Suzanne L. Pineles, PhD

Associate Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. Pineles received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Northwestern University and completed a predoctoral internship and postdoctoral fellowship with the Boston Consortium in Clinical Psychology. Her primary research interests are in the areas of cognitive, physiological and neurobiological processes involved in maintaining posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She is currently funded to examine how menstrual cycle affects startle, sensory gating, and fear conditioning in women with PTSD.

Publications

  • Published 10/11/2026

    Froelich JM, Stucchi SN, Thomas JL, Cesare N, Rasmusson AM, Pineles SL, Nillni YI. Sleep trajectories in pregnancy: associations with trauma exposure, PTSD, and postpartum depression. J Behav Med. 2026 Oct 11. PMID: 42859957.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 1/2/2026

    Thomas JL, Ellis RA, AbiKaram K, Abohashem S, Dua A, Lau ES, MacDonald MJ, Miller KK, Pineles SL, Rosovsky RP, Tawakol A, Osborne MT, Seligowski AV. Hormonal Contraceptive Use, Stress Disorders, and Cardiovascular and Thrombotic Risk in Women. JAMA Netw Open. 2026 Jan 02; 9(1):e2551878. PMID: 41481290.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 10/10/2025

    Nillni YI, Barbano AC, Coleman JN, Fernando M, Gerber MR, Goodsmith N, Haeger KO, Hoffmire CA, Horenstein A, Inslicht SS, Johnson AM, Katon JG, Moses-Kolko EL, Kosman KA, Pineles SL, Pleasure ZH, Singh N, Miller LJ. The intersection of trauma, mental health, and reproductive health among women veterans: A scoping review. Clin Psychol Rev. 2025 Dec; 122:102659. PMID: 41218380.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 8/13/2024

    McGrory CM, Kram Mendelsohn A, Pineles SL, Lasko NB, Ivkovic V, Moon M, Cetinkaya D, Bazer O, Fortier E, Kelly A, Bragdon LB, Arditte Hall KA, Tanev K, Orr SP, Pace-Schott EF. Comparison of autonomic reactivity to trauma and nightmare imagery: A Pilot Study. Sleep Adv. 2024; 5(1):zpae060. PMID: 39246523.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 4/10/2024

    Carpenter JK, Pineles SL, Griffin MG, Werner K, Resick PA, Galovski TE. Effect of PTSD treatment on cardiovascular reactivity during trauma memory recall and correspondence with symptom improvement. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2024; 15(1):2335865. PMID: 38597201.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 64 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Other Positions

  • Clinical Research Psychologist, National Center for PTSD
    VA Boston Healthcare System

Websites

Education

  • Northwestern University, PhD
  • Northwestern University, MS
  • University of Pennsylvania, BA

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