, 15, 383-390.
Ruehlman, L., Lanyon, R.I., & Karoly (1998). Multidimensional Health Profile: Professional
Manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources.
Ruehlman, L., Lanyon, R.I., & Karoly (1998). Multidimensional Health Profile: Scoring and
Interpretive Program for Windows, version 1. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment
Resources.
Ruehlman, L. Lanyon, R., & Karoly, P., (1999). Development and validation of the
Multidimensional Health Profile, Part I: Psychosocial Functioning. Psychological Assessment,
11, 166-176.
Finch, J., Okun, M., Pool, G., & Ruehlman, L. (1999). A comparison of the influence of
conflictual and supportive social interactions on psychological distress. Journal of Personality,
67, 581-621.
Okun, M., Ruehlman, L., Karoly, P., Lutz, R., Fairholme, C., Schaub, R. (2003). Social support
and social norms: Do both contribute to predicting leisure-time exercise? American Journal of
Health Behavior 27, 493-507.
Ruehlman, L. S., Karoly, P., & Newton, C., & Aiken, L. S. (2005). The development and
preliminary validation of a brief measure of chronic pain impact for use in the general
population. Pain, 113, 1-10.
Ruehlman, L. S., Karoly, P., & Newton, C. (2005). Comparing the experiential and
psychosocial dimensions of chronic pain in African-Americans and Caucasians: Findings from
a national community sample. Pain Medicine, 6 (1), 49-60.
Karoly, P., Ruehlman, L. S., & Lanyon, R. I. (2005). The assessment of adult health care
orientation: Development and preliminary validation of the Multidimensional Health Profile –
Health Functioning Index (MHP-H). Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings,12 (1),
79-91.
Karoly, P., Ruehlman, L. S., Okun, M. A., Lutz, R. S., Newton, C., & Fairholme, C. (2005).
Perceived self-regulation of exercise goals and interfering goals among regular and irregular
exercisers: A life space analysis. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 6, 427-442.
Ruehlman, L., Karoly, P., Newton, C., & Aiken, L. (2005). The Development and
Preliminary Validation of the Profile of Chronic Pain: Extended Assessment Battery. Pain 118, 380-389.
Karoly, P. & Ruehlman, L. (2006). Psychological “resilience” and its correlates in chronic
pain: Findings from a national community sample. Pain, 123, 90-97.
Lanyon, R., Maxwell, B., Karoly, P., & Ruehlman, L. (2006). Utility of the Multidimensional
Health Profile – Psychosocial Functioning Scales (MHP-P) for assessing psychosocial
adjustment in gastric bypass surgery patients. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical
Settings, 13, 57-66.
Ruehlman, L. & Karoly (2006). Profile of Chronic Pain: Screen – Professional Manual.
Tempe, AZ: Goalistics, LLC.
Ruehlman, L. & Karoly (2006). Profile of Chronic Pain: Extended Assessment Battery –
Professional Manual. Tempe, AZ: Goalistics, LLC.
Karoly, P., Ruehlman, L., Aiken, L., Todd, M. & Newton, C. (2006). Evaluating chronic
pain impact among patients in primary care: Further validation of a brief assessment
instrument. Pain Medicine, 7, 289-298.
Okun, M., Fairholme, C., Karoly, P., & Ruehlman, L. (2006). Academic goals, goal process
cognition, and exam performance among college students. Learning and Individual
Differences, 16, 255-265.
Karoly, P. & Ruehlman, L. (2007). Psychosocial aspects of pain-related life task interference:
An exploratory analysis in a general population sample. Pain Medicine, 8(7), 563-572.
Lanyon, R.I., Maxwell, B.M., Karoly, P. & Ruehlman, L. (2007). Concurrent validity of the
Multidimensional Health Profile – Health Functioning Scales (MHP-H) in the pre-operative
Assessment of applicants for gastric bypass surgery. Journal of Clinical Psychology in
Medical Settings, 14(1), 41-49.
Karoly, P., Okun, M.A., Ruehlman, L., & Pugliese, J.A. (2008). The impact of goal cognition
and pain severity on disability and depression in adults with chronic pain: An examination of
direct effects and mediated effects via pain-induced fear. Cognitive Therapy and Research,
32, 418-433.
Ruehlman, L., Karoly, P., & Taylor, A. (2008). Perceptions of chronic pain’s interference with
sexual functioning: The role of gender, treatment status, and psychosocial factors. Sexuality
and Disability, 26(3), 123-136.
Okun, M., Levy, R., Karoly, P., & Ruehlman, L. (2009). Dispositional happiness and college
student GPA: Unpacking a null relation. Journal of Research in Personality, 43, 711-715.
Ruehlman, L., Karoly, P., & Pugliese, J.A. (2010). Psychosocial correlates of chronic pain
and depression in young adults: Further evidence of the utility of the Profile of Chronic Pain:
Screen (PCP: S) and the Profile of Chronic Pain Extended Assessment Battery (PCP: EA).
Pain Medicine, 11, 1546-1553.
Ruehlman, L., Karoly, P., & Enders, C. (April 2011). Evaluation of the online chronic pain
management program. Journal of Pain, Volume 12, Issue 4, Supplement 1, Page P73.
Ruehlman, L., Karoly, P., & Enders. (2012). A Randomized Controlled Evaluation of an
Online Chronic Pain Self Management Program. Pain, 153, 319-330.
Caumo, W., Ruehlman, L. Karoly, P, Sehn, F, Vidor, L.P., Dall-Ágnol, L., Chassot, M.,
Torres, I.L. (2013). Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Profile of Chronic Pain:
Screen for a Brazilian population. Pain Medicine, 14(1), 52-61.
Karoly, P., Ruehlman, L., Okun, M. (2013). Psychosocial and Demographic Correlates of
Employment versus Disability Status in a National Community Sample of Adults with Chronic
Pain: Toward a Psychology of Pain Presenteeism. Pain Medicine. 14(11), 1698-707.
Mazza GL, Enders CK, Ruehlman L. (2015). Addressing item-level missing data: A
comparison of proration and full information maximum likelihood estimation. Multivariate
Behavioral Research, 50(5): 504-519.
Mun, C. J. Karoly, P. Ruehlman, L. & Kim, H. (2016). Borderline personality features and pain
severity: Exploring the mediational role of depression and catastrophizing. Journal of Social
and Clinical Psychology, 35, 386-400.
Mun, C.J., Ruehlman, L., & Karoly, P. (2020). Examining the adjustment patterns of adults
with multiple chronic pain conditions and multiple pain sites: More pain, no gain. Journal of
Pain, 21, 108-120.
Vizcaino, M., Ruehlman, L., Karoly, P., Shilling, K., Berardy, A., Lines, S., Wharton, C.M.
(2020). A goal-systems perspective on plant-based eating: keys to successful adherence in
university students. Public Health Nutrition, June, 1-9.
Ruehlman, L. & Karoly, P. (2022). Adherence versus striving to adhere to vegan, vegetarian,
or pescatarian diets: Applying a goal-centered, self-regulatory framework. Journal of Health
Psychology, Aug;27(9):2236-2246.
Ruehlman L, Karoly P. (2023). A pilot test of Internet-delivered brief interactive training
sessions for depression: Evaluating dropout, uptake, adherence, and outcome. J Am Coll
Health. Oct;71(7):2131-2139. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2021.1961781. Epub 2021 Sep 1.
PMID: 34469262.
Ruehlman L, Bindler RJ, Rangel TL, Burley M, Penders RA, Wilson M. Perspectives of adults
with pain regarding online pain self-management resources. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science.
2025; 10: 236-246. doi: 10.1007/s41347-024-00433-7.
Ruehlman, L. & Wilson M. Enhancing Pain Self-Management via Internet-Based Technology.
In P. Karoly & G. Crombez (Eds.) 2018. Motivational Perspectives on Chronic Pain: Theory,
Research, and Practice. New York: Oxford University Press.
Ruehlman, L. Depression and affective meaning for current concerns. Poster presented at
Arizona State Psychological Association Convention. Scottsdale, Arizona, October, 1983.
Wolchik, S., Ruehlman, L., Sandler, I., & Braver, S. Social support of children of divorce:
Direct and stress-buffering effects. Poster presented at the American Psychological
Association Convention, Los Angeles, California, September, 1985.
Ruehlman, L. Predicting academic performance from the structure of school-related personal
projects. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Western Psychological
Association, 1987.
Ruehlman, L. & Wolchik, S. Assessment of social support and hindrance of personal projects.
Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association, 1987.
Karoly, P. & Ruehlman, L. Trait versus cognitive mediators of problem-solving during painful
stimulation. Poster presented at the Annual Convention of the Western Psychological
Association, 1987.
Okun, M. A., Ruehlman, L., & Karoly, P. Applying the theory of reasoned action to college
student turnover. Poster presented at the annual convention of the American Psychological
Association, Boston, Massachusetts, 1990.
Ruehlman, L., Karoly, P., & Lecci, L. Development of the Goal Systems Assessment Battery. Poster presented at the 73rd Annual Convention of the Western and Rocky Mountain Psychological Association, Phoenix, April, 1993.
Ruehlman, L. & Karoly, P. Negative social exchange and psychological distress. Poster
presented at the 73rd Annual Convention of the Western and Rocky Mountain Psychological
Association, Phoenix, April, 1993.
Lecci, L., Karoly, P., Ruehlman, L., & Lanyon, R. Health goal representation among
hypochondriacal adults and its relation to adjustment. Poster presented at the 73rd Annual Convention of the Western and Rocky Mountain Psychological Association, Phoenix, April, 1993.
Ruehlman, L., Karoly, P., Lanyon, R., & Lecci, L. Development of a brief mental health
screening instrument. Poster presented at the 73rd Annual Convention of the Western and Rocky Mountain Psychological Associations, Phoenix, April, 1993.
Ruehlman, L., Karoly, P., & Briggs, C. Goal cognition and adjustment to chronic illness.
Poster presented at the annual convention of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, San
Francisco, 1993.
Ruehlman, L. Development of the Gambling Practices Scale. Paper presented at the 15th
National Council on Problem Gambling Conference 2001. Seattle, June 22, 2001.
Ruehlman, L., Karoly, P., Newton, C., Aiken, L., Todd, M., & Fairholme, C. Development of
the Chronic Pain Screen. Poster presented at the 61st Annual Scientific Meeting of the
American Psychosomatic Society, Phoenix, March, 2003.
Karoly, P., Ruehlman, L., & Okun, M. Level of exercise and intentional mindsets. Poster
presented at the annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association. Phoenix, April
2004.
Okun, M., Fairholme, C., Karoly, P., Ruehlman, L. Contents and processes associated with
students’ goals For introductory psychology. Poster presented at the annual Convention of
the Western Psychological Association. Phoenix, April , 2004.
Ruehlman, L., Newton, C., & Karoly, P. Chronic pain and compensation. Poster presented at
the annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association. Phoenix, April, 2004.
Ruehlman, L. & Karoly, P. Management of exercise goals among irregular, short-term
regular, and long-term regular exercisers: The role of planning and goal switching. Poster
presented at the annual Convention of the Western Psychological Association. Phoenix,
April, 2004.
Ruehlman, L. & Karoly, P. Psychological factors account for pain’s interference with exercise:
A National Community Sample. Poster presented at the annual Convention of the American
Psychological Society, May, 2005.
Ruehlman, L. Psychosocial Correlates of Pain-Related Life Task Interference among Women
with Fibromyalgia. Paper presented at the National Fibromyalgia Association Conference,
March 2006.
Ruehlman, L. Fitness Motivation in Fibromyalgia: Targets for Change. Paper presented at the
National Fibromyalgia Association Conference, March 2006.
Ruehlman, L., Karoly, P., & Enders, C. Evaluation of the online chronic pain management
program. Paper presented at the 30th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society,
Austin, Texas, April, 2011.
Mun, C.J., Karoly, P., Ruehlman, L., & Kim, H. Linking Borderline Personality to Pain Via
Depression and Catastrophizing. Paper presented at the 26th Annual Convention of the
Association for Psychological Science, San Francisco, California, May, 2014.
Mun, C. J., Karoly, P., Okun, M., & Ruehlman, L. S. (2015, August) Do Pain Severity and
Pain-Induced Fear Mediate the Effect of an Online Chronic Pain Management Program on
Medication Use? Poster presented at the 123rd Annual Convention of the American
Psychological Association, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Karoly, P., Ruehlman, L., Vizcaino, M., Berardy, A., Shilling, K., Lines, S., & Wharton, C.
Motivational Factors in Adherence to Plant-Based Eating. Poster presented at the Annual
Meeting of the American Public Health Association, San Diego, California, November, 2018.
Bindler RJ, Burley M, Daily G, Ruehlman L, Watson H, Wilson M. Engaging Community
Partners to Determine Needs and Preferences of People with Pain. Poster presented at:
2023 Inland Northwest Research Symposium; March 23, 2023; Spokane, WA.
Wilson, M., Bindler, R. J., Brown, F., Anderson, J., Coriasco, M., DeWitt, D., Donovan, H. A.,
Dumas, T., Feustel, E., Kobayashi, R., Lewis, J. Malsam, M., McKennon, S., Miller, J. C., Remsberg,
C., Roberts, A., Ruehlman, L., Schwartz, B. A., Striker, H., Thomas, E., Watson, H. (2025).
RELIEF: Resources and Innovations to Improve Pain Management While Reducing Opioid Risks.
Podium presentation, American Society for Pain Management Nursing 35th
National Conference, Aurora, CO, October 15-18, 2025.
Ruehlman, L. Living with Pain: Restoring Hope through Self-Management. Honeywell
International, Glendale, Arizona, May, 2012.
Ruehlman, L. Report on Development of the Building Efficacy for Successful Tapering
Program. Cross-Institutional Chronic Pain Research Group, Carl T. Hayden, VA Medical
Center. Phoenix, Arizona. March 23, 2018.
Ruehlman, L. Sustainable Eating Workshop. Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation.
Chandler, Arizona. October 20/November 3, 2019.
L. Ruehlman, Goalistics Chronic Pain Management Blog. 2010-2016.
L. Ruehlman, Writer for Pain Pathways Magazine. 2016-2018.
