Timothy Wayne Fong

Dr. Timothy Wayne Fong is a Health Sciences Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. His academic career spans over two decades with a primary focus on behavioral addictions, particularly pathological gambling and hypersexual disorder. Dr. Fong maintains an active research program examining the clinical characteristics, cultural aspects, and treatment approaches for individuals with gambling disorders and related behavioral health conditions.

Dr. Fong's research interests encompass pathological gambling, hypersexual disorder, impulsivity, and substance use disorders, with particular attention to cultural factors that influence treatment outcomes. His work has explored gambling behaviors among diverse populations including Hispanic, Iranian-American, and Asian American communities. He has made significant contributions to understanding the relationship between gambling disorders and comorbid mental health conditions, as well as examining traditional healing practices among Native American populations. His research integrates psychological, neurobiological, and sociocultural perspectives to develop more effective treatment approaches for behavioral addictions.

Analysis of Dr. Fong's publication record reveals consistent focus on behavioral addictions with particular emphasis on pathological gambling across his career. His work spans clinical trials, epidemiological studies, and theoretical examinations of behavioral addictions. Recent publications show expansion into related areas including tobacco cessation among individuals with gambling disorders, suicide prevention, and the implementation of health interventions across multiple health systems. His research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary collaboration with colleagues in public health, psychology, and cultural studies.

Dr. Fong served as Principal Investigator on the NIH-funded K23DA019522 grant titled 'Impulsivity In Pathological Gambling' from 2006 to 2012, which supported his early career development in this field. His research has been widely cited, with several publications receiving over 50 citations, indicating significant impact in the field of behavioral addictions.

Dr. Fong has established extensive research collaborations across institutions, working with colleagues at UCLA, UCSF, UC Davis, and other universities. His work demonstrates strong commitment to addressing health disparities and developing culturally appropriate interventions for diverse populations affected by behavioral addictions. He has contributed to the development of assessment tools such as the hypersexual behavior consequences scale and has examined executive function differences in pathological gamblers.