Tapan Patel – Florida State University News

“During my time here at FSU, I have poured into my passions in a way that I would hope inspires the next generation of FSU students to do the same.”

Clinical psychology doctoral candidate Tapan Patel is leveraging technology to address the social implications of appearance-related anxiety. His research led to the development of an innovative, smartphone-based text-messaging intervention designed to help individuals manage appearance concerns and ease social anxiety in real time. 

Supported by a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Individual Predoctoral Fellowship from the National Institutes of Health, Patel uses scientific methods to understand why body image worries become overwhelming and disruptive. 

Beyond the lab, Patel is dedicated to local mental health advocacy. Working alongside the Clinical Psychology Graduate Student Association, he plans to expand his work locally to help make mental health resources more accessible across Tallahassee.

Why did you choose FSU?

I chose to attend FSU to complete my doctoral degree because of the world-renowned psychology department and its collegial nature. Within my field, FSU has positioned itself as a leader in clinical science. I wanted a world-class education and experience in cutting-edge research within psychology and found that in FSU’s clinical psychology program. 

What academic achievements are you most proud of?

I earned a prestigious fellowship from the National Institutes of Health: the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (F31). 

This fellowship has given me the opportunity to earn valuable training in complex scientific methods to examine the dynamic process of anxiety around appearance. For some, these concerns around their looks become overwhelming and lead to avoidance of social situations, constant checking in mirrors, comparisons with others and serious emotional distress. 

My work at FSU has focused on understanding why these worries become overwhelming and how they can be reduced. Notably, I have developed a simple intervention that leverages text messaging to target behaviors related to appearance that reduced appearance concerns and social anxiety. I am continuing to refine this intervention to hopefully disseminate one day. 

How do you serve the FSU community?

I work with the Clinical Psychology Graduate Student Association to help determine how we can best serve our community in Tallahassee. My goal is to improve access to evidence-based mental healthcare to ensure anyone who needs it can access mental healthcare. 

My work has positively contributed to FSU and the research community by highlighting the importance of appearance concerns as a common feature of multiple psychological disorders. Highlighting these concerns through research can help people by letting them know this is a common concern, and my intervention work seeks to directly address how these concerns can be improved.