2024
Helping the Helpers: Mental Health Challenges of Psychosocial Support Workers During the Russian-Ukrainian War
Kang H, Fischer I, Esterlis I, Kolyshkina A, Ponomarenko L, Chobanian A, Vus V, Pietrzak R. Helping the Helpers: Mental Health Challenges of Psychosocial Support Workers During the Russian-Ukrainian War. Disaster Medicine And Public Health Preparedness 2024, 18: e95. PMID: 38829179, DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2024.68.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPsychosocial support workersPosttraumatic stress disorderAssociated with greater oddsPresence of meaning in lifeMeaning in lifeSuicidal ideationMental health challengesGreater oddsMental healthLow optimismSupport workersHealth challengesMental health problemsCorrelates of burnoutPromote social connectednessStress disorderPsychosocial characteristicsGreater distressWar exposureGeneral populationHealth problemsSocial connectednessBurnoutOddsSocial relationshipsFunctional significance of posttraumatic growth in U.S. military veterans
Gower T, Fischer I, Tsai J, Kang H, Na P, Tedeschi R, Pietrzak R. Functional significance of posttraumatic growth in U.S. military veterans. Journal Of Affective Disorders 2024, 356: 267-273. PMID: 38614442, DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.04.046.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderPosttraumatic stress disorder symptomsPosttraumatic growthPsychosocial functioningTraumatic eventsTrauma-exposed U.S. veteransNational Health and ResilienceMale veteran samplePost-trauma functioningPattern of findingsRetrospective self-reportsU.S. military veteransVeteran sampleStress disorderVeterans StudyExamined relationsCross-sectional designMilitary veteransNationally representative sampleU.S. veteransAssociated with functionsPhysical functionClinical interventionsPsychosocial characteristicsVeteransProblematic Alcohol Use Trajectories in U.S. Military Veterans during a Public Health Crisis: Results from a 3-year, Nationally Representative, Longitudinal Study
Na P, Fischer I, Petrakis I, Pietrzak R. Problematic Alcohol Use Trajectories in U.S. Military Veterans during a Public Health Crisis: Results from a 3-year, Nationally Representative, Longitudinal Study. Psychiatric Quarterly 2024, 95: 157-171. PMID: 38319532, DOI: 10.1007/s11126-024-10067-w.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDrug use disordersProblematic alcohol useAlcohol use trajectoriesLow social supportAdverse childhood experiencesAlcohol useGreater household incomeSocial supportUS veteransLongitudinal studyNational Health and ResilienceLatent growth mixture modelingU.S. military veteransHousehold incomeGrowth mixture modelingNon-household membersCOVID-19 pandemicVeterans StudyUse disorderMilitary veteransChildhood experiencesPublic health crisisPsychosocial characteristicsPrevention effortsVeteransGeneralized anxiety and mild anxiety symptoms in U.S. military veterans: Prevalence, characteristics, and functioning
Macdonald-Gagnon G, Stefanovics E, Potenza M, Pietrzak R. Generalized anxiety and mild anxiety symptoms in U.S. military veterans: Prevalence, characteristics, and functioning. Journal Of Psychiatric Research 2024, 171: 263-270. PMID: 38325107, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.02.013.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGeneralized anxiety disorderMild anxiety symptomsAnxiety symptomsMilitary veteransU.S. veteransCorrelates of generalized anxiety disorderCorrelates of anxiety symptomsAnxiety symptom severityU.S. military veteransAnxiety disordersGeneralized anxietyPoor mental healthSuicidal thoughtsSymptom severityMental disordersExcessive anxietyAnxietyMagnitude associationsMental healthFunctional impairmentVeteransFunctional correlatesClinical samplesNationally representative sampleSymptomsThe mediating role of social support in associations between childhood adversity, military sexual trauma, and homelessness in a nationally representative sample of US veterans
Bulanchuk N, Edwards E, Pietrzak R, Tsai J. The mediating role of social support in associations between childhood adversity, military sexual trauma, and homelessness in a nationally representative sample of US veterans. Journal Of Community Psychology 2024, 52: 399-414. PMID: 38289875, DOI: 10.1002/jcop.23105.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMilitary sexual traumaAdverse childhood experiencesLifetime homelessnessSocial supportSexual traumaNationally representative sampleHistory of military sexual traumaCorrelates of homelessnessAvailability of social supportPerceived social supportInterpersonal social supportLow social supportRepresentative sampleChildhood adversityHomelessnessFemale veteransChildhood experiencesCommunity integrationMale counterpartsPath analysisVeteransUS veteransTrauma ratesNationalCorrelation analysis
2023
Sex-specific risk and resilience correlates of suicidal ideation in U.S. military veterans
Stefanovics E, Potenza M, Tsai J, Nichter B, Pietrzak R. Sex-specific risk and resilience correlates of suicidal ideation in U.S. military veterans. Journal Of Affective Disorders 2023, 328: 303-311. PMID: 36775254, DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.02.025.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSuicidal ideationMale veteransFemale veteransU.S. military veteransRisk factorsGender-specific risk factorsPrevalence of SISex-specific riskMilitary veteransDifferent risk factorsAlcohol use disorderLow psychological resilienceMultivariable analysisNational HealthRepresentative sampleUse disordersU.S. veteransVeterans StudySuicide preventionTreatment effortsVeteransLow purposeStrongest correlatePrevalenceIdeationPrevalence, characteristics, and health burden of rheumatoid arthritis in the U.S. veteran population
Morse J, Afari N, Norman S, Guma M, Pietrzak R. Prevalence, characteristics, and health burden of rheumatoid arthritis in the U.S. veteran population. Journal Of Psychiatric Research 2023, 159: 224-229. PMID: 36746059, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.01.039.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAlcohol use disorderSubthreshold posttraumatic stress disorderPosttraumatic stress disorderRheumatoid arthritisMental health burdenHealth burdenU.S. veteransMedical conditionsSomatic symptomsLifetime alcohol use disorderMale U.S. veteransConditions/symptomsSevere somatic symptomsU.S. veteran populationU.S. military veteransMultivariable analysisTrauma burdenIndependent associationNational HealthRepresentative sampleCurrent insomniaPsychiatric characteristicsUse disordersVeteran populationGreater severity
2022
Dissecting the epigenomic differences between smoking and nicotine dependence in a veteran cohort
Nagamatsu S, Pietrzak R, Xu K, Krystal J, Gelernter J, Montalvo‐Ortiz J. Dissecting the epigenomic differences between smoking and nicotine dependence in a veteran cohort. Addiction Biology 2022, 28: e13259. PMID: 36577721, DOI: 10.1111/adb.13259.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSmoking statusNicotine dependenceVeteran cohortNon-current smokersSerious public health issueNovel treatment strategiesPublic health issueUS military veteransEpigenome-wide association studiesCurrent smokersTreatment strategiesFagerström TestNicotine addictionSmokingHealth issuesRole of epigeneticsMilitary veteransMethylationEPIC BeadChip arraySmokersContinuous variablesF2RL3 geneCohortBiomarkersBeadChip arrayPrevious findingsGenetic liability to suicidal thoughts and behaviors and risk of suicide attempt in US military veterans: moderating effects of cumulative trauma burden
Nichter B, Koller D, De Angelis F, Wang J, Girgenti M, Na P, Hill M, Norman S, Krystal J, Gelernter J, Polimanti R, Pietrzak R. Genetic liability to suicidal thoughts and behaviors and risk of suicide attempt in US military veterans: moderating effects of cumulative trauma burden. Psychological Medicine 2022, 53: 6325-6333. PMID: 36444557, DOI: 10.1017/s0033291722003646.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPolygenic risk scoresUS military veteransLifetime suicide attemptsSuicide attemptsTrauma exposureTrauma burdenGenetic liabilityMilitary veteransDrug repurposing analysisPopulation-based sampleCumulative trauma exposureLifetime trauma exposureLow trauma exposureSuicide prediction modelsChronic inflammationInflammatory processNervous system developmentRisk scorePsychiatric characteristicsSuicidal behaviorExposure interactionsLarge genome-wide association studiesHigh levelsVeteransSuicidalityPrevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Recreational and At-Risk/Problematic Gambling in a National Sample of U.S. Military Veterans
Stefanovics E, Potenza M, Tsai J, Pietrzak R. Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Recreational and At-Risk/Problematic Gambling in a National Sample of U.S. Military Veterans. Journal Of Gambling Studies 2022, 39: 1077-1097. PMID: 36378356, DOI: 10.1007/s10899-022-10165-z.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCurrent psychiatric diagnosisU.S. military veteransUse disordersPsychiatric diagnosisMilitary veteransU.S. veteransDrug use disordersMental health treatmentSubstance use disordersChi-square testClinical characteristicsTrauma burdenNational HealthAdjusted associationsRoutine screeningClinical measuresRecreational gamblingCurrent prevalenceMale veteransHealth treatmentHigher household incomeSuicidal ideationVeterans StudyLogistic regressionExtensive involvementPrevalence and characteristics associated with firearm ownership among low-income U.S. veterans
Tsai J, Testa A, Pietrzak R, Elbogen E. Prevalence and characteristics associated with firearm ownership among low-income U.S. veterans. Military Psychology 2022, 35: 132-141. PMID: 37133491, PMCID: PMC10013543, DOI: 10.1080/08995605.2022.2086415.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsU.S. veteransMental health characteristicsLogistic regression analysisU.S. veteran populationMental health correlatesHierarchical logistic regression analysisU.S. military veteransClinical characteristicsAssociated sociodemographicFirearm ownershipHealth characteristicsVeteran populationSignificant associationTrauma exposureHealth correlatesPrevalenceMilitary veteransVeteransRegression analysisFirearm misuseRepresentative studyFirearm ownersSociodemographicsTrauma
2020
Self‐reported exercise frequency and PTSD: results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study
Adams T, Forte J, Fogle B, Southwick S, Pietrzak R. Self‐reported exercise frequency and PTSD: results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 2020, 142: 486-495. PMID: 32961606, DOI: 10.1111/acps.13234.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsProbable posttraumatic stress disorderPosttraumatic stress disorderSelf-reported exercise frequencyExercise frequencyNational HealthDaily exercisePhysical exerciseGreater severityVeterans StudyDays/weekMilitary veteransPopulation-based sampleAnxious arousal symptomsU.S. military veteransWeekly exerciseRe-experiencing symptomsU.S. veteransClinical implicationsProtective factorsStress disorderArousal symptomsCross-sectional dataPrevalenceSeverityVeteransPTSD is associated with neuroimmune suppression: evidence from PET imaging and postmortem transcriptomic studies
Bhatt S, Hillmer AT, Girgenti MJ, Rusowicz A, Kapinos M, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Matuskey D, Angarita GA, Esterlis I, Davis MT, Southwick SM, Friedman MJ, Duman R, Carson R, Krystal J, Pietrzak R, Cosgrove K. PTSD is associated with neuroimmune suppression: evidence from PET imaging and postmortem transcriptomic studies. Nature Communications 2020, 11: 2360. PMID: 32398677, PMCID: PMC7217830, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15930-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAcetamidesAdaptor Proteins, Signal TransducingAdultBrainCase-Control StudiesFemaleGene Expression ProfilingHealthy VolunteersHumansMaleMicrogliaMiddle AgedPositron-Emission TomographyPyridinesRadiopharmaceuticalsReceptors, GABAReceptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 14Sex FactorsStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticYoung AdultConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderPeripheral immune activationImmune activationHigher C-reactive protein levelsC-reactive protein levelsTSPO availabilityTranslocator proteinBrain microglial activationTomography brain imagingStress-related pathophysiologyPositron emission tomography (PET) brain imagingNeuroimmune activationMicroglial activationPTSD symptom severityImmunologic regulationPostmortem studiesPTSD subgroupHealthy individualsSymptom severityTrauma exposurePTSD groupStress disorderLower relative expressionBrain imagingPET imaging
2017
Apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism, trauma burden, and posttraumatic stress symptoms in U.S. military veterans: Results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study
Mota NP, Han S, Harpaz‐Rotem I, Maruff P, Krystal JH, Southwick SM, Gelernter J, Pietrzak RH. Apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism, trauma burden, and posttraumatic stress symptoms in U.S. military veterans: Results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Depression And Anxiety 2017, 35: 168-177. PMID: 29172227, PMCID: PMC5794529, DOI: 10.1002/da.22698.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsΕ4 allele carriersApolipoprotein E gene polymorphismE gene polymorphismTrauma burdenU.S. military veteransAllele carriersPosttraumatic stress disorderPTSD symptomsNational HealthGreater social supportGene polymorphismsGreater severityMilitary veteransVeterans StudyAPOE ε4 carrier statusSocial supportΕ4 carrier statusAPOE genotypeΕ4 noncarriersPosttraumatic stress symptomsIndependent replication sampleSymptomsPTSD riskStress disorderCarrier statusAssociation Between Functional Polymorphism in Neuropeptide Y Gene Promoter rs16147 and Resilience to Traumatic Stress in US Military Veterans.
Watkins LE, Han S, Krystal JH, Southwick SM, Gelernter J, Pietrzak RH. Association Between Functional Polymorphism in Neuropeptide Y Gene Promoter rs16147 and Resilience to Traumatic Stress in US Military Veterans. The Journal Of Clinical Psychiatry 2017, 78: e1058-e1059. PMID: 29099554, DOI: 10.4088/jcp.17l11646.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2015
Amyloid-β, Anxiety, and Cognitive Decline in Preclinical Alzheimer Disease: A Multicenter, Prospective Cohort Study
Pietrzak RH, Lim YY, Neumeister A, Ames D, Ellis KA, Harrington K, Lautenschlager NT, Restrepo C, Martins RN, Masters CL, Villemagne VL, Rowe CC, Maruff P. Amyloid-β, Anxiety, and Cognitive Decline in Preclinical Alzheimer Disease: A Multicenter, Prospective Cohort Study. JAMA Psychiatry 2015, 72: 284-291. PMID: 25629787, DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2014.2476.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPreclinical Alzheimer's diseaseSubjective memory complaintsElevated anxiety symptomsVerbal memoryExecutive functionGlobal cognitionAnxiety symptomsCognitive declineCognitive changesMemory complaintsAβ statusDepressive symptomsLow anxiety groupComprehensive neuropsychological evaluationHigh anxiety groupRole of anxietyFlorbetapir F 18Visual memoryCognitive domainsVisuospatial abilitiesMild cognitive impairmentNeuropsychological evaluationCognitive functionProspective cohort studyMore rapid decline
2014
Functional significance of a novel 7-factor model of DSM-5 PTSD symptoms: Results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study
Pietrzak RH, Tsai J, Armour C, Mota N, Harpaz-Rotem I, Southwick SM. Functional significance of a novel 7-factor model of DSM-5 PTSD symptoms: Results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Journal Of Affective Disorders 2014, 174: 522-526. PMID: 25556669, DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2014.12.007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsQuality of lifePosttraumatic stress disorderDSM-5 PTSD symptomsPTSD symptomsNational HealthU.S. veteransSuicidal ideationVeterans StudySymptom clustersDysphoric arousal symptomsCross-sectional designFunctional outcomePsychiatric comorbidityClinical significancePTSD symptom clustersCurrent depressionDSM-5 PTSD symptom clustersPTSD phenotypeMental disordersSymptomsComorbid psychopathologyStress disorderFunctional correlatesStatistical ManualTreatment effortsPrediction of winning amateur boxers using pretournament reaction times.
Darby D, Moriarity J, Pietrzak R, Kutcher J, McAward K, McCrory P. Prediction of winning amateur boxers using pretournament reaction times. The Journal Of Sports Medicine And Physical Fitness 2014, 54: 340-6. PMID: 24739297.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2012
Psychiatric Comorbidity of Full and Partial Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Older Adults in the United States: Results From Wave 2 of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions
Pietrzak RH, Goldstein RB, Southwick SM, Grant BF. Psychiatric Comorbidity of Full and Partial Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Older Adults in the United States: Results From Wave 2 of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. American Journal Of Geriatric Psychiatry 2012, 20: 380-390. PMID: 22522959, PMCID: PMC3334850, DOI: 10.1097/jgp.0b013e31820d92e7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPartial posttraumatic stress disorderPosttraumatic stress disorderPsychosocial functioningOlder adultsStress disorderPersonality disorderPsychiatric comorbidityLifetime moodConsiderable psychiatric comorbidityPoor psychosocial functioningNational Epidemiologic SurveySchizotypal personality disorderAdults age 60 yearsSignificant psychiatric comorbidityNarcissistic personality disorderStressful experiencesStressful eventsAnxiety disordersPsychosocial dysfunctionU.S. older adultsBad eventsSubstance useIndirect experienceMoodUnexpected death
2011
Support for a novel five-factor model of posttraumatic stress symptoms in three independent samples of Iraq/Afghanistan veterans: A confirmatory factor analytic study
Pietrzak RH, Tsai J, Harpaz-Rotem I, Whealin JM, Southwick SM. Support for a novel five-factor model of posttraumatic stress symptoms in three independent samples of Iraq/Afghanistan veterans: A confirmatory factor analytic study. Journal Of Psychiatric Research 2011, 46: 317-322. PMID: 22154134, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2011.11.013.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIraq/Afghanistan veteransHyperarousal symptom clustersConfirmatory factor analytic studyFactor analytic studiesAfghanistan veteransDysphoric arousalPTSD symptomsArousal clustersCommunity samplePosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomsEmotional numbing modelSymptom clustersTreatment-seeking samplePosttraumatic stress symptomsDSM-IV modelIndependent samplesFive-factor modelConfirmatory factor analysisAnxious arousalEmotional numbingNumbing modelPTSD symptomatologyDisorder symptomsStress symptomsPTSD Checklist