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INFORMATION FOR

Robert Pietrzak, PhD, MPH

Professor of Psychiatry and of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences)
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Additional Titles

Director, Translational Psychiatric Epidemiology Laboratory, Clinical Neurosciences Division, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD

Contact Info

robert.pietrzak@yale.edu

Psychiatry

National Center for PTSD, VA Connecticut Healthcare System

West Haven, CT 06516

United States

About

Titles

Professor of Psychiatry and of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences)

Director, Translational Psychiatric Epidemiology Laboratory, Clinical Neurosciences Division, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD

Biography

Robert H. Pietrzak completed a B.A. in Psychology at Clark University, and M.P.H. in Epidemiology and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with specialization in Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of Connecticut. Dr. Pietrzak is Director of the Translational Psychiatric Epidemiology Laboratory in the Clinical Neurosciences Division of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD and Professor of Psychiatry at Yale University School of Medicine and Professor of Public Health (Social and Behavioral Sciences) at Yale School of Public Health. His primary research interests include the psychosocial and genetic epidemiology of traumatic stress and resilience across the lifespan; dimensional models of stress-related psychopathology; and the effect of stress on cognition.

Last Updated on April 07, 2025.

Appointments

Other Departments & Organizations

Education & Training

Fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychology
Gaylord Specialty Healthcare (2010)
PhD
University of Connecticut (2008)
Internship in Clinical Psychology
VA Connecticut Healthcare System-West Haven (2008)
MPH
University of Connecticut, Epidemiology (2003)
BA
Clark University, Psychology and Neuroscience (2001)

Research

Overview

"Risk and Resilience Factors in Iraq Combat Veterans" - This study aims to improve understanding of the needs, symptoms, and strengths of Connecticut OIF/OEF Veterans.

"Mental Health, Resilience, and Soldier's Perceptions about Psychotherapy, Medication, and Barriers to Care in the U.S. Military" - This study aims to determine characteristics that differentiate symptomatic soldiers who seek mental health treatment and symptomatic soldiers who do not seek professional mental health treatment.

"National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study" - The purpose of this NCPTSD-funded study is to characterize genetic, environmental, and gene x environmental determinants of longitudinal trajectories of posttraumatic stress disorder and related mental health outcomes in a nationally representative sample of U.S. veterans.

"Trajectories of Psychological Risk and Resilience in World Trade Center Responders" - This CDC/NIOSH-funded study aims to characterize the nature and correlates of trajectories of posttraumatic stress symptoms of a large cohort of World Trade Center responders.

"Biomarkers of Psychological Risk and Resilience in World Trade Center Responders" - This CDC/NIOSH-funded study aims to examine genetic, epigenetic, and neuroendocrine factors associated with posttraumatic stress disorder in World Trade Center responders.

Medical Research Interests

Anxiety Disorders; Resilience, Psychological; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Stress Disorders, Traumatic

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Robert Pietrzak's published research.

Publications

2025

See All Publications

Clinical Trials

Current Trials

Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

Activities

  • activity

    Psychological Injury and Law

    11/01/2014 - PresentProfessional OrganizationsMember
  • activity

    Journal of Anxiety Disorders

    08/10/2015 - PresentProfessional OrganizationsMember
  • activity

    PLoS One

    09/07/2018 - PresentProfessional OrganizationsBoard Member
  • activity

    International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies

    2013 - 2013CommitteesCommittee Member
  • activity

    Advancing the Science or Education, Training, and Practice in Trauma: Developing the New Haven Model

    04/24/2013 - 04/25/2013CommitteesDelegate
View full list of activities

Honors

  • honor

    Outstanding Contributions to the Science of Trauma Psychology

    07/20/2022National AwardAmerican Psychological Association
  • honor

    2022 Paul Wender Best Paper Award

    03/24/2022National AwardAmerican Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology
  • honor

    Nelson Butters Award for Research Contributions to Clinical Neuropsychology

    11/15/2016National AwardNational Academy of Neuropsychology
  • honor

    Award for Outstanding Contribution to Trauma Psychology by an Early Career Psychologist

    08/04/2015National AwardAmerican Psychological Association, Division of Trauma Psychology
  • honor

    Certificate of Appreciation

    05/01/2013National AwardUnited States Department of Veterans Affairs
View full list of honors

Get In Touch

Contacts

Email
Mailing Address

Psychiatry

National Center for PTSD, VA Connecticut Healthcare System

West Haven, CT 06516

United States