Faculty

Brian C Thoma, PhD

Brian C Thoma, PhD

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry

Contact Details

3811 O'Hara St.
Pittsburgh
 
PA
 
15213
Email

Education & Training

PhD
Clinical Psychology, University of Utah
Clinical Psychology, UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital
Innovative Methods in Pathogenesis and Child Treatment, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Research Interests

LGBTQ health; Suicidal behavior; HIV prevention
Selected Research Publications & Products
  1. Thoma BC, Hone E, Roig A, Goodfriend E, Jardas E, Brummitt B, Riston S, Sakolsky D, Zelazny J, Marsland AL, Chen K, Douaihy AB, Brent DA & Melhem NM. (2023). Risk for suicidal behavior after psychiatric hospitalization among sexual and gender minority patients. JAMA Network Open, 6 (9), e2333060.
  2. Thoma BC, Jardas E, Choukas-Bradley S & Salk RH. (2023). Perceived gender transition progress, gender congruence, and mental health symptoms among transgender adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 72 (3), 444-451.
  3. Thoma BC, Eckstrand KL, Montano GT, Rezeppa TL & Marshal MP. (2021). Gender nonconformity and minority stress among lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals: A meta-analytic review. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 16 (6), 1165-1183.
  4. Fox KR, Choukas-Bradley S, Salk RH, Marshal MP & Thoma BC. (2020). Mental health among sexual and gender minority adolescents: Examining interactions with race and ethnicity. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 88 (5), 402-415.
  5. Thoma BC, Salk RH, Choukas-Bradley S, Goldstein TR, Levine MD & Marshal MP. (2019). Suicidality disparities between transgender and cisgender adolescents. Pediatrics, 144 (5), e20191183.

Clinical Interests

LGBTQ health; Adolescent development; Mood and anxiety disorders

Education Interests

Research mentoring; Clinical supervision

Pitt Psychiatry’s 2025 Research Day, Part I: A Celebration of Science

Research Day Attendees

The 23rd annual Department of Psychiatry Research Day, held on June 12, 2025, was the most highly attended Research Day ever, with 653 faculty members, trainees, and staff gathering at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum on the University of Pittsburgh campus. Lunchtime Roundtables More than 300 individuals participated in or facilitated one of 30 roundtable discussion groups focused on topics including...

JAMA Network Open: Risk for Suicidal Behavior after Psychiatric Hospitalization among Sexual and Gender Minority Patients

Dr. Brian Thoma

The year following inpatient psychiatric hospitalization—particularly the first three months following discharge—are a period of high risk for suicidal behavior among psychiatric patients. Prior history of suicidal behavior, mood, anxiety, substance use, and post-traumatic stress disorders contribute to risk for future suicidal behavior within this population. Psychosocial stressors also contribute to risk for...

The Services for Teens at Risk (STAR)-Center 2021 Conference: “Preventing Suicide in Children and Youth: Building Resilience in the Face of Adversity”

Preventing Suicide in Children and Youth: Building Resilience in the Face of Adversity

The Services for Teens at Risk (STAR)-Center, part of UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPH)’s Child and Adolescent Services, is a nationally recognized suicide prevention program that combines clinical and outreach services designed to combat the problem of child and adolescent suicide. The annual STAR-Center conference presents best practices in clinical care, incorporated into practical guidelines for...

New Health Disparities Research: Sleep Among Gender Minority Adolescents

Levenson et al. SLEEP 2021

Many adolescents experience poor or insufficient sleep. However, research suggests that stigmatized youth, including those who identify as racial, gender, and/or sexual minorities, may experience even poorer sleep than those who do not experience stigma. Poor sleep quality is associated with mental health issues that are faced disproportionately by transgender or by gender minority adolescents (defined here as...

Pitt Psychiatry at the 2020 TransPride Pittsburgh Health and Wellness Conference

TransPride 2020 Wellness Conference

Last week, 300 attendees of the 2020 TransPride Pittsburgh Health and Wellness Conference, co-sponsored by UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPH), viewed more than 50 virtual presentations on topics ranging from gender-affirming care, suicidality among transgender adolescents and supporting young people during gender diversity expression. We spoke with three members of the Department of Psychiatry to learn more...