Sarah Meshberg-Cohen, PhD
Research & Publications
Biography
News
Research Summary
Sarah Meshberg-Cohen, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist with a background in behavioral medicine, and specializes in the treatment of substance use disorders, chronic depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, and dual diagnosis. Dr. Meshberg-Cohen’s research focuses on improving evidence-based treatments for substance use disorders and co-occurring psychiatric disorders.
Extensive Research Description
My primary research interest involves the field of addictions, with a specific focus on health and psychiatric problems co-occurring with substance use disorders (SUD), disability compensation for veterans, interventions targeting SUD and comorbid trauma-related conditions, and treatment addressing opioid use disorders (OUD) among veterans with trauma-related conditions. I have dedicated my work to exploring, developing and enhancing evidence-based treatments targeting the unique experiences of individuals presenting with co-occurring SUD and PTSD. Consequently, there is a great deal of overlap between my clinical, educational, and research interests.
Prior to coming to the VA, I obtained a NIH/NIDA grant and a VCU Institute for Women’s Health grant investigating whether Expressive Writing could augment treatment for women seeking SUD treatment, with an emphasis on co-occurring trauma and dual-diagnoses. I have also participated in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) examining treatments for use with addictive disorders and co-occurring diagnoses.
Since coming to the VA, I have become increasingly invested in research involving disability compensation for Veterans’ with substance use and mental health conditions. My role as Director of VACHS' Outpatient Addiction Recovery Service (OARS) as well as my clinical work and research in treating individuals with co-occurring addictions and trauma, has led to increased interest in improving treatment engagement and adherence for returning service members. To this end, I am involved in research examining the role of PTSD Compensation and Pension (C&P) claims on Veterans’ overall treatment engagement, quality of life, and mental health outcomes.
In addition to examining treatment engagement, I am dedicated to bringing evidence-based trauma care into SUD treatment settings and making it more acceptable and feasible in these settings. I am a co-investigator on a randomized clinical trial examining the impact of cognitive processing therapy with buprenorphine maintenance for veterans with comorbid OUD and PTSD. My current work also examines the feasibility and efficacy of a brief trauma-focused narrative exposure therapy for veterans seeking SUD treatment who present with comorbid PTSD. I am the Principal Investigator on a grant-funded randomized clinical trial investigating written exposure therapy (WET) for veterans seeking outpatient SUD treatment who present with comorbid PTSD, with a goal of improving trauma and substance use outcomes for veterans.
Coauthors
Selected Publications
- A Systematic Review Evaluating PTSD Treatment Effects on Intermediate Phenotypes of PTSDPalmisano A, Meshberg-Cohen S, Petrakis I, Sofuoglu M. A Systematic Review Evaluating PTSD Treatment Effects on Intermediate Phenotypes of PTSD. Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice And Policy 2023 PMID: 36595460, DOI: 10.1037/tra0001410.
- Treatment utilization and modality preference among veterans receiving outpatient substance use disorder treatment during a pandemicMeshberg‐Cohen S, Farook M, Gross G, Levina V, DeViva J. Treatment utilization and modality preference among veterans receiving outpatient substance use disorder treatment during a pandemic. American Journal On Addictions 2022, 32: 32-39. PMID: 36286598, DOI: 10.1111/ajad.13347.
- Comparison of attitudes towards the service connection claims process among veterans filing for PTSD and veterans filing for musculoskeletal disordersSpinola S, Fenton BT, Meshberg-Cohen S, Black AC, Rosen MI. Comparison of attitudes towards the service connection claims process among veterans filing for PTSD and veterans filing for musculoskeletal disorders. Medicine 2021, 100: e27068. PMID: 34477140, PMCID: PMC8415949, DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000027068.
- Binge drinking following residential treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder among veterans with and without alcohol use disorderMeshberg-Cohen S, Gross GM, Kachadourian LK, Harpaz-Rotem I. Binge drinking following residential treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder among veterans with and without alcohol use disorder. Journal Of Psychiatric Research 2021, 143: 202-208. PMID: 34500350, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.09.024.
- Treatment outcomes in individuals diagnosed with comorbid opioid use disorder and Posttraumatic stress disorder: A reviewMeshberg-Cohen S, MacLean R, Martin A, Sofuoglu M, Petrakis IL. Treatment outcomes in individuals diagnosed with comorbid opioid use disorder and Posttraumatic stress disorder: A review. Addictive Behaviors 2021, 122: 107026. PMID: 34182307, DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107026.
- Zonisamide as an Adjunctive Treatment to Cognitive Processing Therapy for Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Comorbid Alcohol Use Disorder: A Pilot StudyPetrakis I, Ralevski E, Arias AJ, DeNegre D, Newcomb J, Gianoli M, McCarthy E, Meshberg‐Cohen S, Yoon G. Zonisamide as an Adjunctive Treatment to Cognitive Processing Therapy for Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Comorbid Alcohol Use Disorder: A Pilot Study. American Journal On Addictions 2020, 29: 515-524. PMID: 32462773, DOI: 10.1111/ajad.13061.
- Veterans’ compensation claims beliefs predict timing of PTSD treatment use relative to compensation and pension examBlack AC, Meshberg-Cohen S, Perez-Ortiz AC, Thornhill TA, Rosen MI. Veterans’ compensation claims beliefs predict timing of PTSD treatment use relative to compensation and pension exam. PLOS ONE 2018, 13: e0209488. PMID: 30589882, PMCID: PMC6307722, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209488.
- Trauma treatment for veterans in buprenorphine maintenance treatment for opioid use disorderMeshberg-Cohen S, Black AC, DeViva JC, Petrakis IL, Rosen MI. Trauma treatment for veterans in buprenorphine maintenance treatment for opioid use disorder. Addictive Behaviors 2018, 89: 29-34. PMID: 30243036, DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.09.010.
- Relationship between substance use and attitudes towards seeking professional psychological help among veterans filing PTSD claimsMeshberg-Cohen S, Kachadourian L, Black AC, Rosen MI. Relationship between substance use and attitudes towards seeking professional psychological help among veterans filing PTSD claims. Addictive Behaviors 2017, 74: 9-12. PMID: 28558337, DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.05.024.
- Counseling Veterans Applying for Service Connection Status for Mental Health ConditionsMeshberg-Cohen S, DeViva JC, Rosen MI. Counseling Veterans Applying for Service Connection Status for Mental Health Conditions. Psychiatric Services 2016, 68: 396-399. PMID: 27629795, DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201500533.
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Health Problems, and Depression Among African American Women in Residential Substance Use TreatmentMeshberg-Cohen S, Presseau C, Thacker LR, Hefner K, Svikis D. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Health Problems, and Depression Among African American Women in Residential Substance Use Treatment. Journal Of Women's Health 2016, 25: 729-737. PMID: 27387193, PMCID: PMC4939368, DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2015.5328.
- Treatment of Compulsive Pornography Use With Naltrexone: A Case ReportKraus SW, Meshberg-Cohen S, Martino S, Quinones LJ, Potenza MN. Treatment of Compulsive Pornography Use With Naltrexone: A Case Report. American Journal Of Psychiatry 2015, 172: 1260-1261. PMID: 26619775, DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15060843.
- Comorbid Alcohol Disorder Intensifies Patterns of Psychological Symptoms Among WomenNewland P, Meshberg-Cohen S, Flick L, Beatty K, Smith J. Comorbid Alcohol Disorder Intensifies Patterns of Psychological Symptoms Among Women. The Journal For Nurse Practitioners 2015, 11: 618-625. DOI: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2015.03.016.
- Comorbid Alcohol Disorder Intensifies Patterns of Psychological Symptoms Among WomenNewland, P., Meshberg-Cohen, S., Flick, L., Beatty, K., & Smith, J. M. (2015). Comorbid Alcohol Disorder Intensifies Patterns of Psychological Symptoms Among Women. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 11(6), 618-625.
- Co-Occurring Chronic Depression and Alcohol DependencePenberthy J, Gioia C, Konig A, Martin A, Cockrell S, Meshberg-Cohen S. Co-Occurring Chronic Depression and Alcohol Dependence. Addictive Disorders & Their Treatment 2014, 13: 54-67. DOI: 10.1097/adt.0b013e31827de84e.
- Co-Occurring Chronic Depression and Alcohol Dependence: A Novel Treatment Approach. Addictive Disorders and Their TreatmentPenberthy, J.K., Gioia, C. J., Konig, A., Martin, A.M., Cockrell, S.A. & Meshberg-Cohen, S. (2014). Co-Occurring Chronic Depression and Alcohol Dependence: A Novel Treatment Approach. Addictive Disorders and Their Treatment, 13(2), 54-67.
- Expressive Writing as a Therapeutic Process for Drug-Dependent WomenMeshberg-Cohen S, Svikis D, McMahon TJ. Expressive Writing as a Therapeutic Process for Drug-Dependent Women. Substance Abuse 2014, 35: 80-88. PMID: 24588298, PMCID: PMC3942795, DOI: 10.1080/08897077.2013.805181.
- Veterans' attitudes toward work and disability compensation: Associations with substance abuseMeshberg-Cohen S, Reid-Quiñones K, Black AC, Rosen MI. Veterans' attitudes toward work and disability compensation: Associations with substance abuse. Addictive Behaviors 2013, 39: 445-448. PMID: 24090622, PMCID: PMC4744469, DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2013.09.005.
- Adapting an HIV/STDs Prevention Curriculum to Fit the Needs of Women With Alcohol ProblemsChoi YJ, Langhorst DM, Meshberg-Cohen S, Svikis DS. Adapting an HIV/STDs Prevention Curriculum to Fit the Needs of Women With Alcohol Problems. Journal Of Social Work Practice In The Addictions 2011, 11: 352-374. PMID: 22446487, PMCID: PMC3310367, DOI: 10.1080/1533256x.2011.619938.
- Panic disorder, trait anxiety, and alcohol use in pregnant and nonpregnant womenMeshberg-Cohen S, Svikis D. Panic disorder, trait anxiety, and alcohol use in pregnant and nonpregnant women. Comprehensive Psychiatry 2007, 48: 504-510. PMID: 17954134, DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2007.06.004.
- The pediatric resident training on tobacco project: interim findings.Hymowitz N, Schwab J, Haddock CK, Pyle S, Meshberg S. The pediatric resident training on tobacco project: interim findings. Journal Of The National Medical Association 2006, 98: 190-203. PMID: 16708505, PMCID: PMC2595064.
- The pediatric resident training on tobacco project: baseline findings from the Parent/Guardian Tobacco Survey.Hymowitz N, Schwab J, Haddock Ck, Pyle S, Moore G, Meshberg S. The pediatric resident training on tobacco project: baseline findings from the Parent/Guardian Tobacco Survey. Preventive Medicine 2005, 41: 334-41. PMID: 15917030, DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2004.11.019.
- The pediatric residency training on tobacco project: baseline findings from the patient tobacco survey.Hymowitz N, Schwab J, Keith Haddock C, Pyle S, Meshberg S. The pediatric residency training on tobacco project: baseline findings from the patient tobacco survey. Preventive Medicine 2005, 41: 159-66. PMID: 15917007, DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2004.09.037.
- Family Rules about Exposure to Environmental Tobacco SmokePyle, S.A., Haddock, C.K., Hymowitz, N., Schwab, N. & Meshberg, S. (2005). Family Rules about Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke. Families, Systems & Health, 23, 3-16.
- The effects of a control-enhancing intervention for nursing home residents: cognition and locus of control as moderators.Anderson-Hanley C, Meshberg SR, Marsh MA. The effects of a control-enhancing intervention for nursing home residents: cognition and locus of control as moderators. Palliative & Supportive Care 2003, 1: 111-20. PMID: 16594273, DOI: 10.1017/s1478951500000018.