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Ronald Acierno, Ph.D.   
[NCVC and Older Adult Clinic rotations]

Dr. Acierno received his B.A. with Distinction in Psychology from the University of Virginia in 1989, and earned his M.S. & Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Nova-Southeastern University in 1996. Dr. Acierno specializes in assessment and treatment of conduct disorder and substance abuse in adolescents, as well as anxiety and mood disorders in older adults who have been victims of assault, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Dr. Acierno has worked on a study to assess the effects of the 2004 Florida hurricanes on older adults, as well as a treatment development project to evaluate a novel intervention for complicated bereavement in older adults. Dr. Acierno is currently the PI on a study to determine whether therapy for Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) personnel with subclinical PTSD can be delivered effectively via videoconferencing technology.  His work has been funded by the National Institute on Aging, the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Justice, the Department of Defense, and the South Carolina Department of Public Safety's VOCA, VAWA, and SVAP grant systems.

Research interests: both the assessment and treatment of older adults with anxiety and mood disorders

Honors and Awards:

Select Publications:

• Ritter, J., Amstadter, A. B., McCauley, J., Acierno, R. (in press). Mental health correlates of post disaster increases in alcohol and cigarette smoking: A Vietnamese study. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction.
• Amstadter, A. B., Begle, A. M., Cisler, J. M., Hernandez, M. A., Muzzy, W., & Acierno, R. (in press). Prevalence and correlates of poor self-rated health in the United States: The National Elder Mistreatment Study. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
• Acierno, R., Hernandez, M. A., Amstadter, A. B., Resnick, H. S., Steve, K., Muzzy, W., & Kilpatrick, D. G. (in press).  Prevalence and correlates of emotional, physical, sexual, neglectful, and financial abuse in the United States: The National Elder Mistreatment Study. American Journal of Public Health.
• Richardson, L. R., Amstadter, A. B., Acierno, R., et al. (in press). Estimating the prevalence of mental distress in Vietnam: Use of the SRQ-20. International Journal of Social Psychiatry.
• Amstadter, A. B., Koenen, K. C., Ruggiero, K. J., Acierno, R., Galea, S., Kilpatrick, D. G., & Gelernter, J. (in press). RGS2 modulates suicidal ideation in adults exposed to the 2004 Florida hurricanes. Archives of Suicide Research.
• Amstadter, A. B., Richardson, L., Acierno, R., Kilpatrick, D. G., Gaboury, M. T., Tran, T., Trung, L. T., Tam, N. T., Tuan, T., Buoi, L. T., Ha, T. T., & Thach, T. D. (in press). Does interviewer status matter? An examination of lay interviewers and medical doctor interviews in an epidemiological study in Vietnam. International Perspectives in Victimology.
• Amstadter, A. B., Nugent, N. R., Koenen, K. C., Ruggiero, K. J., Acierno, R., Galea, S., Kilpatrick, D. G., & Gelernter, J. (in press). Association between COMT, PTSD, and increased smoking following hurricane exposure in an epidemiologic sample. Psychiatry.
• Kilpatrick, D. G., Resnick, H. S., & Acierno, R. (2009). Should PTSD Criterion A be retained? Journal of Traumatic Stress, 22, 364-383.
• Amstadter, A. B., Acierno, R., Richardson, L., Kilpatrick, D. G., Grös, D. F., Gaboury, M. T., Tran, T. L., Trung, L. T., Tam, N. T., Tuan, T., Buoi, L. T., Ha, T. T., Thach, T. D., & Galea, S. (2009). Post-typhoon prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder in a Vietnamese sample. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 22, 180-188. PMCID: PMC2720525
• Acierno, R., Lawyer, S. & Kilpatrick, D. G. (in press). Treatment seeking among older and younger adults in terms of victimization status and psychopathology. International Perspectives in Victimology.

Select Presentations:

• Acierno, R., Hernandez, M. A., & Muzzy, W. (2009, November). Prevalence of Elder Abuse Based on Race and Ethnicity: The National Elder Mistreatment Study. Poster to be presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies 25^th Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA.
• Acierno, R., Muzzy, W., & Hernandez, M. A. (2009, November). Financial Exploitation in the United States: The National Elder Mistreatment Study. Poster to be presented at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies 25^th Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA.
• Tuerk, P., Acierno, R., Yoder, M., & Ruggiero, K. J. (2009, July). Prolonged Exposure for combat-related PTSD: Results from an open trial of in-person treatment vs. treatment via telehealth technology. Paper presented to the 3rd annual VA Mental Health Conference, Washington, DC.
• Acierno, R. (2009, June). Elder abuse: How much occurs and how do we measure it? Panel Participant. National Institute of Justice, Washington, DC.
• Acierno, R. (2009, March). Meeting Challenges in Prosecution and Victim Advocacy. Panel Participant. National College of District Attorneys, San Diego, CA.
• Tuerk, P., Yoder, M., Ruggiero, K. J., Grös, D., & Acierno, R. (2009, February). Open trial of Prolonged Exposure for PTSD delivered via telepsychiatry vs. in person. Paper presented at the 27th national meeting of VA’s Health Services Research and Development Service (HSR&D), Baltimore, MD.
• Koenen, K. C., Amstadter, A. B., Ruggiero, K. J., Acierno, R., Galea, S., Kilpatrick, D. G., Gelernter, J. (2008, November). The genetics of posttraumatic stress disorder: What do we know so far? Panel discussion at the annual conference of the International Society on Traumatic Stress Studies, Chicago, IL.
• Acierno, R. (2008, April). Elder Maltreatment Summit. Core Faculty Presenter. Centers for Disease Control, Washington, DC.
• Acierno, R. (2008, April). The Psychology of Victimization and Effective Interview Techniques. Feature Presenter. National College of District Attorneys, Chicago, IL.
• Ruggiero, K. J., Acierno, R., & Amstadter, A. B. (2008, November). Health outcomes poster. Poster presented at the annual VA conference, Washington, D.C.

Curriculum Vitae  (2009) (Requires Adobe® Reader to view)

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