Rebecca Sripada

Dr. Rebecca Sripada is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan Medical School with a strong affiliation with the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. Her academic work focuses on improving mental health outcomes for veterans, particularly those with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related conditions.

Dr. Sripada's research interests center on posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, predictors of treatment utilization and response in PTSD, optimizing treatment for poor responders, and the neurobiological underpinnings of PTSD. She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Michigan and a B.A. in Neuroscience from Middlebury College, complemented by a VA Advanced Fellowship in Mental Illness Research and Treatment.

Analysis of Dr. Sripada's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on veterans' mental health, particularly PTSD treatment effectiveness, suicide prevention, and treatment retention strategies. Her work frequently examines cognitive processing therapy (CPT) and prolonged exposure (PE) therapies, their implementation in various settings, and factors affecting treatment outcomes. A significant portion of her research investigates how to improve suicide risk among veterans with PTSD through evidence-based therapies, as highlighted in her January 2025 featured news about decreased suicide risk through early therapy initiation.

• January 10, 2025: Decreased Suicide Risk Among Veterans with PTSD Through Early Therapy Initiation: A Landmark VHA Study (showing 23% lower suicide risk for veterans who began CPT or PE therapy)

Dr. Sripada's research often involves national cohort studies within the Veterans Health Administration, examining large datasets to identify predictors of treatment response and factors affecting mental health outcomes. She frequently collaborates with other prominent researchers in the field including Kevin Saulnier, Peter Grau, and Kara Zivin. Her work spans clinical trials, implementation science, and health services research, with a particular focus on making evidence-based treatments more effective and accessible for veterans struggling with PTSD and related conditions.