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 Subject Headings (MeSH)
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
Unveiling 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 frequenciesPosttraumatic Stress Disorder, Obesity, and Accelerated Epigenetic Aging Among US Military Veterans
Fischer I, Na P, Nagamatsu S, Jeste D, Cabrera-Mendoza B, Montalvo-Ortiz J, Krystal J, Polimanti R, Gelernter J, Pietrzak R. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Obesity, and Accelerated Epigenetic Aging Among US Military Veterans. JAMA Psychiatry 2024, 81 PMID: 39476130, DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.3403.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricPrevalence, Correlates, and Burden of Subthreshold PTSD in US Veterans.
Fischer I, Na P, Harpaz-Rotem I, Marx B, Pietrzak R. Prevalence, Correlates, and Burden of Subthreshold PTSD in US Veterans. The Journal Of Clinical Psychiatry 2024, 85 PMID: 39480145, DOI: 10.4088/jcp.24m15465.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSubthreshold posttraumatic stress disorderPosttraumatic stress disorderPosttraumatic stress disorder symptom clustersLifetime psychiatric disordersUS veteransUS military veteransSymptom-related distressStress disorderPsychiatric disordersSymptom clustersTreating veteransCriterion AMilitary veteransTraumatic eventsCognitive functionWorking case definitionMental healthCriterion FFunctional impairmentVeteransNationally representative sampleFunctional correlatesDisordersElevated oddsGreater oddsPsychological Resilience of Mental Health Workers During the Russia-Ukraine War: Implications for Clinical Interventions.
Kang H, Fischer I, Vus V, Kolyshkina A, Ponomarenko L, Chobanian A, Esterlis I, Pietrzak R. Psychological Resilience of Mental Health Workers During the Russia-Ukraine War: Implications for Clinical Interventions. The Primary Care Companion For CNS Disorders 2024, 26 PMID: 39441963, DOI: 10.4088/pcc.24m03761.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsMental health workersPsychological resilienceHealth workersDistress scoresClinical interventionsMental health symptomsGreater resilienceAssociated with greater resilienceWar-related exposuresWork-related stressorsConvenience samplePsychosocial characteristicsHealth symptomsMeaning in lifeOccupational stressorsPresence of meaning in lifeOccupational stressSocial connectednessPromote resiliencePsychiatric resilienceGreater levelsInterventionScoresSocial relationshipsAuthor affiliationGenes in context: path to more precise risk prediction in psychiatry?
Na P, Pietrzak R, Gelernter J. Genes in context: path to more precise risk prediction in psychiatry? The British Journal Of Psychiatry 2024, 1-2. PMID: 39422146, DOI: 10.1192/bjp.2024.151.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchLoneliness Trajectories in U.S. Military Veterans: A 3-Year Longitudinal Study of Risk and Protective Factors
Ong A, Cintron D, Rottenberg J, Panaite V, Fischer I, Na P, Jeste D, Pietrzak R. Loneliness Trajectories in U.S. Military Veterans: A 3-Year Longitudinal Study of Risk and Protective Factors. The Journals Of Gerontology Series B 2024, gbae171. PMID: 39390809, DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbae171.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsGrowth mixture modelingU.S. military veteransLoneliness trajectoriesMilitary veteransLongitudinal Study of RiskNational Health and ResilienceEarly life adversitySelf-report ratingsProtective factorsWorse cognitive functionMental health concernsPhysical health outcomesHealth concernAdverse childhood experiencesRisk factorsLongitudinal cohort studyStudy of riskNationally representative samplePotential psychosocial riskPromote social connectednessSignificant public health concernVeterans StudyLife adversityThree-step regression analysisCognitive functionLongitudinal associations between five factor model and impulsive personality traits and PTSD symptoms: Findings from the AURORA study
Hyatt C, Reddi P, Sharpe B, Michopoulos V, van Rooij S, House S, Beaudoin F, An X, Stevens J, Zeng D, Neylan T, Clifford G, Linnstaedt S, Germine L, Bollen K, Rauch S, Haran J, Lewandowski C, Musey P, Hendry P, Sheikh S, Jones C, Punches B, Kurz M, Swor R, Hudak L, Pascual J, Seamon M, Harris E, Pearson C, Peak D, Merchant R, Domeier R, Rathlev N, Sergot P, Sanchez L, Bruce S, Miller M, Pietrzak R, Joormann J, Pizzagalli D, Sheridan J, Smoller J, Harte S, Elliott J, McLean S, Kessler R, Ressler K, Koenen K, Maples-Keller J. Longitudinal associations between five factor model and impulsive personality traits and PTSD symptoms: Findings from the AURORA study. Journal Of Research In Personality 2024, 112: 104524. DOI: 10.1016/j.jrp.2024.104524.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsImpulsive personality traitsPTSD symptomsPersonality traitsOne-year post-traumaSevere PTSD symptomsPost-traumaFactor modelNegative urgencyLow agreeablenessLow conscientiousnessTrauma exposurePersonality assessmentPTSD riskProspective linksSymptom TotalPTSDLongitudinal associationsAURORA studyIncremental predictorNeuroticismTime pointsSymptomsTraitsAgreeablenessConscientiousnessAssociation of Psychological Safety with Burnout and Intent to Leave Among Physician Faculty in New York City
de Guillebon E, He C, Akhtar S, Pietrzak R, Ripp J, Peccoralo L. Association of Psychological Safety with Burnout and Intent to Leave Among Physician Faculty in New York City. Journal Of General Internal Medicine 2024, 1-7. PMID: 39354250, DOI: 10.1007/s11606-024-09034-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPhysician facultyAssociated with lower oddsAssociated with lower scoresAmbulatory care departmentPrevalence of PSClinical faculty membersStandard deviation unit increasePsychologically safe environmentMultivariate logistic regression analysisFaculty physiciansLogistic regression analysisHealth systemSeven-itemInstitution-wide surveyLower oddsConclusionsA majorityCare departmentNew York CityBurnoutPhysiciansSafe environmentFemale genderOrganization QuestionnaireLower scoresOccupational characteristicsSexual Orientation Moderates the Association Between Health Care Utilization-Related Factors and Mental Health Service Nonutilization Among United States Military Veterans
Chang C, Fischer I, Harper K, Livingston N, Depp C, Norman S, Pietrzak R. Sexual Orientation Moderates the Association Between Health Care Utilization-Related Factors and Mental Health Service Nonutilization Among United States Military Veterans. Psychological Services 2024 PMID: 39347751, DOI: 10.1037/ser0000907.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHeterosexual veteransSexual minority veteransHealth careMinority veteransMilitary veteransPsychiatric needsMental health treatment utilizationNational Health and ResilienceSource of health careSexual minoritiesVA health careUnited States military veteransU.S. military veteransMental health problemsNationally representative sampleSexual orientationNon-VADifficulties ScheduleVeterans StudyTreatment utilizationInfluence utilizationRepresentative sampleHealth problemsVeteransMental treatmentGambling and Substance Use Disorders in U.S. Military Veterans: Prevalence, Clinical Characteristics, and Suicide Risk
Stefanovics E, Potenza M, Tsai J, Pietrzak R. Gambling and Substance Use Disorders in U.S. Military Veterans: Prevalence, Clinical Characteristics, and Suicide Risk. Journal Of Gambling Studies 2024, 1-21. PMID: 39342537, DOI: 10.1007/s10899-024-10359-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSubstance use disordersU.S. military veteransMental health treatmentGambling groupSUD-onlySuicide riskHealth treatmentMilitary veteransNon-suicidal self-injuryLifetime substance use disorderNational Health and ResilienceRisk of substance use disordersSUD-only groupSelf-report measuresMental health difficultiesAdverse childhood experiencesMental health burdenPast-year gamblingSelf-injurySuicidality/self-harmVeterans StudyUse disorderNicotine dependenceTrauma variablesBehavioral correlates
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
- 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?
- August 23, 2024
Microglia-Mediated Neuroimmune Suppression in PTSD Is Associated With Anhedonia
- August 22, 2024Source: Psychiatric News
Resilience and Gratitude Linked to Successful Aging Among Vets With Mental Disorders
Get In Touch
Contacts
Psychiatry
National Center for PTSD, VA Connecticut Healthcare System
West Haven, CT 06516
United States