Patricia T. Spangler

Patricia T. Spangler is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) School of Medicine and a Clinical Research Psychologist at the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress (CSTS). Her work focuses on PTSD interventions, nightmares, sleep disturbances, suicide prevention, and firearm safety for military personnel and veterans.

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology (2010), University of Maryland, College Park
• M.A. in Counseling Psychology (2007), University of Maryland, College Park
• B.A. in English Language and Literature, magna cum laude (2005), University of Maryland, College Park

Dr. Spangler specializes in developing trauma-focused interventions, particularly Nightmare Deconstruction and Reprocessing (NDR), an exposure-based therapy for PTSD-related nightmares. Her research integrates physiological, genetic, and inflammatory biomarkers to understand treatment mechanisms. Current work examines NDR's comparison with non-exposure treatments like the NightWare wristband, emphasizing feasibility and biomarker predictors of response.

Her publication record reveals strong trends in military mental health innovation, with emphasis on biomarker-integrated PTSD treatments, suicide prevention strategies, and pandemic-adapted research methodologies. Key themes include treatment augmentation for resistant symptoms, firearm safety communication, and trauma memory reconsolidation.

Notable recognitions include:

• Jeremy Safran Poster Award (2020)
• NIH Summer Institute Fellowship (2018)
• APA Division 17 Outstanding Publication Award (2015)
• Milton Dean Havron Outstanding Graduate Award (2008)

As principal investigator and co-investigator, she has secured over $4 million in federal funding, including a $940,000 Defense Health Agency grant for NDR/NightWare comparison and a $1,054,000 US Army grant for NDR pilot trials. Her projects consistently feature multi-site military collaborations, biomarker integration, and practical interventions like the "Let's Talk About Your Guns" firearm safety podcast.

Dr. Spangler actively contributes to the CSTS Science Collaborative and Uniformed Services University's military health mission through clinical research and evidence-based program development.