Walter Roberts, PhD

I am an Assistant Professor in the Psychiatry Department within Yale School of Medicine. I am a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in substance use treatment, primarily alcohol and tobacco use disorders. I use human laboratory, epidemiological, and clinical research methods to identify factors influencing the development and treatment of addictive disorders. I conduct laboratory drug administration studies to enhance our understanding of the causes and consequences of substance use in humans. My work in this area has focused on groups characterized by behavioral dysregulation, such as repeat DUI offenders and adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). I was recognized by the patient advocacy organization Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) for my research on atypical responses to alcohol as a risk factor for alcohol abuse in adults with ADHD. I also have contributed to human laboratory studies screening novel medications for reducing alcohol use in heavy drinkers, and I have published conceptual papers on laboratory medication screening methodologies. I also use epidemiological data to identify risk factors for hazardous alcohol use and other alcohol-related outcomes. I am currently supported by a career development award from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to develop a mobile biosensor network to detect alcohol use outcomes in real time.