Robert Pietrzak, PhD, MPH
Professor of Psychiatry and of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences)Cards
Appointments
Additional Titles
Director, Translational Psychiatric Epidemiology Laboratory, Clinical Neurosciences Division, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD
Contact Info
Psychiatry
National Center for PTSD, VA Connecticut Healthcare System
West Haven, CT 06516
United States
Appointments
Additional Titles
Director, Translational Psychiatric Epidemiology Laboratory, Clinical Neurosciences Division, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD
Contact Info
Psychiatry
National Center for PTSD, VA Connecticut Healthcare System
West Haven, CT 06516
United States
Appointments
Additional Titles
Director, Translational Psychiatric Epidemiology Laboratory, Clinical Neurosciences Division, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD
Contact Info
Psychiatry
National Center for PTSD, VA Connecticut Healthcare System
West Haven, CT 06516
United States
About
Titles
Professor of Psychiatry and of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences)
Director, Translational Psychiatric Epidemiology Laboratory, Clinical Neurosciences Division, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD
Biography
Robert H. Pietrzak completed a B.A. in Psychology at Clark University, and M.P.H. in Epidemiology and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with specialization in Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Pietrzak is Director of the Translational Psychiatric Epidemiology Laboratory in the Clinical Neurosciences Division of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD and Professor of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine and Professor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences) at Yale School of Public Health. His primary research interests include the psychosocial and genetic epidemiology of traumatic stress and resilience across the lifespan; dimensional models of stress-related psychopathology; and the effect of stress on cognition.
Appointments
Psychiatry
ProfessorPrimarySocial and Behavioral Sciences
ProfessorSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Division of Mental Health Services
- Psychiatry
- Psychology Section
- Social and Behavioral Sciences
- VA-Yale Clinical Neurosciences PTSD Research Program
- WHRY Pilot Project Program Investigators
- Women's Health Research at Yale
- Yale Medicine
- Yale Ventures
Education & Training
- Fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology
- Gaylord Specialty Healthcare (2010)
- PhD
- University of Connecticut (2008)
- Internship in Clinical Psychology
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System-West Haven (2008)
- MPH
- University of Connecticut, Epidemiology (2003)
- BA
- Clark University, Psychology and Neuroscience (2001)
Research
Overview
"Risk and Resilience Factors in Iraq Combat Veterans" - This study aims to improve understanding of the needs, symptoms, and strengths of Connecticut OIF/OEF Veterans.
"Mental Health, Resilience, and Soldier's Perceptions about Psychotherapy, Medication, and Barriers to Care in the U.S. Military" - This study aims to determine characteristics that differentiate symptomatic soldiers who seek mental health treatment and symptomatic soldiers who do not seek professional mental health treatment.
"National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study" - The purpose of this NCPTSD-funded study is to characterize genetic, environmental, and gene x environmental determinants of longitudinal trajectories of posttraumatic stress disorder and related mental health outcomes in a nationally representative sample of U.S. veterans.
"Trajectories of Psychological Risk and Resilience in World Trade Center Responders" - This CDC/NIOSH-funded study aims to characterize the nature and correlates of trajectories of posttraumatic stress symptoms of a large cohort of World Trade Center responders.
"Biomarkers of Psychological Risk and Resilience in World Trade Center Responders" - This CDC/NIOSH-funded study aims to examine genetic, epigenetic, and neuroendocrine factors associated with posttraumatic stress disorder in World Trade Center responders.
Medical Research Interests
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Peter Jongho Na, MD, MPH
Jack Tsai
Ilan Harpaz-Rotem, PhD, ABPP
John Krystal, MD
Irina Esterlis, PhD
Joel Gelernter, MD
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Resilience, Psychological
Anxiety Disorders
Publications
2024
Identifying transdiagnostic traumatic stress reactions in U.S. military veterans: A nationally representative study
Pugach C, Adams S, Wisco B, Pietrzak R. Identifying transdiagnostic traumatic stress reactions in U.S. military veterans: A nationally representative study. Journal Of Traumatic Stress 2024 PMID: 39682069, DOI: 10.1002/jts.23119.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderTraumatic stress reactionsU.S. military veteransDysphoric arousalMilitary veteransSelf-reported posttraumatic stress disorderPosttraumatic stress disorder symptomsNational Health and ResilienceStress reactionsComorbid psychopathologyPsychopathological symptomsGeneralized anxietyStress disorderDiagnostic subtypesVeterans StudyDepressive symptomsLatent class analysisTrauma historySymptom differencesU.S. veteransPsychopathologyMental functioningPsychosocial correlatesArousalFunctional impairmentSex Differences in PTSD Among US Military Veterans: Role of Trauma, Coping, and Social Factors.
Yang R, Fischer I, Na P, Mazure C, Pietrzak R. Sex Differences in PTSD Among US Military Veterans: Role of Trauma, Coping, and Social Factors. The Journal Of Clinical Psychiatry 2024, 86 PMID: 39700385, DOI: 10.4088/jcp.24br15621.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHappiness in US military veterans: Results from a nationally representative study
Kang H, Fischer I, Na P, Pietrzak R. Happiness in US military veterans: Results from a nationally representative study. PLOS ONE 2024, 19: e0313609. PMID: 39661580, PMCID: PMC11633995, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0313609.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsUS military veteransMilitary veteransNational Health and ResilienceWhole Health approachEmotional stabilityMean happiness scoreWell-beingPerception of well-beingSeverity of depressive symptomsNationally representative sampleCorrelates of happinessMeasures of optimismVeterans' perceptionsPsychosocial characteristicsVeterans StudySubjective well-beingDepressive symptomsHealth approachRepresentative sampleHigher optimismVeteransHappiness scoresGreater happinessAnalyzed dataUS DepartmentPsychometric properties, factor structure, and functional correlates of the PTSD checklist for DSM-5 in a U.S. national sample of older veterans
Cook J, Bovin M, Günak M, Lawrence K, Pietrzak R. Psychometric properties, factor structure, and functional correlates of the PTSD checklist for DSM-5 in a U.S. national sample of older veterans. International Psychogeriatrics 2024, 100027. DOI: 10.1016/j.inpsyc.2024.100027.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderPosttraumatic Stress Disorder ChecklistDSM-5PCL-5Psychometric propertiesOlder veteransSymptoms of posttraumatic stress disorderSubthreshold posttraumatic stress disorderAdult trauma exposurePCL-5 scoresMeasure PTSD symptomsSample of older veteransExcellent internal consistencyRates of childhoodNationally representative web-based surveyU.S. national sampleAssociated with measuresDysphoric symptomsPTSD symptomsStress disorderTrauma exposureFactor structureCommunity-dwelling older veteransAssessment measuresInternal consistencyAssociation of clerical burden and EHR frustration with burnout and career intentions among physician faculty in an urban academic health system
Ripp J, Pietrzak R, de Guillebon E, Peccoralo L. Association of clerical burden and EHR frustration with burnout and career intentions among physician faculty in an urban academic health system. International Journal Of Medical Informatics 2024, 195: 105740. PMID: 39644795, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2024.105740.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsElectronic health recordsClerical burdenAssociated with greater likelihoodPhysician facultyHealth systemEHR timeUrban academic health systemClerical timeGreater likelihoodOdds of burnoutAssociated with lower oddsAcademic health systemMultivariate logistic regression analysisHealth recordsLogistic regression analysisHospital-based departmentsInstitution-wide surveyLower oddsHealthy workforceHealthcare systemDemographic characteristicsNew York CityBurnoutCareer intentionsPhysiciansTraumatic Brain Injury in U.S. Veterans: Prevalence and Associations with Physical, Mental, and Cognitive Health
Karr J, Rippey C, Hubert T, Stein M, Adams T, Pietrzak R. Traumatic Brain Injury in U.S. Veterans: Prevalence and Associations with Physical, Mental, and Cognitive Health. Archives Of Physical Medicine And Rehabilitation 2024 PMID: 39613218, DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2024.11.010.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderAlcohol use disorderDrug use disordersTraumatic brain injuryActivities of daily livingInstrumental activities of daily livingU.S. veteransAnxiety disordersSuicidal ideationUse disorderHealth conditionsPrevalence of traumatic brain injuryU.S. military veteransBrain injuryActivities of daily living disabilitySelf-reported health professional diagnosisOdds of mild cognitive impairmentU.S. veteran populationMental health conditionsMild cognitive impairmentPhysical health conditionsDepressive disorderStress disorderAssociated with higher oddsSuicide attemptsIdentifying Factors Linked to Current Patterns of Alcohol Consumption in U.S. Veterans with a History of Alcohol Use Disorder
Jalilian-Khave L, Stefanovics E, Potenza M, Pietrzak R. Identifying Factors Linked to Current Patterns of Alcohol Consumption in U.S. Veterans with a History of Alcohol Use Disorder. International Journal Of Mental Health And Addiction 2024, 1-18. DOI: 10.1007/s11469-024-01412-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHistory of alcohol use disorderAlcohol use disorderUse disorderU.S. veteransHazardous drinkingNational Health and ResilienceLifetime history of alcohol use disorderLifetime alcohol use disorderAlcohol use problemsDrug use disordersPatterns of alcohol consumptionAlcohol use patternsHigher education levelNationally representative sampleMultinomial logistic regression analysisVeterans StudyLifetime historyLifetime traumaAlcohol consumption patternsQuality of lifeNon-veteransLogistic regression analysisPsychosocial traitsTreatment effortsPsychosocial factorsReply to Pomara et al: A potential role for sTREM2 in PTSD?
Bonomi R, Pietrzak R, Cosgrove K. Reply to Pomara et al: A potential role for sTREM2 in PTSD? Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2024, 121: e2418104121. PMID: 39536072, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2418104121.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchUnveiling the Structure in Mental Disorder Presentations
Spiller T, Duek O, Helmer M, Murray J, Fielstein E, Pietrzak R, von Känel R, Harpaz-Rotem I. Unveiling the Structure in Mental Disorder Presentations. JAMA Psychiatry 2024, 81: 1101-1107. PMID: 39110437, PMCID: PMC11307158, DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.2047.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsSymptom combinationsNational Institute of Mental Health Data ArchivePosttraumatic stress disorderDiagnostic criteriaHeterogeneity of symptomsSecondary data analysisCross-sectional studyRevision of diagnostic criteriaSymptom-based definitionsDSM criteriaStress disorderSymptom heterogeneityDisorder presentationsClinical populationsMain OutcomesAssess symptomsGroup of individualsParticipantsSymptomsNational InstituteDisordersIndividualsSchizophreniaAnxietyIndividual frequenciesTrauma-Related Nightmares Among U.S. Veterans: Findings from a Nationally Representative Study
Worley C, Meshberg-Cohen S, Fischer I, Pietrzak R. Trauma-Related Nightmares Among U.S. Veterans: Findings from a Nationally Representative Study. Sleep Medicine 2024 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2024.11.031.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTrauma-related nightmaresNationally representative sampleSuicidal ideationTreatment of trauma-related nightmaresRepresentative sampleAssociated with adverse mental healthExposure to adverse childhood eventsTrauma-exposed veteransAssociated with elevated oddsAdverse mental healthIncreased suicide riskNationally representative studyAdverse childhood eventsUS military veteransTransdiagnostic assessmentNightmare severityTrauma exposureHealth historySociodemographic factorsMental healthSuicide riskTrauma typesPsychiatric conditionsSociodemographic characteristicsPsychosocial functioning
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Have you had COVID-19?
HIC ID2000033404RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date08/31/2025Recruiting ParticipantsStudying the Adult Brain
HIC ID2000025671RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date07/31/2025Recruiting ParticipantsImaging SV2A in mood disorders
HIC ID1511016789RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date03/15/2022Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18 years - 70 years
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
activity Psychological Injury and Law
Professional OrganizationsMemberDetailsEditorial Board11/01/2014 - Presentactivity Journal of Anxiety Disorders
Professional OrganizationsMemberDetailsEditorial Board08/10/2015 - Presentactivity PLoS One
Professional OrganizationsBoard MemberDetailsEditorial Board09/07/2018 - Presenthonor Outstanding Contributions to the Science of Trauma Psychology
National AwardAmerican Psychological AssociationDetails07/20/2022United Stateshonor 2022 Paul Wender Best Paper Award
National AwardAmerican Society of Clinical PsychopharmacologyDetails03/24/2022United States
News
News
- January 09, 2025Source: Physician's Weekly
One in Four Older U.S. Veterans Report Cardiovascular Disease Diagnosis
- January 02, 2025
Study Sheds Light on Social Drivers That Increase Risk of Suicide
- October 23, 2024Source: The Primary Care Companion
Psychological Resilience of Mental Health Workers During the Russia-Ukraine War: Implications for Clinical Interventions
- October 18, 2024Source: British Journal of Psychiatry
Genes in Context: Path to More Precise Risk Prediction in Psychiatry?
Get In Touch
Contacts
Psychiatry
National Center for PTSD, VA Connecticut Healthcare System
West Haven, CT 06516
United States