Dr. Debra Kaysen

Biography

Debra Kaysen is a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University, specializing in public mental health and population sciences. She received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Missouri and completed her internship at the University of Washington, where she later conducted an NIAAA-funded F32 study on PTSD and alcohol use disorders. Kaysen joined the University of Washington faculty in 2006 and founded a program to develop and test accessible interventions for individuals suffering from mental health symptoms following traumatic events. In 2019, she became part of the Stanford faculty and was appointed Chief of the Division of Public Mental Health and Population Sciences in 2022. Her research focuses on treatments for individuals experiencing trauma-related disorders, particularly PTSD, across various populations and settings. Kaysen has led significant studies on PTSD treatment methods for diverse populations, including sexual and gender minorities and military personnel, and has received funding from multiple esteemed organizations including the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense. She is also a Past President of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, contributing significantly to the field through her activism and research efforts. Her work seeks to understand and improve treatment modalities for PTSD and substance use disorders, striving for accessible and effective therapeutic interventions.

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