Joan M. Cook, PhD
Albert E. Kent Professor of PsychiatryCards
Appointments
Contact Info
Psychiatry
Department of Psychiatry, 300 George Street
New Haven, CT 06511
United States
About
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Titles
Albert E. Kent Professor of Psychiatry
Biography
Dr. Joan Cook is a Professor in the Yale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry. She has over 150 peer-reviewed publications in the areas of traumatic stress, geriatric mental health and implementation science. Dr. Cook has worked clinically with a range of trauma survivors, including combat veterans and former prisoners of war, men and women who have been physically and sexually assaulted in childhood and adulthood, and survivors of the 2001 former World Trade Center bombing. She has served as the principal investigator on eight federal grants from the National Institute of Mental Health, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. She was a member of the American Psychological Association (APA) Guideline Development Panel for PTSD and the 2016 President of APA’s Division of Trauma Psychology. Since October 2015, she has published over 100 op-eds in places like CNN, TIME, Newsweek, The Hill and NBC.
Appointments
Education & Training
- PhD
- Nova Southeastern University (1999)
- MS
- Nova Southeastern University (1995)
Research
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Overview
Medical Research Interests
ORCID
0000-0001-7509-9760
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Robert Pietrzak, PhD, MPH
Ilan Harpaz-Rotem, PhD, ABPP
Chyrell Bellamy, MSW, PhD
Steve Martino, PhD
Jack Tsai
Noelle Smith
Former YSM
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Health Plan Implementation
Mental Health
Information Dissemination
Publications
2026
Providers’ Receptivity and Perceived Barriers to Implement Written Exposure Therapy for PTSD: Qualitative Provider and Leader Interviews Across Six Civilian Health Care Systems
Simiola V, Ridout K, Harry M, Lynch F, Miller-Matero L, Warren A, Cook J. Providers’ Receptivity and Perceived Barriers to Implement Written Exposure Therapy for PTSD: Qualitative Provider and Leader Interviews Across Six Civilian Health Care Systems. Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice And Policy 2026 PMID: 42313653, DOI: 10.1037/tra0002203.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricSuccessful Aging Among Older U.S. Military Veterans: National Trends, Correlates, and Clinical Implications
Pietrzak R, Fischer I, Shin J, Na P, Cook J, Jeste D. Successful Aging Among Older U.S. Military Veterans: National Trends, Correlates, and Clinical Implications. American Journal Of Geriatric Psychiatry 2026 PMID: 42315373, DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2026.05.017.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchFeasibility, Acceptability, and Outcomes: A Pilot Trial of the Enhancing Social Function in Older Veterans With PTSD (ESVP) Group Intervention
Kaiser A, Ream M, Spiro A, Sloan D, Cook J, Vogt D, Moye J. Feasibility, Acceptability, and Outcomes: A Pilot Trial of the Enhancing Social Function in Older Veterans With PTSD (ESVP) Group Intervention. Psychological Services 2026, 23: 293-306. PMID: 40569724, PMCID: PMC12354222, DOI: 10.1037/ser0000962.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsSexual and Gender Minority Male Sexual Abuse Survivors: Past Experiences With and Preferences for Mental Health Treatment
Simiola V, Livingston N, Ellis A, Martino S, Cook J. Sexual and Gender Minority Male Sexual Abuse Survivors: Past Experiences With and Preferences for Mental Health Treatment. Traumatology An International Journal 2026 DOI: 10.1037/trm0000655.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2025
How Masculinity and Treatment Impact Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Recovery in Sexual Minority Men With Sexual Trauma: Findings From a Randomized Clinical Trial
Nomamiukor F, Collazo E, Harper K, Neilson E, Ellis A, Simiola V, Cook J, Livingston N. How Masculinity and Treatment Impact Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Recovery in Sexual Minority Men With Sexual Trauma: Findings From a Randomized Clinical Trial. Psychology Of Sexual Orientation And Gender Diversity 2025, 10.1037/sgd0000894. PMID: 41641008, PMCID: PMC12867092, DOI: 10.1037/sgd0000894.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricRevised Trauma Competencies for Education and Training: Consensus Updates and Highlights
Cook J, Newman E, Group T. Revised Trauma Competencies for Education and Training: Consensus Updates and Highlights. Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice And Policy 2025 PMID: 41213582, DOI: 10.1037/tra0002069.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchComparing probable subthreshold and full PTSD prevalence in older versus younger veterans
Larsen S, Chavin R, Flores J, Muñoz E, Prabhu H, Smith H, Spalding R, Fischer I, Cook J, Pietrzak R. Comparing probable subthreshold and full PTSD prevalence in older versus younger veterans. Journal Of Affective Disorders 2025, 394: 120549. PMID: 41138950, DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.120549.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEffectiveness of treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder for older people: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Gómez-Bautista D, Lye V, Zabihi S, Beenakker M, Günak M, Roche M, Sobczak S, Cook J, Cations M, Olff M, Orgeta V. Effectiveness of treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder for older people: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal Of Affective Disorders 2025, 394: 120433. PMID: 41106640, DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.120433.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsCitationsAltmetricPosttraumatic 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 ResearchMental, Physical, and Social Mediators of the Relationship Between Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Functional Impairment in U.S. Military Veterans
Meshberg-Cohen S, Ingram P, Cook J, Fischer I, Pietrzak R. Mental, Physical, and Social Mediators of the Relationship Between Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Functional Impairment in U.S. Military Veterans. Psychiatry 2025, 88: 395-408. PMID: 40768645, DOI: 10.1080/00332747.2025.2528524.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetric
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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Honors
honor Outstanding Contributions as a Teacher
08/03/2020Yale School of Medicine AwardYale School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Psychology SectionDetailsUnited Stateshonor Outstanding Service to the Field of Trauma Psychology
03/03/2016National AwardAmerican Psychological Association Division of Trauma PsychologyDetailsUnited States
News
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News
- August 24, 2026Source: TIME (with Joan Cook, PhD)
How to Increase Mental-Health Literacy
- July 31, 2026
Crouch, Cook, O'Malley Establish Research, Training, Clinical Care Partnership in Alaska
- July 31, 2026Source: TIME
Cook: The Case Against Using Alcohol and Cannabis to Sleep
- July 17, 2026Source: TIME
Cook: The Most Important Part of Therapy Happens After You Leave the Therapist’s Office
Get In Touch
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Contacts
Psychiatry
Department of Psychiatry, 300 George Street
New Haven, CT 06511
United States