Adjunct Faculty
Adjunct faculty typically have an academic or research appointment at another institution and contribute or collaborate with one or more School of Medicine faculty members or programs.
Adjunct rank detailsTobias Spiller, MD
Assistant Professor Adjunct in PsychiatryDownloadHi-Res Photo
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Assistant Professor Adjunct in Psychiatry
Biography
Dr. Spiller is an Assistant Professor Adjunct in Psychiatry at Yale and a Privatdozent and Junior Research Group Leader at the University of Zurich, Switzerland. He works as a physician at the University Hospital of Psychiatry in Zurich. His research focuses on bridging the gap between individual patient needs and the standardized approaches of evidence-based medicine and mental health research by investigating the complexity of Post-traumatic stress disorder.
Last Updated on April 09, 2025.
Departments & Organizations
- All Institutions
- Harpaz-Rotem Lab
Education & Training
- MD
- University of Zurich (2019)
Research
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Overview
Medical Research Interests
Biological Psychiatry; Emergency Services, Psychiatric; Posttraumatic Growth, Psychological; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
ORCID
0000-0002-0107-0743
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Tobias Spiller's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Tobias Spiller's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Tobias Spiller is interested in exploring.
Ilan Harpaz-Rotem, PhD, ABPP
Or Duek, PhD
Nachshon Korem
Robert Pietrzak, PhD, MPH
Ifat Levy, PhD
Georgina Gross, PhD
69Publications
1,382Citations
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Publications
Featured Publications
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 frequencies
2026
Relationship between rumination and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder – a cross-sectional network analysis
Zhabenko O, Ben-Zion Z, Raffelhüschen P, Burrer A, Seifritz E, Just S, Preller K, Duek O, Paterson M, Pietrzak R, Joormann J, Spiller T, Harpaz-Rotem I. Relationship between rumination and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder – a cross-sectional network analysis. Frontiers In Psychiatry 2026, 17: 1786768. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1786768.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSymptoms of posttraumatic stress disorderItem levelPosttraumatic Stress Disorder ChecklistAdult survivorsSurvivors of traumatic eventsCross-sectional network analysisMaintenance of PTSDGeneralized anxiety disorderRepetitive Thinking QuestionnairePosttraumatic stress disorderSymptoms of PTSDPatient Health QuestionnaireRisk-taking behaviorRTQ-10Hyperarousal clustersIntrusive memoriesAnxiety disordersPTSD symptomsRepetitive thoughtsPCL-5Stress disorderMood clusterCognitive processesGAD-7Thinking QuestionnaireNeuroradiological abnormalities in individuals with first-episode psychosis – a retrospective cohort study
Khorsandian M, Bonfiglio G, Schulz K, Graetz F, Hofmann A, Hövel A, Müller M, Corda C, Homan P, Seifritz E, Burrer A, Spiller T. Neuroradiological abnormalities in individuals with first-episode psychosis – a retrospective cohort study. BMC Psychiatry 2026, 26: 242. PMID: 41673848, PMCID: PMC12998348, DOI: 10.1186/s12888-026-07869-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFirst-episode psychosisMagnetic resonance imagingRetrospective cohort studyRadiological abnormalitiesFirst-episode psychosis patientsPsychiatric university hospitalCohort studyClinical relevanceMagnetic resonance imaging findingsMethodsThis retrospective cohort studyMRI brain scansClinically significant abnormalitiesMagnetic resonance imaging scansPsychotic symptomsRadiology reportsRate of treatment changePsychiatric conditionsWhite matter changesPsychosisNeuroradiological abnormalitiesOrganic disordersCystic lesionsSignificant abnormalitiesVascular abnormalitiesMatter changesNetwork analysis of changes in post-migration stressors during treatment for refugees with PTSD
Bruhn M, Attardo H, Spiller T, Hjorthøj C, Eplov L, Carlsson J. Network analysis of changes in post-migration stressors during treatment for refugees with PTSD. European Journal Of Psychotraumatology 2026, 17: 2613554. PMID: 41586786, PMCID: PMC12836408, DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2026.2613554.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPost-migration stressorsPost-migrationMethod: ParticipantsPost-traumatic stress disorderCountry of originPost-Migration Living Difficulties ChecklistMental health careMental health treatmentMental health clinicsEconomic determinantsRandomised controlled trialsRisk of post-traumatic stress disorderHigh-income countriesRefugeesTrauma-affected refugeesHigh riskHigher risk of post-traumatic stress disorderPaired-samples t-testStructural contextItem-level changeHealth clinicsHealth careHealth treatmentGlobal network connectivityNetwork comparison testDiagnostic assessment of first-episode psychosis patients and adherence to German S3 guidelines: a retrospective cross-sectional study
Schulz K, Khorsandian M, Corda C, Grätz F, Hofmann A, Hövel A, Müller M, Homan P, Seifritz E, Spiller T, Burrer A. Diagnostic assessment of first-episode psychosis patients and adherence to German S3 guidelines: a retrospective cross-sectional study. Swiss Medical Weekly 2026, 156: 4490. DOI: 10.57187/s.4490.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsFirst-episode psychosis patientsRetrospective cross-sectional studyFirst-episode psychosisNeurological examinationPsychosis patientsCross-sectional studyGuideline adherenceLumbar puncturePatient refusalS3 guidelineWork-upBlood analysisComprehensive work-upDiagnostic work-upGerman S3 guidelineReal-world adherenceDrug screeningDiagnostic assessmentTertiary psychiatric hospitalPatientsDiagnostic proceduresEarly dischargeMRIDiagnostic workflowPatient education strategies
2025
Dissecting Fear and Emotional Pain in PTSD: From Symptom Networks to Neural Signatures
Ben-Zion Z, Basol E, Simon A, Abargil M, Samonek K, Paterson M, Spiller T, Duek O, Just S, Preller K, Keynan J, Admon R, Liberzon I, Shalev A, Hendler T, Levy I, Joormann J, Scheinost D, Harpaz-Rotem I. Dissecting Fear and Emotional Pain in PTSD: From Symptom Networks to Neural Signatures. Biological Psychiatry 2025 PMID: 41319905, PMCID: PMC12784315, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.11.016.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderConnectome-based predictive modelingEmotional painSymptom networksNeural signaturesSymptom severityStudy 1PTSD dimensionsPosttraumatic Stress Disorder ChecklistPosttraumatic stress disorder symptomsSubjective ratingsTrauma-exposed individualsTrauma-related psychopathologyDiverse symptom presentationsPost-traumaRatings of fearMechanism-based interventionsCentral executiveEmotional reactivityDSM-5PCL-5Distressing memoriesStress disorderDefault-modeCentral symptomsUnraveling PTSD: Symptom Cluster Change During and 1 Year After Veterans’ Residential PTSD Treatment
Gross G, Spiller T, Ben-Zion Z, Rubenstein A, Pietrzak R, Duek O, Hoff R, Harpaz-Rotem I. Unraveling PTSD: Symptom Cluster Change During and 1 Year After Veterans’ Residential PTSD Treatment. Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice And Policy 2025, 17: 1780-1788. PMID: 38990694, DOI: 10.1037/tra0001734.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderPosttraumatic stress disorder symptom clustersPosttraumatic stress disorder clustersSymptom clustersIntrusive symptomsResidential treatmentTreatment of posttraumatic stress disorderPosttraumatic stress disorder symptomsResidential PTSD treatmentPTSD symptom clustersNovel treatment interventionsDifferential treatment responseReduce symptom severityDifferential patterns of changeAvoidance symptomsPTSD treatmentTreatment gainsStress disorderVeterans AffairsSymptom severityCluster CTreatment interventionsCluster BIndividual symptomsCohort of veteransPosttraumatic Stress Symptoms, Functioning, and Suicidal Ideation in Older U.S. Veterans: A Network Analysis
Pietrzak R, Fischer I, Na P, Cook J, Spiller T. Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms, Functioning, and Suicidal Ideation in Older U.S. Veterans: A Network Analysis. American Journal Of Geriatric Psychiatry 2025, 34: 106-112. PMID: 41111050, DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2025.09.018.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderSubthreshold posttraumatic stress disorderPosttraumatic stress disorder symptomsSuicidal ideationFunctional difficultiesNational Health and ResiliencePosttraumatic stress symptomsOlder U.S. veteransU.S. military veteransAssociated with functional difficultiesAnhedonic symptomsSymptom centralityPTSD symptomsPhysiological reactivityStress disorderVeterans StudySuicide riskStress symptomsMilitary veteransNegative beliefsU.S. veteransOlder veteransVeteransDual-focus approachIdeationEvaluating the potential of the outcome-oriented nursing assessment for acute care (ePA–AC) to identify cardiovascular patients at risk for unplanned 30- and 180-day all-cause readmission: Development and validation of a routine data-based model
Schmid-Mohler G, Spiller T, Jumuga T, Held U, Cincera A, Petry H, Ernst J, Hermann M. Evaluating the potential of the outcome-oriented nursing assessment for acute care (ePA–AC) to identify cardiovascular patients at risk for unplanned 30- and 180-day all-cause readmission: Development and validation of a routine data-based model. American Heart Journal Plus Cardiology Research And Practice 2025, 59: 100615. PMID: 41035500, PMCID: PMC12481098, DOI: 10.1016/j.ahjo.2025.100615.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNursing assessmentEmergency department visitsRisk factorsRegression modelsDays post-dischargeBreathing problemsLogistic regression modelsNursing dataAcute careDepartment visitsRetrospective cohort studyRoutine dataCardiovascular inpatientsCox proportional hazards regression analysisInpatient dataMultiple Cox proportional hazards regression analysisProportional hazards regression analysisPost-dischargeCox regression modelsCohort studyHazards regression analysisChronic painLogistic regressionRehospitalisation ratesRehospitalisationA Network Analysis of Psychosocial Functioning and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depression Symptoms in a Nationally Representative U.S. Veteran Cohort
Hallenbeck H, Spiller T, Kuhn E, Cloitre M, Pietrzak R. A Network Analysis of Psychosocial Functioning and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depression Symptoms in a Nationally Representative U.S. Veteran Cohort. Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice And Policy 2025 PMID: 40773343, DOI: 10.1037/tra0002002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderPsychosocial functional impairmentStress disorderPsychosocial functioningDepressive symptomsNational Health and ResilienceTrauma-exposed veteransIntensive longitudinal dataPotential targets of interventionTargeting of interventionsSuicidal ideationVeterans StudyU.S. veteransDepressionFunctional impairmentVeteransDisordersVeteran cohortImpairmentGaussian graphical modelsSymptomsLongitudinal dataCross-sectional dataIrritability/angerIdeation
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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Activities
activity European Journal of Psychotraumatology
2023 - PresentJournal ServiceEditorial Board Memberactivity Zurich
08/01/2019 - 04/30/2021ResearchDetailsZürich, ZH, Switzerlandactivity Junior Visiting Research Fellow
04/01/2016 - 06/30/2016ResearchDetailsSydney, NSW, Australia
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