UTHealth Houston Psychiatry presentations at ADAA 2025
The Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA) hosted a conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, where many psychology and psychiatry professionals came together to learn and present their research findings. Pictured here are some of our faculty members with their presentations.
The ADAA also awarded Dr. Jessica Badawi with the ADAA’s Career Leadership Program (CDLP) Award that recognizes early career professionals who demonstrate exceptional leadership abilities and clinical practice. Congratulations Dr. Badawi!
Symposium: This topic was on Re-Imagining the Asylum: The Next Generation of Inpatient Psychiatry, and shared current discoveries and future opportunities for inpatient psychiatry research and innovation to utilize novel approaches to data and technology to improve the outcomes of inpatient mental health care. Featuring Chair Dr. Jair Soares, Co-Chair Dr. Michelle Patriquin, and Presenters: Dr. Jessica Badawi, Dr. John Torous (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard), Dr. Katrina Rufino (University of Houston-Downtown), Dr. Allie Slemon (University of Victoria).
Poster presentation #1. Real-World Examination of Clinical Characteristics of Diverse Youth (Re)admitting to Inpatient Psychiatric Care. The study examined differences between youth with single versus multiple psychiatric hospitalizations using data from over 2,300 racially and ethnically diverse patients in the largest academic inpatient psychiatric hospital in the US. Across both groups, diagnostic patterns were strikingly similar, with unspecified mood disorder being the most common diagnosis regardless of admission frequency. While youth with multiple admissions were older and had longer stays, rates of reported suicidality did not significantly differ. These findings highlight the diagnostic ambiguity in inpatient youth care and support the need for measurement-based approaches to improve precision and reduce readmissions. Authors: Dr. Marina Zhukova, Dr. Michelle A. Patriquin, Dr. Marsal Sanches, Dr. Scott D. Lane, Dr. Elaheh Ashtari, & Dr. Stephanie Emhoff.
Poster presentation #2. Exploring Real-World Patient Clinical Features Related to Multiple Admissions within a Safety-Net Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital. This study examined demographic and clinical differences among 15,499 adults admitted to the largest U.S. inpatient psychiatric hospital. Most had a single admission (64.8%), while 35.2% had multiple. Those with multiple admissions were older, had longer stays, and were less likely to report suicidal ideation. All racial groups (Black, Hispanic, and White) were more likely to have one admission. The most common diagnoses included unspecified mood or unspecified psychotic disorders. Results highlight the need for improved diagnostic accuracy and measurement-based care to reduce repeat hospitalizations and improve outcomes for this high-risk population. Authors: Dr. Tessa A. Orellana, Dr. Jessica Badawi, Dr. Marsal Sanches, Dr. Scott D. Lane, Dr. Michelle A. Patriquin, & Dr. Elaheh Ashtari.
Poster presentation #3. The Use of Wearable Technology and Individualized Imagery Scripts on Outcomes of Sleep, Psychosis, and Suicidality among Inpatients. This was a randomized control trial, funded by the UTHealth Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Seed Grant Program, that examined the use of wearable technology to deliver a personalized sleep intervention to inpatients experiencing psychosis and sleep disturbances. Results indicated that compared to treatment as usual, the personalized imagery script was associated with increased time spent in a relaxed state during sleep and served as a protective factor for sleep quality. Authors: Dr. Jessica Badawi, PhD, Ana Ruiz, BS, Abdul Haseeb, BS, Meagan Massy, BSA, Calvary Fielden, BA, Dr. Tessa Orellana, PhD, & Dr. Michelle Patriquin, PhD, ABPP
Poster presentation #4. The impact of trauma and PTSD on Depression and Anxiety Symptoms in Youth patients. This study was to better understand our patient population and tailor our care approach we assessed the relationship between trauma history, PTSD and PHQ-9 / GAD-7 scores in adolescents and young adults from our clinic. We found a positive relationship between GAD-7 scores and PTSD, but not PHQ-9. Interestingly trauma history was not associated with higher scores in either measure which would be expected, potentially explained by small sample size, selection bias and potentially those instruments not being able to capture symptom nuances.