Professor True works in research on the psychiatric genetics of drug and alcohol abuse, traumatic stress, and various affective disorders.  He has studied twins as well as familial transmission of mental health issues through environmental and genetic pathways.  
His current research explores mental health issues using clinical administrative databases of the Department of Veterans Affairs.  In addition to the Veterans Administration, the National Institutes on Drug Abuse, and National Institutes on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism have also funded his work. 

Professor True also has an interest in global health practice, and has engaged in projects in Peru, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic and Chile. He is a member of American Anthropological Association, American College of Epidemiology, American Public Health Association and Society for Epidemiologic Research.

In addition to his appointment with the social work school, he has as secondary appointment with the St. Louis Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.