James Alan Blumenthal

Psychosocial factors and coronary heart disease, including such factors as social support, Type A behavior and hostility, and depression, exercise training and depression in the elderly; behavioral approaches to the treatment of hypertension (e.g., weight loss and exercise); cardiac rehabilitation; neuropsychological outcomes following cardiac surgery; psychosocial aspects of heart and lung transplantation; exercise training and osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia; compliance.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

J. P. Gibbons Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry · 2024 - Present Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neurosciences, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Professor Emeritus in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences · 2024 - Present Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neurosciences, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Senior Fellow in the Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development · 1977 - Present Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Institutes and Centers

In the News

Published March 22, 2016

Dr. James Blumenthal: Stress management training may help cardiac rehab patients

Published May 1, 2015

Duke Announces 2015 Distinguished Professors

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Recent Publications

Lifestyle, sleep quality, and cognitive function in resistant hypertension: One-year follow-up from the TRIUMPH trial.

Journal Article J Alzheimers Dis · February 2026 BackgroundTreatment resistant hypertension (TRH) is associated with increased risk of cognitive decline, which may be reduced by healthy lifestyle changes.ObjectiveTo examine the effects of a comprehensive, rehabilitation-based lifestyle hprogram on cognit ... Full text Link to item Cite

Telehealth interventions to improve outcomes in lung transplant recipients: Primary results of the INSPIRE-III randomized clinical trial.

Journal Article J Heart Lung Transplant · September 2025 BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence that many patients undergoing lung transplantation report significant distress and low physical activity (PA), which might not improve despite lung transplantation and may be associated with worse clinical outcomes. Fe ... Full text Link to item Cite

Depression and Adverse Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes: Cause or Consequence?

Journal Article Heart and Mind · March 1, 2025 Full text Cite

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Recent Grants

Duke Creating ADRD Researchers for the Next Generation - Stimulating Access to Research in Residency Program (CARiNG-StARR)"

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPreceptor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2020 - 2026

Improving Lung Transplant Outcomes with Coping Skills and Physical Activity

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2019 - 2026

Sleep Quality and Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Risk in Adults with Hypertension

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2019 - 2024

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Education

University of Washington · 1975 Ph.D.