Behavioral Medicine

Behavioral medicine, often called clinical health psychology, is a multidisciplinary specialty focused on the interactions of behavior with biology and the environment. Its programs help individuals cope with and manage physical and psychological conditions and maintain healthy lifestyle habits. Led by Division Chief Alan Peterson, Ph.D., ABPP, faculty in the Division of Behavioral Medicine at UT Health San Antonio have expertise in a wide range of areas, including chronic pain, sleep disorders, tobacco cessation, weight management and eating disorders, cancer, temporomandibular disorders, Tourette’s disorder and persistent tic disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury, and suicide risk. With a particular focus on research related to the mental health needs of military service members and veterans, the division leads the world’s largest research group working to advance diagnostic, prevention, and treatment programs for combat-PTSD and related conditions. This unparalleled research network brings together top researchers from across the country and includes two federally funded research consortia, the STRONG STAR Consortium and the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD (CAP), and a large number of affiliated projects. In addition to the division’s large portfolio of military-related research efforts, its faculty are involved in a variety of other research efforts directly involving civilians or applying military-related research to broad public health issues.