Paul Anthony Dennis
Associate 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
- Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences 2019
Contact Information
- Box 3625, Durham, NC 27710
- Box 3625, Durham, NC 27710
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paul.dennis2@va.gov
(919) 286-0411
- Background
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Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., North Carolina State University 2012
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Duke Appointment History
- Assistant Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences 2015 - 2019
- Medical Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences 2014 - 2015
- Research
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Selected Grants
- Cost Effectiveness of Combined Contingency Management and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Alcohol Use Disorder awarded by National Institutes of Health 2019 - 2024
- 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
- Association of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Heart Disease in Women Veterans: Examining Risk Factors and Effects of Pharmacotherapy on Clinical Outcomes 2018 - 2020
- Mobile contingency management for smoking cessation in returning US Veterans awarded by National Institutes of Health 2015 - 2020
- 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
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Selected Publications
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Academic Articles
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Dennis, P. A., Neal, J. M., Travis, E., Watkins, L. L., Calhoun, P. S., Dennis, M. F., & Beckham, J. C. (2019). Negative Affect-Related Autonomic Arousal Mediates the Association between Baroreflex Dysfunction and Insulin Resistance in Non-Diabetic Young Adults. J Psychophysiol, 33(4), 243–253. https://doi.org/10.1027/0269-8803/a000226Full Text Link to Item
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Dedert, E. A., Dennis, P. A., Cunningham, K. C., Ulmer, C. S., Calhoun, P. S., Kimbrel, N., … Beckham, J. C. (2019). Roles of Guilt Cognitions in Trauma-Related Sleep Disturbance in Military Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Behav Sleep Med, 17(5), 595–604. https://doi.org/10.1080/15402002.2018.1435544Full Text Link to Item
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Dennis, P. A., Thomas, S. N., Husain, M. M., & Dennis, N. M. (2019). Racial Disparities in the Administration of ECT in Texas, 1998-2013. J Ect, 35(2), 103–105. https://doi.org/10.1097/YCT.0000000000000555Full Text Link to Item
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Cunningham, K. C., LoSavio, S. T., Dennis, P. A., Farmer, C., Clancy, C. P., Hertzberg, M. A., … Beckham, J. C. (2019). Shame as a mediator between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and suicidal ideation among veterans. J Affect Disord, 243, 216–219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2018.09.040Full Text Link to Item
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Ulmer, C. S., Hall, M. H., Dennis, P. A., Beckham, J. C., & Germain, A. (2018). 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). https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsy174Full Text Link to Item
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Calhoun, P. S., Schry, A. R., Dennis, P. A., Wagner, H. R., Kimbrel, N. A., Bastian, L. A., … Straits-Tröster, K. (2018). 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. J Interpers Violence, 33(15), 2439–2464. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260515625909Full Text Link to Item
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Dedert, E. A., Dennis, P. A., Calhoun, P. S., Dennis, M. F., & Beckham, J. C. (2018). A Randomized Clinical Trial of Nicotine Preloading for Smoking Cessation in People with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. J Dual Diagn, 14(3), 148–157. https://doi.org/10.1080/15504263.2018.1468947Full Text Link to Item
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Van Voorhees, E. E., Dennis, P. A., Elbogen, E. B., Fuemmeler, B., Neal, L. C., Calhoun, P. S., & Beckham, J. C. (2018). Characterizing anger-related affect in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder using ecological momentary assessment. Psychiatry Res, 261, 274–280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2017.12.080Full Text Link to Item
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Hicks, T. A., Wilson, S. M., Thomas, S. P., Dennis, P. A., Neal, J. M., & Calhoun, P. S. (2018). Low Income as a Multiplicative Risk Factor for Oral Pain and Dental Problems Among U.S. Veteran Smokers. Int J Behav Med, 25(1), 67–73. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-017-9660-5Full Text Link to Item
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Calhoun, P. S., Wilson, S. M., Hertzberg, J. S., Kirby, A. C., McDonald, S. D., Dennis, P. A., … Beckham, J. C. (2017). Validation of Veterans Affairs Electronic Medical Record Smoking Data Among Iraq- and Afghanistan-Era Veterans. J Gen Intern Med, 32(11), 1228–1234. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-017-4144-5Full Text Link to Item
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Cunningham, K. C., Farmer, C., LoSavio, S. T., Dennis, P. A., Clancy, C. P., Hertzberg, M. A., … Beckham, J. C. (2017). A model comparison approach to trauma-related guilt as a mediator of the relationship between PTSD symptoms and suicidal ideation among veterans. J Affect Disord, 221, 227–231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.06.046Full Text Link to Item
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Vinesett, A. L., Whaley, R. R., Woods-Giscombe, C., Dennis, P., Johnson, M., Li, Y., … Wilson, K. H. (2017). Modified African Ngoma Healing Ceremony for Stress Reduction: A Pilot Study. J Altern Complement Med, 23(10), 800–804. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2016.0410Full Text Link to Item
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Green, K. T., Wilson, S. M., Dennis, P. A., Runnals, J. J., Williams, R. A., Bastian, L. A., … Calhoun, P. S. (2017). Cigarette Smoking and Musculoskeletal Pain Severity Among Male and Female Afghanistan/Iraq Era Veterans. Pain Med, 18(9), 1795–1804. https://doi.org/10.1093/pm/pnw339Full Text Link to Item
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Wilson, S. M., Pacek, L. R., Dennis, P. A., Bastian, L. A., Beckham, J. C., & Calhoun, P. S. (2017). Veterans Living with HIV: A High-Risk Group for Cigarette Smoking. Aids Behav, 21(7), 1950–1955. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-017-1717-6Full Text Link to Item
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Dennis, P. A., Kimbrel, N. A., Sherwood, A., Calhoun, P. S., Watkins, L. L., Dennis, M. F., & Beckham, J. C. (2017). Trauma and Autonomic Dysregulation: Episodic-Versus Systemic-Negative Affect Underlying Cardiovascular Risk in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Psychosom Med, 79(5), 496–505. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000000438Full Text Link to Item
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Dennis, N. M., Dennis, P. A., Shafer, A., Weiner, R. D., & Husain, M. M. (2017). Electroconvulsive Therapy and All-Cause Mortality in Texas, 1998-2013. J Ect, 33(1), 22–25. https://doi.org/10.1097/YCT.0000000000000340Full Text Link to Item
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Dennis, P. A., Dennis, N. M., Van Voorhees, E. E., Calhoun, P. S., Dennis, M. F., & Beckham, J. C. (2017). Moral transgression during the Vietnam War: a path analysis of the psychological impact of veterans' involvement in wartime atrocities. Anxiety Stress Coping, 30(2), 188–201. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2016.1230669Full Text Link to Item
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Wilson, S. M., Krenek, M., Dennis, P. A., Yard, S. S., Browne, K. C., & Simpson, T. L. (2017). Daily associations between PTSD, drinking, and self-appraised alcohol-related problems. Psychol Addict Behav, 31(1), 27–35. https://doi.org/10.1037/adb0000238Full Text Link to Item
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Dennis, P. A., Kimbrel, N. A., Sherwood, A., Calhoun, P. S., Watkins, L. L., Dennis, M. F., & Beckham, J. C. (2016). Trauma and Autonomic Dysregulation: Episodic - Versus Systemic - Negative Affect Underlying Cardiovascular Risk in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Psychosom Med. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000000438Full Text Link to Item
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Christofferson, D. E., Hertzberg, J. S., Beckham, J. C., Dennis, P. A., & Hamlett-Berry, K. (2016). Engagement and abstinence among users of a smoking cessation text message program for veterans. Addict Behav, 62, 47–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.06.016Full Text Link to Item
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Dennis, P. A., & Hess, T. M. (2016). Aging-related gains and losses associated with word production in connected speech. Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn, 23(6), 638–650. https://doi.org/10.1080/13825585.2016.1158233Full Text Link to Item
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Rissling, M. B., Dennis, P. A., Watkins, L. L., Calhoun, P. S., Dennis, M. F., Beckham, J. C., … Ulmer, C. S. (2016). Circadian Contrasts in Heart Rate Variability Associated With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in a Young Adult Cohort. J Trauma Stress, 29(5), 415–421. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22125Full Text Link to Item
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Dedert, E. A., Hicks, T. A., Dennis, P. A., Calhoun, P. S., & Beckham, J. C. (2016). Roles of inter-individual differences and intra-individual acute elevations in early smoking lapse in people with posttraumatic stress disorder. Addict Behav, 60, 171–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.04.007Full Text Link to Item
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Dennis, P. A., Dedert, E. A., Van Voorhees, E. E., Watkins, L. L., Hayano, J., Calhoun, P. S., … Beckham, J. C. (2016). Examining the Crux of Autonomic Dysfunction in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Whether Chronic or Situational Distress Underlies Elevated Heart Rate and Attenuated Heart Rate Variability. Psychosom Med, 78(7), 805–809. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000000326Full Text Link to Item
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Dennis, P. A., Kimbrel, N. A., Dedert, E. A., Beckham, J. C., Dennis, M. F., & Calhoun, P. S. (2016). Supplemental nicotine preloading for smoking cessation in posttraumatic stress disorder: Results from a randomized controlled trial. Addict Behav, 59, 24–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.03.004Full Text Link to Item
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Calhoun, P. S., Schry, A. R., Wagner, H. R., Kimbrel, N. A., Dennis, P., McDonald, S. D., … Straits-Troster, K. (2016). The prevalence of binge drinking and receipt of provider drinking advice among US veterans with military service in Iraq or Afghanistan. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse, 42(3), 269–278. https://doi.org/10.3109/00952990.2015.1051185Full Text Link to Item
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Lozada, F. T., Halberstadt, A. G., Craig, A. B., Dennis, P. A., & Dunsmore, J. C. (2016). Parents’ Beliefs about Children’s Emotions and Parents’ Emotion-Related Conversations with Their Children. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25(5), 1525–1538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-015-0325-1Full Text
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Dennis, P. A., Weinberg, J. B., Calhoun, P. S., Watkins, L. L., Sherwood, A., Dennis, M. F., & Beckham, J. C. (2016). An investigation of vago-regulatory and health-behavior accounts for increased inflammation in posttraumatic stress disorder. J Psychosom Res, 83, 33–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2016.02.008Full Text Link to Item
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Green, K. T., Dennis, P. A., Neal, L. C., Hobkirk, A. L., Hicks, T. A., Watkins, L. L., … Beckham, J. C. (2016). Exploring the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and momentary heart rate variability. J Psychosom Res, 82, 31–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2016.01.003Full Text Link to Item
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Dedert, E. A., Resick, P. A., McFall, M. E., Dennis, P. A., Olsen, M., & Beckham, J. C. (2016). Pilot Cases of Combined Cognitive Processing Therapy and Smoking Cessation for Smokers With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Behav Ther, 47(1), 54–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2015.09.002Full Text Link to Item
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Elbogen, E. B., Dennis, P. A., & Johnson, S. C. (2016). Beyond mental illness: Targeting stronger and more direct pathways to violence. Clinical Psychological Science, 4(5), 747–759. https://doi.org/10.1177/2167702615619363Full Text
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Van Voorhees, E. E., Dennis, P. A., Neal, L. C., Hicks, T. A., Calhoun, P. S., Beckham, J. C., & Elbogen, E. B. (2016). Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Hostile Cognitions, and Aggression in Iraq/Afghanistan Era Veterans. Psychiatry, 79(1), 70–84. https://doi.org/10.1080/00332747.2015.1123593Full Text Link to Item
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Carpenter, V. L., Hertzberg, J. S., Kirby, A. C., Calhoun, P. S., Moore, S. D., Dennis, M. F., … Beckham, J. C. (2015). Multicomponent smoking cessation treatment including mobile contingency management in homeless veterans. J Clin Psychiatry, 76(7), 959–964. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.14m09053Full Text Link to Item
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Oddone, A. E., Dennis, P. A., Calhoun, P. S., Watkins, L. L., Sherwood, A., Dedert, E. A., … Beckham, J. C. (2015). Orthostatic hypotension in young adults with and without posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychol Trauma, 7(3), 229–233. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0036716Full Text Link to Item
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Malte, C. A., Dennis, P. A., Saxon, A. J., McFall, M., Carmody, T. P., Unger, W., & Beckham, J. C. (2015). Tobacco use trajectories among a large cohort of treated smokers with posttraumatic stress disorder. Addict Behav, 41, 238–246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.10.034Full Text Link to Item
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Gentes, E., Dennis, P. A., Kimbrel, N. A., Kirby, A. C., Hair, L. P., Beckham, J. C., & Calhoun, P. S. (2015). Latent Factor Structure of DSM-5 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Psychopathol Rev, 2(1), 17–29. https://doi.org/10.5127/pr.035914Full Text Link to Item
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Gentes, E. L., Dennis, P. A., Kimbrel, N. A., Rissling, M. B., Beckham, J. C., VA Mid-Atlantic MIRECC Workgroup, ., & Calhoun, P. S. (2014). DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder: factor structure and rates of diagnosis. J Psychiatr Res, 59, 60–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2014.08.014Full Text Link to Item
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Van Voorhees, E. E., Dennis, P. A., Elbogen, E. B., Clancy, C. P., Hertzberg, M. A., Beckham, J. C., & Calhoun, P. S. (2014). Personality assessment inventory internalizing and externalizing structure in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: associations with aggression. Aggress Behav, 40(6), 582–592. https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.21554Full Text Link to Item
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Dennis, P. A., Watkins, L. L., Calhoun, P. S., Oddone, A., Sherwood, A., Dennis, M. F., … Beckham, J. C. (2014). Posttraumatic stress, heart rate variability, and the mediating role of behavioral health risks. Psychosom Med, 76(8), 629–637. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000000110Full Text Link to Item
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Mitchell, J. T., Dennis, M. F., English, J. S., Dennis, P. A., Brightwood, A., Beckham, J. C., & Kollins, S. H. (2014). Ecological momentary assessment of antecedents and consequences of smoking in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Subst Use Misuse, 49(11), 1446–1456. https://doi.org/10.3109/10826084.2014.912229Full Text Link to Item
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Green, K. T., Hayward, L. C., Williams, A. M., Dennis, P. A., Bryan, B. C., Taber, K. H., … Calhoun, P. S. (2014). 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. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191114524014Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
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Dennis, P. A., Ulmer, C. S., Calhoun, P. S., Sherwood, A., Watkins, L. L., Dennis, M. F., & Beckham, J. C. (2014). Behavioral health mediators of the link between posttraumatic stress disorder and dyslipidemia. J Psychosom Res, 77(1), 45–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2014.05.001Full Text Link to Item
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Wilson, S. M., Dedert, E. A., Dennis, P. A., Dennis, M. F., Calhoun, P. S., Kirby, A. C., & Beckham, J. C. (2014). Do ethnicity and gender moderate the influence of posttraumatic stress disorder on time to smoking lapse? Addict Behav, 39(7), 1163–1167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.03.016Full Text Link to Item
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Volz, A. R., Dennis, P. A., Dennis, M. F., Calhoun, P. S., Wilson, S. M., & Beckham, J. C. (2014). The role of daily hassles and distress tolerance in predicting cigarette craving during a quit attempt. Nicotine Tob Res, 16(6), 872–875. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntt286Full Text Link to Item
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Dedert, E. A., Dennis, P. A., Swinkels, C. M., Calhoun, P. S., Dennis, M. F., & Beckham, J. C. (2014). Ecological momentary assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms during a smoking quit attempt. Nicotine Tob Res, 16(4), 430–436. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntt167Full Text Link to Item
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Hertzberg, J. S., Carpenter, V. L., Kirby, A. C., Calhoun, P. S., Moore, S. D., Dennis, M. F., … Beckham, J. C. (2013). Mobile contingency management as an adjunctive smoking cessation treatment for smokers with posttraumatic stress disorder. Nicotine Tob Res, 15(11), 1934–1938. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntt060Full Text Link to Item
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Hess, T. M., Popham, L. E., Dennis, P. A., & Emery, L. (2013). Information content moderates positivity and negativity biases in memory. Psychol Aging, 28(3), 853–863. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031440Full Text Link to Item
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Dennis, P. A., & Halberstadt, A. G. (2013). Is believing seeing? The role of emotion-related beliefs in selective attention to affective cues. Cogn Emot, 27(1), 3–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2012.680578Full Text Link to Item
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Halberstadt, A. G., Dennis, P. A., & Hess, U. (2011). 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. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10919-010-0099-5Full Text
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Elbogen, E. B., Dennis, P. A., Van Voorhees, E. E., Blakey, S. M., Johnson, J. L., Johnson, S. C., … Belger, A. (n.d.). Cognitive Rehabilitation With Mobile Technology and Social Support for Veterans With TBI and PTSD: A Randomized Clinical Trial. J Head Trauma Rehabil, 34(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1097/HTR.0000000000000435Full Text Link to Item
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Conference Papers
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Van Voorhees, E., Dennis, P. A., Carter, L., Neal, L. C., Calhoun, P., Beckham, J., & Watkins, L. (2018). MEASURING HEART RATE VARIABILITY USING THE EMPATICA E4 WRISTBAND: RELIABILITY WITH HOLTER MONITOR. In Annals of Behavioral Medicine (Vol. 52, pp. S779–S779). OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC.Link to Item
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