Department of psychology

About the DepartmentDepartment Resources For Our Alumni & Friends Participate in Research

Douglas L. Delahanty , Ph.D.

Education: Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh (1997)

Research Interests

Our lab conducts basic research examining early biological predictors of psychopathology (posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] and depression) following traumatic events in children and adults. We also examine the impact of trauma history and PTSD on various disease samples (HIV+, surgical patients). Our research focus is translational, involving building on our basic findings to conduct psychological and pharmacological interventions to reduce/prevent the development of PTSD.

Lab Page : Human Psychophysiology Lab

Courses Frequently Taught

• Biopsychology (undergraduate)
• Biopsychology (graduate)
• Biological Aspects of Health Psychology (graduate)

Recent Publications

The Psychobiology of Trauma and Resilience Across the Lifespan.  (2008). D.L. Delahanty (Ed.). Rowman Publications.

Irish, L.,Kobayashi, I. & Delahanty, D.L. (in press).  Long-term physical health consequences of childhood sexual abuse: A meta-analytic review.  Journal of Pediatric Psychology.

Cremeans-Smith, J. K., Soehlen, S., Greene, K., Alexander, T., and Delahanty, D. L.  (in press).  In-hospital Levels of C-reactive Protein and IL-6 Predict Post-Operative Depressive Symptoms Among Patients Undergoing Total Knee Replacement Surgery.  Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.
Pinna, K., Cremeans-Smith, J. K., Greene, K., & Delahanty, D. L.  (in press).  The impact of gender and hypothalamic pituitary adrenal activity on depression following surgical stress .  Journal of Health Psychology.

Boarts, J. M., Buckley-Fischer, B. A., Armelie, A. P., Bogart, L. M., & Delahanty, D. L. (in press).   The impact of HIV diagnosis-related vs. non-diagnosis related trauma on PTSD, depression, adherence, and HIV disease markers.  Journal of Evidence-Based Social Work.

Cremeans-Smith, J. K., Boarts, J. M., Greene, K., & Delahanty, D. L.  (in press).  Patients' reasons for electing to undergo total knee arthroplasty impact post-operative pain severity and range of motion.  Journal of Behavioral Medicine. 

Boarts, J. M., Bogart, L. M., Tabak, M. A., Armelie, A. P., & Delahanty, D. L. (2008).   Relationship of race-, sexual orientation-, and HIV-related discrimination with adherence to HIV treatment: A pilot study.  Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 31, 445-451.

Johnson, D. M., Delahanty, D., & Pinna, K. (2008). The cortisol awakening response as a function of PTSD severity and abuse chronicty in sheltered battered women. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 22, 793-800.

Deichert, N.T., Fekete, E.M., Boarts, J.M., Druley, J.A, & Delahanty, D.L. (2008) Emotional support and affect: Associations with health behaviors and active coping efforts in men living with HIV. Aids & Behavior, 12, 139-145.

Kobayashi I., Boarts, J. M., Delahanty, D. L. (2007). Polysomnographically measured sleep abnormalities in PTSD: A meta-analytic review. Psychophysiology, 44, 660-669.

Delahanty, D. L. (2007). Are we prepared to handle the mental health consequences of terrorism? American Journal of Psychiatry, 164(2), 189-191.

Nugent, N. R. Ostrowski, S. A., Christopher, N. C., & Delahanty, D. L. (2007). Parental symptoms of PTSD as a moderator of child’s acute biological response and subsequent symptoms of PTSD in pediatric trauma patients.  Journal of Pediatric Psychology.  32, 309-318.

Ostrowski, S. A., Christopher, N. C., & Delahanty, D. L. (2007). Brief report: The impact of maternal posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and child gender on risk for persistent posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in child trauma victims.  Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 32(3), 338-342.