Paul Anthony Dennis | Scholars@Duke

Paul Anthony Dennis
Assistant Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Research focused on cardiovascular risk associated with psychiatric illness and trauma exposure, intraindivdiual variability in symptoms and affect, and the use of mobile apps and devices for health and behavior monitoring and interventions. Interest in longitudinal and repeated-measures analyses, including mixed modeling, mixture modeling, and structural equation modeling.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Assistant Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences 2015

Contact Information

Box 3625, Durham, NC 27710
Box 3625, Durham, NC 27710
paul.dennis2@va.gov (919) 286-0411

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., North Carolina State University 2012
Duke Appointment History
- Medical Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences 2014 - 2015
Research
Selected Grants
- Neuromodulatory Treatments for Pain Management in Complex TBI using Mobile Technology awarded by Department of Defense 2017 - 2021
- Impact of Reduced Cannabis Use on Functional Outcomes awarded by National Institutes of Health 2018 - 2020
- Mobile contingency management for smoking cessation in returning US Veterans awarded by National Institutes of Health 2015 - 2019
- Pain Management using Mobile Technology in Veterans with PTSD and TBI awarded by National Institutes of Health 2014 - 2018
- Neural Markers and Rehabilitation of Executive Functioning in Veterans with TBI and PTSD awarded by University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill 2016 - 2017
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Academic Articles
  - Cunningham, KC, LoSavio, ST, Dennis, PA, Farmer, C, Clancy, CP, Hertzberg, MA, Kimbrel, NA, Calhoun, PS, & Beckham, JC. (2019, January). Shame as a mediator between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and suicidal ideation among veterans. Journal of Affective Disorders , 243 , 216-219. Full Text
  - Elbogen, EB, Dennis, PA, Van Voorhees, EE, Blakey, SM, Johnson, JL, Johnson, SC, Wagner, HR, Hamer, RM, Beckham, JC, Manly, T, & Belger, A. (2019, January). Cognitive Rehabilitation With Mobile Technology and Social Support for Veterans With TBI and PTSD: A Randomized Clinical Trial. The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation , 34 (1), 1-10. Full Text
  - Ulmer, CS, Hall, MH, Dennis, PA, Beckham, JC, & Germain, A. (2018, December). Posttraumatic stress disorder diagnosis is associated with reduced parasympathetic activity during sleep in US veterans and military service members of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Sleep , 41 (12). Full Text
  - Dennis, PA, Thomas, SN, Husain, MM, & Dennis, NM. (2018, November 17). Racial Disparities in the Administration of ECT in Texas, 1998-2013. The Journal of Ect ,. Full Text
  - Calhoun, PS, Schry, AR, Dennis, PA, Wagner, HR, Kimbrel, NA, Bastian, LA, Beckham, JC, Kudler, H, & Straits-Tröster, K. (2018, August). The Association Between Military Sexual Trauma and Use of VA and Non-VA Health Care Services Among Female Veterans With Military Service in Iraq or Afghanistan. Journal of Interpersonal Violence , 33 (15), 2439-2464. Full Text
  - Dedert, EA, Dennis, PA, Calhoun, PS, Dennis, MF, & Beckham, JC. (2018, April 25). A Randomized Clinical Trial of Nicotine Preloading for Smoking Cessation in People with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Journal of Dual Diagnosis ,, 1-10. Full Text
  - Van Voorhees, EE, Dennis, PA, Elbogen, EB, Fuemmeler, B, Neal, LC, Calhoun, PS, & Beckham, JC. (2018, March). Characterizing anger-related affect in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder using ecological momentary assessment. Psychiatry Research , 261 , 274-280. Full Text
  - Dedert, EA, Dennis, PA, Cunningham, KC, Ulmer, CS, Calhoun, PS, Kimbrel, N, Hicks, TA, Neal, JM, & Beckham, JC. (2018, February 26). Roles of Guilt Cognitions in Trauma-Related Sleep Disturbance in Military Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Behavioral Sleep Medicine ,, 1-10. Full Text
  - Hicks, TA, Wilson, SM, Thomas, SP, Dennis, PA, Neal, JM, & Calhoun, PS. (2018, February). Low Income as a Multiplicative Risk Factor for Oral Pain and Dental Problems Among U.S. Veteran Smokers. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine , 25 (1), 67-73. Full Text
  - Calhoun, PS, Wilson, SM, Hertzberg, JS, Kirby, AC, McDonald, SD, Dennis, PA, Bastian, LA, Dedert, EA, VA Mid-Atlantic MIRECC Workgroup, , & Beckham, JC. (2017, November). Validation of Veterans Affairs Electronic Medical Record Smoking Data Among Iraq- and Afghanistan-Era Veterans. Journal of General Internal Medicine , 32 (11), 1228-1234. Full Text
  - Cunningham, KC, Farmer, C, LoSavio, ST, Dennis, PA, Clancy, CP, Hertzberg, MA, Collie, CF, Calhoun, PS, & Beckham, JC. (2017, October). A model comparison approach to trauma-related guilt as a mediator of the relationship between PTSD symptoms and suicidal ideation among veterans. Journal of Affective Disorders , 221 , 227-231. Full Text
  - Vinesett, AL, Whaley, RR, Woods-Giscombe, C, Dennis, P, Johnson, M, Li, Y, Mounzeo, P, Baegne, M, & Wilson, KH. (2017, October). Modified African Ngoma Healing Ceremony for Stress Reduction: A Pilot Study. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) , 23 (10), 800-804. Full Text
  - Green, KT, Wilson, SM, Dennis, PA, Runnals, JJ, Williams, RA, Bastian, LA, Beckham, JC, Dedert, EA, Kudler, HS, Straits-Tröster, K, Gierisch, JM, & Calhoun, PS. (2017, September). Cigarette Smoking and Musculoskeletal Pain Severity Among Male and Female Afghanistan/Iraq Era Veterans. Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.) , 18 (9), 1795-1804. Full Text
  - Wilson, SM, Pacek, LR, Dennis, PA, Bastian, LA, Beckham, JC, & Calhoun, PS. (2017, July). Veterans Living with HIV: A High-Risk Group for Cigarette Smoking. AIDS and behavior , 21 (7), 1950-1955. Full Text
  - Dennis, PA, Kimbrel, NA, Sherwood, A, Calhoun, PS, Watkins, LL, Dennis, MF, & Beckham, JC. (2017, June). Trauma and Autonomic Dysregulation: Episodic-Versus Systemic-Negative Affect Underlying Cardiovascular Risk in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Psychosomatic Medicine , 79 (5), 496-505. Full Text
  - Dennis, NM, Dennis, PA, Shafer, A, Weiner, RD, & Husain, MM. (2017, March). Electroconvulsive Therapy and All-Cause Mortality in Texas, 1998-2013. The journal of ECT , 33 (1), 22-25. Full Text
  - Dennis, PA, Dennis, NM, Van Voorhees, EE, Calhoun, PS, Dennis, MF, & Beckham, JC. (2017, March). Moral transgression during the Vietnam War: a path analysis of the psychological impact of veterans' involvement in wartime atrocities. Anxiety, Stress, and Coping , 30 (2), 188-201. Full Text
  - Wilson, SM, Krenek, M, Dennis, PA, Yard, SS, Browne, KC, & Simpson, TL. (2017, February). Daily associations between PTSD, drinking, and self-appraised alcohol-related problems. Psychology of addictive behaviors : journal of the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors , 31 (1), 27-35. Full Text
  - Dennis, PA, Kimbrel, NA, Sherwood, A, Calhoun, PS, Watkins, LL, Dennis, MF, & Beckham, JC. (2016, December 9). Trauma and Autonomic Dysregulation: Episodic - Versus Systemic - Negative Affect Underlying Cardiovascular Risk in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Psychosomatic medicine .
  - Christofferson, DE, Hertzberg, JS, Beckham, JC, Dennis, PA, & Hamlett-Berry, K. (2016, November). Engagement and abstinence among users of a smoking cessation text message program for veterans. Addictive behaviors , 62 , 47-53. Full Text
  - Dennis, PA, & Hess, TM. (2016, November). Aging-related gains and losses associated with word production in connected speech. Neuropsychology, development, and cognition. Section B, Aging, neuropsychology and cognition , 23 (6), 638-650. Full Text
  - Rissling, MB, Dennis, PA, Watkins, LL, Calhoun, PS, Dennis, MF, Beckham, JC, Hayano, J, & Ulmer, CS. (2016, October). Circadian Contrasts in Heart Rate Variability Associated With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in a Young Adult Cohort. Journal of traumatic stress , 29 (5), 415-421. Full Text
  - Dedert, EA, Hicks, TA, Dennis, PA, Calhoun, PS, & Beckham, JC. (2016, September). Roles of inter-individual differences and intra-individual acute elevations in early smoking lapse in people with posttraumatic stress disorder. Addictive behaviors , 60 , 171-176. Full Text
  - Dennis, PA, Dedert, EA, Van Voorhees, EE, Watkins, LL, Hayano, J, Calhoun, PS, Sherwood, A, Dennis, MF, & Beckham, JC. (2016, September). Examining the Crux of Autonomic Dysfunction in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Whether Chronic or Situational Distress Underlies Elevated Heart Rate and Attenuated Heart Rate Variability. Psychosomatic Medicine , 78 (7), 805-809. Full Text
  - Elbogen, EB, Dennis, PA, & Johnson, SC. (2016, September). Beyond Mental Illness. Clinical Psychological Science , 4 (5), 747-759. Full Text
  - Dennis, PA, Kimbrel, NA, Dedert, EA, Beckham, JC, Dennis, MF, & Calhoun, PS. (2016, August). Supplemental nicotine preloading for smoking cessation in posttraumatic stress disorder: Results from a randomized controlled trial. Addictive Behaviors , 59 , 24-29. Full Text
  - Calhoun, PS, Schry, AR, Wagner, HR, Kimbrel, NA, Dennis, P, McDonald, SD, Beckham, JC, Dedert, EA, Kudler, H, & Straits-Troster, K. (2016, May). The prevalence of binge drinking and receipt of provider drinking advice among US veterans with military service in Iraq or Afghanistan. The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse , 42 (3), 269-278. Full Text
  - Lozada, FT, Halberstadt, AG, Craig, AB, Dennis, PA, & Dunsmore, JC. (2016, May). Parents’ Beliefs about Children’s Emotions and Parents’ Emotion-Related Conversations with Their Children. Journal of Child and Family Studies , 25 (5), 1525-1538. Full Text
  - Dennis, PA, Weinberg, JB, Calhoun, PS, Watkins, LL, Sherwood, A, Dennis, MF, & Beckham, JC. (2016, April). An investigation of vago-regulatory and health-behavior accounts for increased inflammation in posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of psychosomatic research , 83 , 33-39. Full Text
  - Green, KT, Dennis, PA, Neal, LC, Hobkirk, AL, Hicks, TA, Watkins, LL, Hayano, J, Sherwood, A, Calhoun, PS, & Beckham, JC. (2016, March). Exploring the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and momentary heart rate variability. Journal of psychosomatic research , 82 , 31-34. Full Text
  - Dedert, EA, Resick, PA, McFall, ME, Dennis, PA, Olsen, M, & Beckham, JC. (2016, January). Pilot Cases of Combined Cognitive Processing Therapy and Smoking Cessation for Smokers With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Behavior Therapy , 47 (1), 54-65. Full Text
  - Van Voorhees, EE, Dennis, PA, Neal, LC, Hicks, TA, Calhoun, PS, Beckham, JC, & Elbogen, EB. (2016, January). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Hostile Cognitions, and Aggression in Iraq/Afghanistan Era Veterans. Psychiatry , 79 (1), 70-84. Full Text
  - Carpenter, VL, Hertzberg, JS, Kirby, AC, Calhoun, PS, Moore, SD, Dennis, MF, Dennis, PA, Dedert, EA, Hair, LP, & Beckham, JC. (2015, July). Multicomponent smoking cessation treatment including mobile contingency management in homeless veterans. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry , 76 (7), 959-964. Full Text
  - Oddone, AE, Dennis, PA, Calhoun, PS, Watkins, LL, Sherwood, A, Dedert, EA, Green, KT, Stein, JN, Dennis, MF, & Beckham, JC. (2015, May). Orthostatic hypotension in young adults with and without posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychological trauma : theory, research, practice and policy , 7 (3), 229-233. Full Text
  - Malte, CA, Dennis, PA, Saxon, AJ, McFall, M, Carmody, TP, Unger, W, & Beckham, JC. (2015, February). Tobacco use trajectories among a large cohort of treated smokers with posttraumatic stress disorder. Addictive behaviors , 41 , 238-246. Full Text
  - Gentes, E, Dennis, PA, Kimbrel, NA, Kirby, AC, Hair, LP, Beckham, JC, & Calhoun, PS. (2015, January). Latent Factor Structure of DSM-5 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Psychopathology review , 2 (1), 17-29. Full Text
  - Gentes, EL, Dennis, PA, Kimbrel, NA, Rissling, MB, Beckham, JC, VA Mid-Atlantic MIRECC Workgroup, , & Calhoun, PS. (2014, December). DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder: factor structure and rates of diagnosis. Journal of Psychiatric Research , 59 , 60-67. Full Text
  - Van Voorhees, EE, Dennis, PA, Elbogen, EB, Clancy, CP, Hertzberg, MA, Beckham, JC, & Calhoun, PS. (2014, November). Personality assessment inventory internalizing and externalizing structure in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: associations with aggression. Aggressive behavior , 40 (6), 582-592. Full Text
  - Dennis, PA, Watkins, LL, Calhoun, PS, Oddone, A, Sherwood, A, Dennis, MF, Rissling, MB, & Beckham, JC. (2014, October). Posttraumatic stress, heart rate variability, and the mediating role of behavioral health risks. Psychosomatic Medicine , 76 (8), 629-637. Full Text
  - Mitchell, JT, Dennis, MF, English, JS, Dennis, PA, Brightwood, A, Beckham, JC, & Kollins, SH. (2014, September). Ecological momentary assessment of antecedents and consequences of smoking in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Substance use & misuse , 49 (11), 1446-1456. Full Text
  - Green, KT, Hayward, LC, Williams, AM, Dennis, PA, Bryan, BC, Taber, KH, Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center Workgroup, , Davidson, JRT, Beckham, JC, & Calhoun, PS. (2014, August). Examining the factor structure of the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) in a post-9/11 U.S. military veteran sample. Assessment , 21 (4), 443-451. Full Text Open Access Copy
  - Dennis, PA, Ulmer, CS, Calhoun, PS, Sherwood, A, Watkins, LL, Dennis, MF, & Beckham, JC. (2014, July). Behavioral health mediators of the link between posttraumatic stress disorder and dyslipidemia. Journal of psychosomatic research , 77 (1), 45-50. Full Text
  - Wilson, SM, Dedert, EA, Dennis, PA, Dennis, MF, Calhoun, PS, Kirby, AC, & Beckham, JC. (2014, July). Do ethnicity and gender moderate the influence of posttraumatic stress disorder on time to smoking lapse?. Addictive behaviors , 39 (7), 1163-1167. Full Text
  - Volz, AR, Dennis, PA, Dennis, MF, Calhoun, PS, Wilson, SM, & Beckham, JC. (2014, June). The role of daily hassles and distress tolerance in predicting cigarette craving during a quit attempt. Nicotine & Tobacco Research , 16 (6), 872-875. Full Text
  - Dedert, EA, Dennis, PA, Swinkels, CM, Calhoun, PS, Dennis, MF, & Beckham, JC. (2014, April). Ecological momentary assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms during a smoking quit attempt. Nicotine & Tobacco Research , 16 (4), 430-436. Full Text
  - (2014, January 1). Personality assessment inventory internalizing and externalizing structure in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: Associations with aggression. Aggressive Behavior , 40 (6), 582-592. Full Text
  - (2014, January 1). Posttraumatic stress, heart rate variability, and the mediating role of behavioral health risks. Psychosomatic Medicine , 76 (8), 629-637. Full Text
  - Sherwood, A, Watkins, LL, Dennis, MF, & Beckham, JC. (2014, January 1). Behavioral health mediators of the link between posttraumatic stress disorder and dyslipidemia. Journal of Psychosomatic Research , 77 (1), 45-50. Full Text
  - Hertzberg, JS, Carpenter, VL, Kirby, AC, Calhoun, PS, Moore, SD, Dennis, MF, Dennis, PA, Dedert, EA, & Beckham, JC. (2013, November). Mobile contingency management as an adjunctive smoking cessation treatment for smokers with posttraumatic stress disorder. Nicotine & Tobacco Research , 15 (11), 1934-1938. Full Text
  - Hess, TM, Popham, LE, Dennis, PA, & Emery, L. (2013, September). Information content moderates positivity and negativity biases in memory. Psychology and aging , 28 (3), 853-863. Full Text
  - Dennis, PA, & Halberstadt, AG. (2013, January). Is believing seeing? The role of emotion-related beliefs in selective attention to affective cues. Cognition & emotion , 27 (1), 3-20. Full Text
  - Halberstadt, AG, Dennis, PA, & Hess, U. (2011, March). The Influence of Family Expressiveness, Individuals’ Own Emotionality, and Self-Expressiveness on Perceptions of Others’ Facial Expressions. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior , 35 (1), 35-50. Full Text
  - Dennis, PA, Neal, JM, Travis, E, Watkins, LL, Calhoun, PS, Dennis, MF, & Beckham, JC. Negative Affect-Related Autonomic Arousal Mediates the Association Between Baroreflex Dysfunction and Insulin Resistance in Non-Diabetic Young Adults(Published online). Journal of Psychophysiology ,, 1-11. Full Text
- Conference Papers
  - Van Voorhees, E, Dennis, PA, Carter, L, Neal, LC, Calhoun, P, Beckham, J, & Watkins, L. (2018, April 1). MEASURING HEART RATE VARIABILITY USING THE EMPATICA E4 WRISTBAND: RELIABILITY WITH HOLTER MONITOR. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. Link to Item

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Education, Training, & Certifications

Duke Appointment History

Selected Grants

Selected Publications

Academic Articles

Conference Papers