Regina Baronia - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Regina Baronia
Journal of Affective Disorders, Jul 1, 2023
The Southwest Respiratory and Critical Care Chronicles, Apr 20, 2022
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine became an important method of providing patient c... more During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine became an important method of providing patient care and minimizing person-to-person contact. For example, it has been considered a reasonable option for patients who have been discharged from the intensive care unit (ICU) and other acute settings. Previous studies have indicated that using telemedicine with psychiatry, also known as telepsychiatry, may be preferred by certain patient groups, such as rural patients. This study aims to evaluate the impact of transitioning to telepsychiatry services in response to the pandemic on patient appointment compliance of a university affiliated ambulatory clinic in Lubbock, Texas. Retrospective data on clinic appointment attendance from three separate three-month time periods (
Case reports in psychiatry, Feb 10, 2021
The goal of the psychiatric assessment of asylum seekers is to evaluate the asylum seeker's menta... more The goal of the psychiatric assessment of asylum seekers is to evaluate the asylum seeker's mental health and credibility. The shortage of mental health providers trained in this particular type of evaluation makes in-person evaluation not always feasible. Telephonic interview has been occasionally utilized to fill this void. The validity of such evaluations in assessing credibility has yet to be fully established. In the case of telephonic interviews, evaluators are limited with no access to facial or body language cues that can indicate deception or honesty. We will present a case of a client evaluated via telephone that was deemed credible and eventually released to pursue asylum in the US. Assessment of credibility relied solely on cues obtained from the client's narrative, reported symptoms, and their style of interaction with the evaluator. We will highlight the findings from the client's interview that supported credibility in the case and discuss the challenges of assessing asylum seeker's credibility via telephonic interview. Telephonic evaluation of credibility can be considered a valid method despite major challenges, but psychiatric evaluators should be aware of the limitations of telephonic evaluations given the high possibility of secondary gains and deception.
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, Feb 25, 2023
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, May 26, 2022
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, Sep 4, 2022
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, May 27, 2023
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, Nov 22, 2022
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, Sep 4, 2022
IGI Global eBooks, Apr 29, 2022
Journal of human trafficking, Mar 1, 2022
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, Nov 30, 2020
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, Mar 30, 2016
ABSTRACT Previous studies have shown an association between substance use in the corrections popu... more ABSTRACT Previous studies have shown an association between substance use in the corrections population and, though the overall probation population has been declining, the percentage of women on probation has significantly increased. This study collected data on the factors associated with substance use and criminality among West Texas women who were sentenced to the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services System (USPPSS). Intake records for USPPSS adult women spanning 3 years were reviewed. Among all age distributions and demographics, alcohol use was found to be prevalent. A significant positive correlation was found between immediate and extended family use of alcohol or drugs. Approximately one third of women reported a lifetime history of psychiatric treatment and three fourths reported a lifetime history of emotional/verbal, physical, and/or sexual abuse. The significant association with alcohol and substance use among these women should be addressed when determining probation planning and social services. Furthermore, the high incidence of emotional/verbal, physical and/or sexual abuse, and suicidality in this population would recommend an approach that includes provision of adequate mental health services.
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, Dec 10, 2019
The goal of this study was to examine risk/protective factors to criminality in an adolescent pop... more The goal of this study was to examine risk/protective factors to criminality in an adolescent population. Retrospective chart review was utilized to gather data on psychiatric history, substance use, and criminality among adolescent patients within a psychiatric outpatient clinic at a university school of medicine. An earlier age of psychiatric diagnosis and comorbid substance use was found to be a marked risk factor for criminality, whereas female gender and education were shown to be protective factors. These findings can aid in intervention strategies targeted at adolescents who are most at risk for criminality.
Middle East Current Psychiatry, May 3, 2021
Background: Asylum applicants can benefit from psychiatric evaluation which can explain how cultu... more Background: Asylum applicants can benefit from psychiatric evaluation which can explain how culture and mental health symptoms relate to perceived deficits in credibility. Case presentation: Ms. B presented for psychiatric evaluation, seeking asylum in the USA after multiple threats on her life in Honduras. At initial evaluation, she was diagnosed with depression. On reevaluation, she was found to have panic attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder. Recommendations included an anxiolytic medication and the use of pre-written statements upon interview. However, Ms. B was sent back to her country of origin despite her severe mental symptoms. Conclusion: Post-traumatic disorder scales should be used by mental health professionals especially with patients who are not forthcoming about past trauma history to avoid missing this diagnosis. There is a need to inform immigration officials and lawyers about the necessity of accommodating clients' needs to appropriately present themselves in asylum interviews.
Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, Aug 1, 2019
The primary care companion for CNS disorders, Dec 28, 2017
Wernicke's encephalopathy is caused by thiamine deficiency and oc... more Wernicke's encephalopathy is caused by thiamine deficiency and occurs predominantly in alcohol-dependent individuals but also develops in those who are malnourished due to other reasons including medical and psychiatric disorders. This study examined the frequency rate and management of Wernicke's encephalopathy in alcohol-dependent and non-alcohol-dependent patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Data were retrospectively collected from electronic medical records of psychiatric inpatients admitted to a teaching hospital located in Texas between September 2013 and March 2014. The diagnostic criteria of Caine and colleagues and thiamine dosing strategies were used to identify cases of suboptimal management. A total of 486 charts were reviewed. Nine patients (1.85%) had clinical signs of Wernicke's encephalopathy, and 36 (7%, n = 486) were at a high risk for developing the disorder. None of these patients received adequate doses of parenteral thiamine, and of those who were prescribed thiamine, the majority, including high-risk patients, were prescribed oral thiamine at the traditional dose of 100 mg/d. The findings suggest that Wernicke's encephalopathy is underdiagnosed and undertreated. Our study also highlights the need for clarifying diagnostic criteria, identifying the risk factors for thiamine deficiency, and improving awareness among physicians about diagnosis, prevention, and adequate treatment of Wernicke's encephalopathy in alcohol-dependent and non-alcohol-dependent patients.
Case reports in psychiatry, 2014
This is a case of a 22-year-old Hispanic male with a history of bipolar disorder and methamphetam... more This is a case of a 22-year-old Hispanic male with a history of bipolar disorder and methamphetamine dependence who was admitted after presenting with suicidal ideations by slashing his throat with a machete. The patient had been smoking and inhaling "processed" pyrethroid for about eight weeks as an inexpensive methamphetamine substitute. He reported experiencing a "rush" similar to methamphetamine after using pyrethroid from liquid insecticide that had been heated (electrocuted) or sprayed on hot metal sheets until it crystallized. The patient presented with no significant physical markings or findings but claimed to have his suicidal ideations precipitated by concerns of ill effects of pyrethroid on his health. He also had positive urine drug screen for methamphetamine, which he admitted to using on the day of admission. We conclude that it is important for physicians to maintain a high level of suspicion for alternate and uncommon substances of abuse as well as risks for suicidal tendencies in these patients.
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, Aug 24, 2017
ABSTRACT Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health ... more ABSTRACT Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health is a historic document that comprehensively addresses substance use. It presents information on the neurobiological theories of substance use, early intervention, treatment, and recovery. It places substance use in the context of medical illness that will hopefully diminish the stigma associated with it, encourage treatment-seeking behaviors, and engage more health professionals in the treatment and management of substance use disorders. The report is written with the general public as the intended readers; and to this end, the concepts were presented concisely and clearly. Further, the management strategies in the report can serve as an excellent reference for patients and health professionals and as a basis for public health policies.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, Jul 1, 2019
Justice-involved youth are at exceedingly high risk of trauma exposure, multisystem involvement, ... more Justice-involved youth are at exceedingly high risk of trauma exposure, multisystem involvement, and mental health distress, including depression. Justice-involved youth carry with them both a high symptom burden and a high cost to society. Both could be reduced through evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies. Effective treatment of mental disorders may reduce future justice involvement, whereas lack of treatment increases likelihood of justice involvement into adulthood. Multiple effective programs exist to improve the lives of justice-involved youth and subsequently decrease the cost to society of detaining and adjudicating these youth within the juvenile justice system.
Journal of Affective Disorders, Jul 1, 2023
The Southwest Respiratory and Critical Care Chronicles, Apr 20, 2022
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine became an important method of providing patient c... more During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine became an important method of providing patient care and minimizing person-to-person contact. For example, it has been considered a reasonable option for patients who have been discharged from the intensive care unit (ICU) and other acute settings. Previous studies have indicated that using telemedicine with psychiatry, also known as telepsychiatry, may be preferred by certain patient groups, such as rural patients. This study aims to evaluate the impact of transitioning to telepsychiatry services in response to the pandemic on patient appointment compliance of a university affiliated ambulatory clinic in Lubbock, Texas. Retrospective data on clinic appointment attendance from three separate three-month time periods (
Case reports in psychiatry, Feb 10, 2021
The goal of the psychiatric assessment of asylum seekers is to evaluate the asylum seeker's menta... more The goal of the psychiatric assessment of asylum seekers is to evaluate the asylum seeker's mental health and credibility. The shortage of mental health providers trained in this particular type of evaluation makes in-person evaluation not always feasible. Telephonic interview has been occasionally utilized to fill this void. The validity of such evaluations in assessing credibility has yet to be fully established. In the case of telephonic interviews, evaluators are limited with no access to facial or body language cues that can indicate deception or honesty. We will present a case of a client evaluated via telephone that was deemed credible and eventually released to pursue asylum in the US. Assessment of credibility relied solely on cues obtained from the client's narrative, reported symptoms, and their style of interaction with the evaluator. We will highlight the findings from the client's interview that supported credibility in the case and discuss the challenges of assessing asylum seeker's credibility via telephonic interview. Telephonic evaluation of credibility can be considered a valid method despite major challenges, but psychiatric evaluators should be aware of the limitations of telephonic evaluations given the high possibility of secondary gains and deception.
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, Feb 25, 2023
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, May 26, 2022
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, Sep 4, 2022
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, May 27, 2023
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, Nov 22, 2022
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, Sep 4, 2022
IGI Global eBooks, Apr 29, 2022
Journal of human trafficking, Mar 1, 2022
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, Nov 30, 2020
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, Mar 30, 2016
ABSTRACT Previous studies have shown an association between substance use in the corrections popu... more ABSTRACT Previous studies have shown an association between substance use in the corrections population and, though the overall probation population has been declining, the percentage of women on probation has significantly increased. This study collected data on the factors associated with substance use and criminality among West Texas women who were sentenced to the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services System (USPPSS). Intake records for USPPSS adult women spanning 3 years were reviewed. Among all age distributions and demographics, alcohol use was found to be prevalent. A significant positive correlation was found between immediate and extended family use of alcohol or drugs. Approximately one third of women reported a lifetime history of psychiatric treatment and three fourths reported a lifetime history of emotional/verbal, physical, and/or sexual abuse. The significant association with alcohol and substance use among these women should be addressed when determining probation planning and social services. Furthermore, the high incidence of emotional/verbal, physical and/or sexual abuse, and suicidality in this population would recommend an approach that includes provision of adequate mental health services.
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, Dec 10, 2019
The goal of this study was to examine risk/protective factors to criminality in an adolescent pop... more The goal of this study was to examine risk/protective factors to criminality in an adolescent population. Retrospective chart review was utilized to gather data on psychiatric history, substance use, and criminality among adolescent patients within a psychiatric outpatient clinic at a university school of medicine. An earlier age of psychiatric diagnosis and comorbid substance use was found to be a marked risk factor for criminality, whereas female gender and education were shown to be protective factors. These findings can aid in intervention strategies targeted at adolescents who are most at risk for criminality.
Middle East Current Psychiatry, May 3, 2021
Background: Asylum applicants can benefit from psychiatric evaluation which can explain how cultu... more Background: Asylum applicants can benefit from psychiatric evaluation which can explain how culture and mental health symptoms relate to perceived deficits in credibility. Case presentation: Ms. B presented for psychiatric evaluation, seeking asylum in the USA after multiple threats on her life in Honduras. At initial evaluation, she was diagnosed with depression. On reevaluation, she was found to have panic attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder. Recommendations included an anxiolytic medication and the use of pre-written statements upon interview. However, Ms. B was sent back to her country of origin despite her severe mental symptoms. Conclusion: Post-traumatic disorder scales should be used by mental health professionals especially with patients who are not forthcoming about past trauma history to avoid missing this diagnosis. There is a need to inform immigration officials and lawyers about the necessity of accommodating clients' needs to appropriately present themselves in asylum interviews.
Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine, Aug 1, 2019
The primary care companion for CNS disorders, Dec 28, 2017
Wernicke's encephalopathy is caused by thiamine deficiency and oc... more Wernicke's encephalopathy is caused by thiamine deficiency and occurs predominantly in alcohol-dependent individuals but also develops in those who are malnourished due to other reasons including medical and psychiatric disorders. This study examined the frequency rate and management of Wernicke's encephalopathy in alcohol-dependent and non-alcohol-dependent patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Data were retrospectively collected from electronic medical records of psychiatric inpatients admitted to a teaching hospital located in Texas between September 2013 and March 2014. The diagnostic criteria of Caine and colleagues and thiamine dosing strategies were used to identify cases of suboptimal management. A total of 486 charts were reviewed. Nine patients (1.85%) had clinical signs of Wernicke's encephalopathy, and 36 (7%, n = 486) were at a high risk for developing the disorder. None of these patients received adequate doses of parenteral thiamine, and of those who were prescribed thiamine, the majority, including high-risk patients, were prescribed oral thiamine at the traditional dose of 100 mg/d. The findings suggest that Wernicke's encephalopathy is underdiagnosed and undertreated. Our study also highlights the need for clarifying diagnostic criteria, identifying the risk factors for thiamine deficiency, and improving awareness among physicians about diagnosis, prevention, and adequate treatment of Wernicke's encephalopathy in alcohol-dependent and non-alcohol-dependent patients.
Case reports in psychiatry, 2014
This is a case of a 22-year-old Hispanic male with a history of bipolar disorder and methamphetam... more This is a case of a 22-year-old Hispanic male with a history of bipolar disorder and methamphetamine dependence who was admitted after presenting with suicidal ideations by slashing his throat with a machete. The patient had been smoking and inhaling "processed" pyrethroid for about eight weeks as an inexpensive methamphetamine substitute. He reported experiencing a "rush" similar to methamphetamine after using pyrethroid from liquid insecticide that had been heated (electrocuted) or sprayed on hot metal sheets until it crystallized. The patient presented with no significant physical markings or findings but claimed to have his suicidal ideations precipitated by concerns of ill effects of pyrethroid on his health. He also had positive urine drug screen for methamphetamine, which he admitted to using on the day of admission. We conclude that it is important for physicians to maintain a high level of suspicion for alternate and uncommon substances of abuse as well as risks for suicidal tendencies in these patients.
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, Aug 24, 2017
ABSTRACT Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health ... more ABSTRACT Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health is a historic document that comprehensively addresses substance use. It presents information on the neurobiological theories of substance use, early intervention, treatment, and recovery. It places substance use in the context of medical illness that will hopefully diminish the stigma associated with it, encourage treatment-seeking behaviors, and engage more health professionals in the treatment and management of substance use disorders. The report is written with the general public as the intended readers; and to this end, the concepts were presented concisely and clearly. Further, the management strategies in the report can serve as an excellent reference for patients and health professionals and as a basis for public health policies.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, Jul 1, 2019
Justice-involved youth are at exceedingly high risk of trauma exposure, multisystem involvement, ... more Justice-involved youth are at exceedingly high risk of trauma exposure, multisystem involvement, and mental health distress, including depression. Justice-involved youth carry with them both a high symptom burden and a high cost to society. Both could be reduced through evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies. Effective treatment of mental disorders may reduce future justice involvement, whereas lack of treatment increases likelihood of justice involvement into adulthood. Multiple effective programs exist to improve the lives of justice-involved youth and subsequently decrease the cost to society of detaining and adjudicating these youth within the juvenile justice system.