Paula Riggs, M.D.
(303)315-7652
Paula.Riggs@uchsc.eduDr. Riggs is a physician and clinical researcher who is board certified in adult, child, and adolescent psychiatry with added qualifications in addiction psychiatry. Her research has primarily focused on the evaluation and treatment of adolescent substance use disorders (SUD) and associated comorbid disorders, such as conduct disorder (CD), affective disorders, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Dr. Riggs is currently the Principal Investigator (PI) of an ongoing 5-year grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) investigating the effects of treating depression with fluoxetine + cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) vs. CBT alone in adolescents with substance use disorders. This clinical trial is also evaluating the impact of treatment on biological markers, including cortisol, serotonin, DHEA, and testosterone. An additional aim of this study is to assess the impact of a brief CBT intervention for reducing HIV risk in this high-risk population of adolescents. For further information about referring adolescents to this clinical research program, contact the study coordinator, Michelle Lohman, RN, at (303) 315-0709.
Dr. Riggs is also the Principal Investigator of one of 17 major centers (Rocky Mountain Node) within NIDA’s Clinical Trials Network (CTN). The CTN conducts clinical trials designed to determine the effectiveness of research-based behavioral and pharmacotherapeutic treatments for adult and adolescent substance use disorders in “real world” community treatment programs. For further information about the CTN, contact Jill Wilson at (303) 315-5242.
Dr. Riggs is also the PI of a NIDA K 12 award: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Physician scientist career development award. The aims of this K 12 training grant are to recruit and train 5 child and adolescent psychiatrists as career investigators in the area of child and adolescent addiction and mental health disorders (NIDA K 12 DA000357).
Qualified trainees would be able to participate in clinical trials research under Dr. Riggs’ NIH-funded research projects.
Recent Publications:1. Riggs, P. D., Baker, S., Mikulich, S. K., Young, S., and Crowley, T. J. (1995). Depression in substance dependent delinquents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 34(6): 764-771.2. Riggs, P. D., Thompson, L. L., Mikulich, S. K., Whitmore, E. A., and Crowley, T.J. (1996). An open trial of pemoline in drug-dependent delinquents with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 35(8): 1018-1024.
3. Thompson, L. L., Riggs, P. D., Mikulich, S. K., and Crowley, T. J. (1996). Contribution of ADHD symptoms to substance problems and delinquency in conduct-disordered adolescents. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology 24(3): 325-347.
4. Riggs, P. D., Mikulich, S. K., Coffman, L., and Crowley, T. J. (1997). Fluoxetine in drug-dependent delinquents: An open trial. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology 7(2): 87-95.
5. Whitmore, E. A., Mikulich, S. K., Thompson, L. L., Riggs, P. D., Aarons, G., and Crowley, T. J. (1997). Influences on adolescent substance dependence: Conduct disorder, depression, attention deficit disorder, and gender. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 47(2): 87-97.
6. Riggs, P. D. (1998). Clinical approach to treatment of ADHD in adolescents with substance use disorders and conduct disorder. J. Amer. Acad. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 37(3): 331-332.
7. Riggs, P. D., Leon, S. L., Mikulich, S. K., and Coffman, L. M. (1998). An open trial of bupropion for ADHD in substance-dependent delinquents. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 37(12): 1271-1278.
8. Riggs, P. D., Mikulich, S. K., Whitmore, E. A., and Crowley, T. J. (1999). Relationship of ADHD, depression, and non-tobacco substance use disorders to nicotine dependence in substance-dependent delinquents. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 54(3): 195-205.
9. Deas, D., Riggs, P., Goldman, M., Langdenbucher, J., and Brown, S. (2000). Adolescents are not adults. Developmental considerations in adolescent alcohol use. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 24(2): 232-237.
10. Davies, R., Gabbert, S., and Riggs, P. (2001). Anxiety disorders in neurologic illness. Current Treatment Options in Neurology 3(4): 333-346.
11. Riggs, P. D., and Davies, R. D. (2002). A clinical approach to integrating treatment for adolescent depression and substance abuse. J Am Acad Child Adolescent Psychiatry 41(10): 1253-1255.
12. Riggs, P. D., and Whitmore, E. A. (1999). Substance use disorders and disruptive behavior disorders. In R. Hendren (ed.), Disruptive Behavior Disorders in Children and Adolescents (chapter 4), American Psychiatric Association Annual Review Psychiatry Series, Vol. 18, R. Hendren (Ed). Washington, D.C.: APA Press
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAM IN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOBIOLOGYDepartment of Psychiatry
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
Denver, CO 80262For additional Information E-mail:
Martin.Reite@UCHSC.edu
If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to E-mail:
Linda.Greco-Sanders@UCHSC.edu
