Robert Pietrzak, PhD, MPH
Professor of Psychiatry and of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences)DownloadHi-Res Photo
Cards
Appointments
Psychiatry
Primary
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Secondary
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
Psychiatry
Primary
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Secondary
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
Psychiatry
Primary
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Secondary
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)
Anxiety Disorders; Resilience, Psychological; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Stress Disorders, Traumatic
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Robert Pietrzak's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Robert Pietrzak's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Robert Pietrzak is interested in exploring.
Peter Jongho Na, MD, MPH
Jack Tsai
Ilan Harpaz-Rotem, PhD, ABPP
John Krystal, MD
Irina Esterlis, PhD
Joel Gelernter, MD
155Publications
1,712Citations
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Resilience, Psychological
Anxiety Disorders
Publications
2024
Association 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 characteristicsLongitudinal 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 pointsSymptomsTraitsAgreeablenessConscientiousnessSexual 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 correlatesMulti-modal risk factors differentiate suicide attempters from ideators in military veterans with major depressive disorder
Goldstein K, Pietrzak R, Challman K, Chu K, Beck K, Brenner L, Interian A, Myers C, Shafritz K, Szeszko P, Goodman M, Haznedar M, Hazlett E. Multi-modal risk factors differentiate suicide attempters from ideators in military veterans with major depressive disorder. Journal Of Affective Disorders 2024 PMID: 39341292, DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.09.149.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsSuicide attemptsDepressive disorderGo/No-GoMilitary veteransSeverity of suicidal behaviorFractional anisotropyDecreased attentional controlUnited States military veteransDiagnosis of MDDDSM-5 diagnosisMagnetic-resonance-imagingSuicide prevention effortsDifferentiate veteransDSM-5Attentional controlSuicide attempt/sSuicidal behaviorSuicidal ideationMDDNeurocognitive assessmentHealthy control groupNeuroimaging variablesPrevention effortsIdeationSuicideThe association of perceived social support, resilience, and posttraumatic stress symptoms among coronavirus disease patients in the United States
Li J, Wisnivesky J, Gonzalez A, Feder A, Pietrzak R, Chanumolu D, Hu L, Kale M. The association of perceived social support, resilience, and posttraumatic stress symptoms among coronavirus disease patients in the United States. Journal Of Affective Disorders 2024, 368: 390-397. PMID: 39293600, DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.09.091.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCOVID-19-related posttraumatic stress disorderPosttraumatic stress disorderPre-existing mental disordersSocial supportMental disordersPosttraumatic Stress Disorder ChecklistPosttraumatic stress disorder symptomsRisk of posttraumatic stress disorderCD-RISCPosttraumatic stress symptomsAcute careAssociation of perceived social supportMedical Outcomes Study Social Support SurveyTargeting of preventive interventionsConnor-Davidson Resilience ScalePsychological consequences of COVID-19Low social supportSocial Support SurveyMeasures of resilienceDSM-5Associated with lower oddsStress disorderStress symptomsCross-sectional designPsychological resilienceAmygdala Cannabinoid 1 Receptor, Pain Response, and Emotional Numbing in Trauma-Exposed Individuals
Korem N, Hillmer A, D’Souza D, Nia A, Levy I, Pietrzak R, Harpaz-Rotem I. Amygdala Cannabinoid 1 Receptor, Pain Response, and Emotional Numbing in Trauma-Exposed Individuals. JAMA Network Open 2024, 7: e2432387. PMID: 39250156, PMCID: PMC11385051, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.32387.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsAssociation patterns of antisocial personality disorder across substance use disorders
Low A, Stiltner B, Nunez Y, Adhikari K, Deak J, Pietrzak R, Kranzler H, Gelernter J, Polimanti R. Association patterns of antisocial personality disorder across substance use disorders. Translational Psychiatry 2024, 14: 346. PMID: 39198385, PMCID: PMC11358160, DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-03054-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAntisocial personality disorderSubstance use disordersPersonality disorderUse disorderAssociation of antisocial personality disorderPresence of antisocial personality disorderPrevalence of antisocial personality disorderHazardous useDSM-5 SUD diagnosesSubstance use disorder severityDiagnostic criteriaInteraction effects with sexTobacco use disorderDSM-5Association of alcoholSUD diagnosisDisordersCocaineRacial/ethnic backgroundsIndividualsCocUDSeverityCannabisAssociation patternsAssociationMicroglia-mediated neuroimmune suppression in PTSD is associated with anhedonia
Bonomi R, Hillmer A, Woodcock E, Bhatt S, Rusowicz A, Angarita G, Carson R, Davis M, Esterlis I, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Krystal J, Pietrzak R, Cosgrove K. Microglia-mediated neuroimmune suppression in PTSD is associated with anhedonia. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2024, 121: e2406005121. PMID: 39172786, PMCID: PMC11363315, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2406005121.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPTSD groupPrefrontal-limbic circuitsNeuroimmune responseAssociated with anhedoniaPosttraumatic stress disorderPositron emission tomography brain imagingTranslocator protein availabilityBrain immune functionAnhedonic symptomsStress disorderPeripheral immune dysfunctionPTSDGroup differencesSeverity of symptomsPsychiatric diseasesTranslocator proteinBrain imagingAdministration of lipopolysaccharideSymptomsMicroglial markersLPS-induced increaseCompared to controlsImmune functionSickness symptomsAnhedoniaPersistent distress related to systemic racism among black veterans in the United States
Whealin J, Jegede O, Na P, Haeny A, Pietrzak R. Persistent distress related to systemic racism among black veterans in the United States. Journal Of Affective Disorders 2024, 365: 375-378. PMID: 39147153, DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.08.052.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAdverse mental health sequelaeRisk of mental health problemsMilitary veteransIncreased risk of mental health problemsEthnic minority veteransSystemic racismMental health sequelaeMental health problemsUse of self-reportsEthnic minority populationsNationally representative sampleUS military veteransMultinomial logistic regression analysisSignificant emotional burdenStudy periodNon-veteransLogistic regression analysisEmotional burdenMinority veteransBlack veteransUS veteransHealth sequelaeBaseline assessmentHealthcare systemUS population
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
Mailing Address
Psychiatry
National Center for PTSD, VA Connecticut Healthcare System
West Haven, CT 06516
United States