Allison E. Gaffey, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine)DownloadHi-Res Photo
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Cardiovascular Medicine
Primary
Psychiatry
Secondary
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Assistant Professor of Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine)
Biography
Allison E. Gaffey, Ph.D. is a clinical health psychologist within the Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, and a clinician investigator in cardiovascular medicine and women's health at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System. Her research concerns the contributions of nontraditional factors - stress, sleep, trauma, and social determinants of health - to incident hypertension, cardiovascular disease and prognosis, comorbid psychiatric conditions, the pathophysiology underlying this risk, and determining associations that are unique to women. Other translational interests include developing and testing the efficacy and effectiveness of behavioral and integrated care interventions to improve cardiovascular health, related outcomes, and quality of life. Her clinical practice is focused on providing psychological and behavioral health services, education, and support to preventive and integrated care initiatives in cardiology.
Last Updated on May 15, 2025.
Appointments
Cardiovascular Medicine
Assistant ProfessorPrimaryPsychiatry
InstructorSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- Advanced Fellowship in Women's Health (Research)
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System (2020)
- Clinical Fellowship
- Rush University Medical Center (2018)
- PhD
- University of Notre Dame
- Predoctoral Residency
- Alpert Medical School of Brown University (2016)
- MA
- University of Notre Dame (2012)
- BA
- University of Connecticut (2006)
Research
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Overview
Medical Research Interests
Anxiety; Blood Pressure; Depression; Emotions; Heart Diseases; Hypertension; Psychophysiology; Sleep; Social Determinants of Health; Social Support; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Stress, Physiological; Stress, Psychological
Public Health Interests
Behavioral Health; Cardiovascular Diseases; Women's Health; Mental Health
ORCID
0000-0002-2960-2772
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Allison E. Gaffey's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Allison E. Gaffey's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Allison E. Gaffey is interested in exploring.
Matthew Burg, PhD
Lori Bastian, MD, MPH
Sally Haskell, MD
Cynthia Brandt, MD, MPH
James Dziura, MPH, PhD
Kristie Walenczyk, PhD
46Publications
651Citations
Stress, Psychological
Hypertension
Anxiety
Sleep
Depression
Blood Pressure
Publications
Featured Publications
The Yale Roadmap for Health Psychology and Integrated Cardiovascular Care
Gaffey AE, Harris KM, Mena-Hurtado C, Sinha R, Jacoby DL, Smolderen KG. The Yale Roadmap for Health Psychology and Integrated Cardiovascular Care. Health Psychology 2022, 41: 779-791. PMID: 35201804, DOI: 10.1037/hea0001152.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCardiovascular careCardiovascular diseaseHealth care systemRisk factorsBehavioural risk factor managementTraditional atherosclerotic risk factorsWagner's Chronic Care ModelCare systemAtherosclerotic risk factorsRisk factor managementChronic Care ModelCause of morbidityMental health burdenBehavioral risk factorsChronic cardiovascular diseaseHigh-intensity careAdverse health outcomesMental health disordersHealth psychologyEvidence-based approachComplex multimorbidityRisk patientsCardiovascular populationFactor managementChronic diseasesScreening for Psychological Distress and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Related Mortality
Gaffey AE, Gathright EC, Fletcher LM, Goldstein CM. Screening for Psychological Distress and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Related Mortality. Journal Of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation And Prevention 2022, 42: 404-415. PMID: 36342683, PMCID: PMC9646240, DOI: 10.1097/hcr.0000000000000751.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsIncident cardiovascular diseasePost-traumatic stress disorderCardiovascular diseasePsychological distressCVD preventionPsychosocial stressGeneral mental health symptomsCVD risk profilePast psychiatric diagnosisMental health servicesMental health symptomsHigh psychological distressCVD onsetProspective evidenceRelated mortalityPsychiatric diagnosisHealth servicesHealth symptomsRisk profileGreater riskStress disorderPractice recommendationsSelf-report instrumentDistressAdditional investigationMilitary sexual trauma and incident hypertension: a 16-year cohort study of young and middle-aged men and women
Gaffey AE, Rosman L, Sico JJ, Haskell SG, Brandt CA, Bathulapalli H, Han L, Dziura J, Skanderson M, Burg MM. Military sexual trauma and incident hypertension: a 16-year cohort study of young and middle-aged men and women. Journal Of Hypertension 2022, 40: 2307-2315. PMID: 35983872, DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0000000000003267.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsIncident hypertensionRisk factorsPsychiatric disordersMultivariate Cox proportional hazards modelVeterans Health Administration dataGreater riskCox proportional hazards modelTrauma-related psychiatric disordersMiddle-aged veteransCardiovascular risk factorsBaseline blood pressureElevated cardiovascular riskLarge prospective cohortHealth Administration dataMiddle-aged menProportional hazards modelSex-specific analysesPosttraumatic stress disorderMilitary sexual traumaCardiovascular riskCohort studyProspective cohortBlood pressureTreatment attenuatesCardiovascular impactIntensive Behavioral Counseling in Cardiovascular Care Opportunities to Improve Health Equity
Vela A, Gaffey A, Carroll A, Cavanagh C, Brewer L, Hayman L, Burg M. Intensive Behavioral Counseling in Cardiovascular Care Opportunities to Improve Health Equity. JACC Advances 2023, 2: 100678. PMID: 38938497, PMCID: PMC11198138, DOI: 10.1016/j.jacadv.2023.100678.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricInsomnia and Early Incident Atrial Fibrillation: A 16‐Year Cohort Study of Younger Men and Women Veterans
Gaffey A, Rosman L, Lampert R, Yaggi H, Haskell S, Brandt C, Enriquez A, Mazzella A, Skanderson M, Burg M. Insomnia and Early Incident Atrial Fibrillation: A 16‐Year Cohort Study of Younger Men and Women Veterans. Journal Of The American Heart Association 2023, 12: e030331. PMID: 37791503, PMCID: PMC10757545, DOI: 10.1161/jaha.123.030331.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsObstructive sleep apneaIncident atrial fibrillationAtrial fibrillationHealth care utilizationSleep apneaAF onsetCohort studyCare utilizationAF riskMultivariate Cox proportional hazards modelVeterans Health Administration (VHA) careRisk of AFCox proportional hazards modelCases of AFEarly cardiovascular riskIncident AF riskAssociation of insomniaProportional hazards modelCommon sleep disorderPost-9/11 veteransElectronic health recordsAF incidenceCardiovascular riskClinical comorbiditiesLifestyle factorsStrengthening the Pillars of Cardiovascular Health: Psychological Health is a Crucial Component
Gaffey A, Rollman B, Burg M. Strengthening the Pillars of Cardiovascular Health: Psychological Health is a Crucial Component. Circulation 2024, 149: 641-643. PMID: 38408143, PMCID: PMC10924771, DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.123.066132.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricOptimizing Psychological Health Across the Perinatal Period: An Update on Maternal Cardiovascular Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Sharma G, Gaffey A, Hameed A, Kasparian N, Mauricio R, Marsh E, Beck D, Skowronski J, Wolfe D, Levine G, Research T. Optimizing Psychological Health Across the Perinatal Period: An Update on Maternal Cardiovascular Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Journal Of The American Heart Association 2025, 14: e041369. PMID: 39996493, PMCID: PMC12132617, DOI: 10.1161/jaha.125.041369.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsMaternal cardiovascular healthPsychological healthCardiovascular healthAmerican Heart AssociationPerinatal periodCare delivery modelsMaternal psychological healthScientific statementPsychological health carePostpartum follow-upHeart AssociationPsychological health conditionsAssociated with adverse pregnancy outcomesCardiovascular outcomesMaternal mortalityAdverse pregnancy outcomesHealth careDelivery modelsHealth conditionsLong-term cardiovascular outcomesHealthStakeholder partnersOffspring neurodevelopmentPregnancy outcomesCareClosing the Gap: Digital Innovations to Address Hypertension Disparities
Shanab B, Gaffey A, Schwamm L, Zawalich M, Sarpong D, Pérez-Escamilla R, Dorney J, Cooperman C, Schafer R, Lipkind H, Lu Y, Onuma O, Spatz E. Closing the Gap: Digital Innovations to Address Hypertension Disparities. Current Cardiology Reports 2025, 27: 23. PMID: 39812880, DOI: 10.1007/s11886-024-02171-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsHypertension disparitiesCare teamSocial determinants of healthCommunity health workersDeterminants of healthRemote blood pressure monitoringIncrease patient empowermentBlood pressure controlMultidisciplinary care teamBlood pressure machineIntegration of servicesHealth equityHealth inequalitiesHealth disparitiesPatient empowermentPatient engagementInfluence blood pressure controlSocial determinantsHealth workersTelehealth visitsPayment modelsHypertension managementPressure controlHypertension DetectionPatient outcomes
2025
Post-Myocardial Infarction Psychological Distress: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.
Levine G, Carney R, Cohen B, Dunn S, Gaffey A, Kronish I, Olsson E, Huffman J. Post-Myocardial Infarction Psychological Distress: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation 2025 PMID: 40977387, DOI: 10.1161/cir.0000000000001381.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsPsychological distressCardiovascular diseasePosttraumatic stress disorderLess physical activityInadequate social supportHealth care professionalsNegative psychological factorsMyocardial infarctionEmotional Well-BeingAmerican Heart AssociationQuality of lifeStress disorderCardiac rehabilitationPhysical activityExcessive alcohol consumptionCare professionalsMedication adherenceSocial supportPoor dietPsychological healthAcute myocardial infarctionPoor attendanceAlcohol consumptionMultiple interventionsRisk of future cardiac eventsPsychological Interventions for Reducing Distress in Patients with Cardiac Arrhythmias
Särnholm J, Gaffey A, Turchio M, Biviano A, Burg M. Psychological Interventions for Reducing Distress in Patients with Cardiac Arrhythmias. Current Cardiology Reports 2025, 27: 102. PMID: 40560300, PMCID: PMC12198271, DOI: 10.1007/s11886-025-02253-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCognitive behavioral therapyPsychological healthPsychological interventionsAssociated with anxietyBehavioral therapyAvoidance behaviorReduce distressArrhythmia careReduce anxietyPoor quality of lifeAnxietyDepressionQuality of lifeCare CollaborativeCare systemImprove QoLInterventionCareSummaryFurther researchHealthPoor qualityDistressQoLAvoidanceFear
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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Activities
activity American Journal of Preventive Medicine
2020 - PresentJournal ServiceRevieweractivity Health Psychology
2018 - PresentJournal ServiceRevieweractivity Psychosomatic Medicine
2018 - PresentJournal ServiceRevieweractivity Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention
2021 - PresentJournal ServiceRevieweractivity Journal of the American College of Cardiology
2023 - PresentJournal ServiceReviewer
Honors
honor Excellence in Health Psychology Research by an Early Career Professional Award
06/18/2025National AwardSociety for Health Psychology/American Psychological AssociationDetailsUnited Stateshonor Fellow
03/13/2024National AwardAmerican Heart Associationhonor Early Stage Investigator Award
06/09/2023International AwardAcademy of Behavioral Medicine ResearchDetailsCanadahonor Research Recognition Award
07/26/2021National AwardAmerican Heart Association, Hypertension Scientific Sessions, Trainee Advocacy CommitteeDetailsUnited Stateshonor Young Investigators Research Fellow
08/18/2020National AwardAmerican Academy of Sleep MedicineDetailsUnited States
News & Links
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News
- November 20, 2025Source: Yale Medicine
Yes, Stress Can Hurt Your Heart: 3 Things to Know
- September 02, 2025
Promoting Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum To Support Heart Health
- December 04, 2024
Integrating Behavioral Health Into Heart Care for a Healthier Heart: A Q&A with Matthew Burg, PhD
- October 24, 2024
New Analytics Center for Cardiovascular Medicine
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