Sarah Meshberg-Cohen, PhD
Associate Professor of PsychiatryCards
Appointments
Additional Titles
Clinic Director, Outpatient Addiction Recovery Service (OARS), VA Connecticut Healthcare System, VA Connecticut Healthcare System
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Clinic Director, Outpatient Addiction Recovery Service (OARS), VA Connecticut Healthcare System, VA Connecticut Healthcare System
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Clinic Director, Outpatient Addiction Recovery Service (OARS), VA Connecticut Healthcare System, VA Connecticut Healthcare System
Contact Info
About
Titles
Associate Professor of Psychiatry
Positions outside Yale
Clinic Director, Outpatient Addiction Recovery Service (OARS), VA Connecticut Healthcare System, VA Connecticut Healthcare System
Biography
Sarah Meshberg-Cohen, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist with a background in behavioral medicine, and specializes in the treatment of substance use disorders, chronic depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and dual diagnosis. Dr. Meshberg-Cohen serves as the Director of the VACHS Outpatient Addiction Recovery Service and Program Manager of VACHS Addiction Firm. Her clinical work utilizes evidence-based treatments, including cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement, cognitive processing therapy, written exposure therapy, and cognitive behavioral analysis system of psychotherapy (CBASP). Her research focuses on improving evidence-based treatments for substance use disorders and comorbid psychiatric conditions, often involving trauma. She is the Principal Investigator on a grant-funded randomized clinical trial investigating the feasibility and efficacy of written exposure therapy (WET) for veterans seeking SUD treatment who present with comorbid PTSD. Dr. Meshberg-Cohen also serves as co-Investigator on a clinical trial examining the impact of cognitive processing therapy with buprenorphine maintenance for veterans with comorbid opioid use disorder and PTSD.
Appointments
Psychiatry
Associate Professor on TermPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Post-Doctoral Associate
- Yale University School of Medicine (2012)
- PhD
- Virginia Commonwealth University (2010)
- Pre-Doctoral Fellow
- Yale University School of Medicine (2010)
- MS
- Virginia Commonwealth University (2006)
- BA
- Skidmore College, Psychology (2002)
Research
Overview
My primary research interest involves the field of addictions, with a specific focus on health and psychiatric problems co-occurring with substance use disorders (SUD), disability compensation for veterans, interventions targeting SUD and comorbid trauma-related conditions, and treatment addressing opioid use disorders (OUD) among veterans with trauma-related conditions. I have dedicated my work to exploring, developing and enhancing evidence-based treatments targeting the unique experiences of individuals presenting with co-occurring SUD and PTSD. Consequently, there is a great deal of overlap between my clinical, educational, and research interests.
Prior to coming to the VA, I obtained a NIH/NIDA grant and a VCU Institute for Women’s Health grant investigating whether Expressive Writing could augment treatment for women seeking SUD treatment, with an emphasis on co-occurring trauma and dual-diagnoses. I have also participated in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) examining treatments for use with addictive disorders and co-occurring diagnoses.
Since coming to the VA, I have become increasingly invested in research involving disability compensation for Veterans’ with substance use and mental health conditions. My role as Director of VACHS' Outpatient Addiction Recovery Service (OARS) as well as my clinical work and research in treating individuals with co-occurring addictions and trauma, has led to increased interest in improving treatment engagement and adherence for returning service members. To this end, I am involved in research examining the role of PTSD Compensation and Pension (C&P) claims on Veterans’ overall treatment engagement, quality of life, and mental health outcomes.
In addition to examining treatment engagement, I am dedicated to bringing evidence-based trauma care into SUD treatment settings and making it more acceptable and feasible in these settings. I am a co-investigator on a randomized clinical trial examining the impact of cognitive processing therapy with buprenorphine maintenance for veterans with comorbid OUD and PTSD. My current work also examines the feasibility and efficacy of a brief trauma-focused narrative exposure therapy for veterans seeking SUD treatment who present with comorbid PTSD. I am the Principal Investigator on a grant-funded randomized clinical trial investigating written exposure therapy (WET) for veterans seeking outpatient SUD treatment who present with comorbid PTSD, with a goal of improving trauma and substance use outcomes for veterans.
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Ismene Petrakis, MD
Anne C. Black, PhD
Georgina Gross, PhD
Marc Rosen, MD
Robert Pietrzak, PhD, MPH
Ashley Schnakenberg Martin, PhD
Publications
2024
Trauma-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 functioningMild Traumatic Brain Injury in U.S. Military Veterans: Results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study
Meshberg-Cohen S, Cook J, Fischer I, Pietrzak R. Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in U.S. Military Veterans: Results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Psychiatry 2024, 87: 314-328. PMID: 39186319, DOI: 10.1080/00332747.2024.2392226.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsMild traumatic brain injuryNational Health and ResilienceU.S. military veteransPsychosocial functioningTraumatic brain injuryVeterans StudyMilitary veteransCurrent posttraumatic stress disorderOutcomes of mild traumatic brain injuryLifetime psychiatric conditionsGeneralized anxiety disorderComorbid psychiatric diagnosesPosttraumatic stress disorderPoor psychosocial functioningMild traumatic brain injury eventDrug use disordersBrain injuryPrevention of disabilityAssociated with increased oddsAnxiety disordersDepressive disorderStress disorderPsychiatric diagnosisMTBI symptomsPsychiatric characteristicsClinical Documentation of Patient Identities in the Electronic Health Record: Ethical Principles to Consider
Decker S, Farook M, Meshberg-Cohen S, Matsuura T, Manning M, Abel E, Blakley L, Prelli F. Clinical Documentation of Patient Identities in the Electronic Health Record: Ethical Principles to Consider. Psychological Services 2024, 21: 589-600. PMID: 37917474, DOI: 10.1037/ser0000816.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsMulticultural guidelinesAmerican Psychological Association’s multicultural guidelinesFluid identitiesLanguageLived experienceIdentitySet of questionsIdentity variablesPurpose of documentationEthical dilemmasDocumentation approachAssociation CodePsychologistsPatient identityEthical principlesOrganizational mandatesDocumentationGeneral principlesArticleDilemmaQuestionsExperienceLittle guidanceA Systematic Review Evaluating PTSD Treatment Effects on Intermediate Phenotypes of PTSD
Palmisano A, Meshberg-Cohen S, Petrakis I, Sofuoglu M. A Systematic Review Evaluating PTSD Treatment Effects on Intermediate Phenotypes of PTSD. Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice And Policy 2024, 16: 768-783. PMID: 36595460, DOI: 10.1037/tra0001410.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderBehavioral treatment outcomesEvidence-based treatmentsCognitive controlThreat processingBody of researchPTSD outcomesPTSD treatmentPaucity of researchStress disorderPreliminary supportIntermediate phenotypesTreatment dropoutMethodological limitationsStudy limitationsTreatment effectsCurrent researchTreatment approachesStrong conclusionsNovel treatment approachesEmpirical studyTreatment outcomesTreatment efficacyResearchMemoryDo veterans with risky substance use (RSU) use distinct pain treatment modalities?
Meshberg‐Cohen S, Gilstad‐Hayden K, Martino S, Lazar C, Sellinger J, Rosen M. Do veterans with risky substance use (RSU) use distinct pain treatment modalities? American Journal On Addictions 2024, 33: 675-684. PMID: 38849976, DOI: 10.1111/ajad.13620.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsRisky substance usePain treatment modalitiesTreatment modalitiesPain treatmentPrescribed opioidsPain treatment utilizationSubstance Involvement TestNonopioid pain treatmentPain treatment outcomesSubstance useOver-the-counter medicationsNumerical rating scalePrimary careMusculoskeletal conditionsAssociated with numberPain serviceNonopioid treatmentsPrescription medicationsOpioid medicationsChronic painOpioid prescriptionsOver-the-counterVeteransDisability claimsOpioidCognitive processing therapy (CPT) versus individual drug counseling (IDC) for PTSD for veterans with opioid use disorder maintained on buprenorphine
Petrakis I, Meshberg‐Cohen S, Nich C, Kelly M, Claudio T, Jane J, Pisani E, Ralevski E. Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) versus individual drug counseling (IDC) for PTSD for veterans with opioid use disorder maintained on buprenorphine. American Journal On Addictions 2024, 33: 525-533. PMID: 38624259, DOI: 10.1111/ajad.13557.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsCognitive processing therapyIndividual drug counselingPosttraumatic stress disorderOpioid use disorderSubstance use disordersDrug counselingProcessing therapyPTSD symptomsUse disorderCognitive processing therapy groupEvidence-based trauma-focused psychotherapiesSelf-reported PTSD symptomsPosttraumatic stress disorder symptomsPosttraumatic stress disorder treatmentRemission of PTSD symptomsPosttraumatic Stress Disorder ChecklistComorbid opioid use disorderTrauma-focused psychotherapyTrauma-focused treatmentRates of comorbidityTreatment group differencesPCL-5Stress disorderGroup differencesRandomized clinical trialsGiving Voice to Women with Substance Use Disorder: Findings from Expressive Writing About Trauma
Jallo N, Kinser P, Eglovitch M, Worcman N, Webster P, Alvanzo A, Svikis D, Meshberg-Cohen S. Giving Voice to Women with Substance Use Disorder: Findings from Expressive Writing About Trauma. Women's Health Reports 2024, 5: 223-230. PMID: 38516652, PMCID: PMC10956529, DOI: 10.1089/whr.2023.0173.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSubstance use disordersExpressive writingTrauma eventsResidential SUD treatmentResidential SUD programsInterpersonal traumaTrauma exposureInterpersonal betrayalUse disorderSelf-conceptAddiction treatmentSUD programsTrauma experiencesSUD treatmentParental neglectWritten wordWriting sessionsEmotional consequencesEW conditionSecondary data analysisDisordersParticipantsTraumaSexual violenceAddictionWritten exposure therapy for veterans with co-occurring substance use disorders and PTSD: Study design of a randomized clinical trial
Meshberg-Cohen S, Cook J, Bin-Mahfouz A, Petrakis I. Written exposure therapy for veterans with co-occurring substance use disorders and PTSD: Study design of a randomized clinical trial. Contemporary Clinical Trials 2024, 139: 107475. PMID: 38365173, DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2024.107475.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsWritten exposure therapyPosttraumatic stress disorderEvidence-based psychotherapiesSubstance use disordersExposure therapyReduce symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorderSymptoms of posttraumatic stress disorderPTSD specialty clinicRates of posttraumatic stress disorderCo-occurring substance use disordersComorbid posttraumatic stress disorderSubstance use disorder outcomesDays of substance useTreatment-seeking veteransSubstance use disorder treatmentStress disorderAddiction outcomesTherapist involvementAddiction programsSUD treatmentSubstance useTrauma treatmentRandomized clinical trialsWriting conditionsHomework assignments
2022
Treatment utilization and modality preference among veterans receiving outpatient substance use disorder treatment during a pandemic
Meshberg‐Cohen S, Farook M, Gross G, Levina V, DeViva J. Treatment utilization and modality preference among veterans receiving outpatient substance use disorder treatment during a pandemic. American Journal On Addictions 2022, 32: 32-39. PMID: 36286598, DOI: 10.1111/ajad.13347.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAlcohol use disorderTreatment modalitiesUse disordersClinical variablesCOVID-19Outpatient substance use disorder treatmentElectronic medical record dataSubstance use disorder treatmentTreatment utilization patternsMain treatment modalityRetrospective electronic medical record dataEmergency room visitsOpioid use disorderPsychiatric emergency room visitsMedical record dataUse disorder treatmentUtilization patternsCocaine use disorderBinary logistic regressionRoom visitsSUD diagnosisTelephone appointmentsTreatment utilizationChi-square analysisNumber of visits
2021
Binge drinking following residential treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder among veterans with and without alcohol use disorder
Meshberg-Cohen S, Gross GM, Kachadourian LK, Harpaz-Rotem I. Binge drinking following residential treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder among veterans with and without alcohol use disorder. Journal Of Psychiatric Research 2021, 143: 202-208. PMID: 34500350, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.09.024.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderMilitary sexual traumaAlcohol use disorderPTSD symptom improvementResidential treatmentBinge drinkingStress disorderPTSD symptom changeResidential PTSD treatmentPTSD symptom decreaseUse disordersBinge drinking daysAlcohol-related variablesPTSD treatmentTrauma typesSexual traumaProblematic drinkingCombat exposureDrinking outcomesSymptom changeGreater likelihoodSymptom improvementBingeSymptom decreaseAlcohol use
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
honor Distinguished Psychologist for Contributions to Clinical Care
Regional AwardVA Connecticut Healthcare SystemDetails06/22/2023United States