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Debra Pinals MD

TitleAdjunct Professor
InstitutionUMass Chan Medical School
DepartmentPsychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
AddressWorcester Recovery Center & Hospital
309 Belmont Street
Worcester MA 01604
Phone612-626-8071
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    Other Positions
    InstitutionT.H. Chan School of Medicine
    DepartmentPsychiatry and Behavioral Sciences


    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse education and training
    University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, United StatesBAFrench
    Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, OH, United StatesMD

    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse selected publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions.
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    PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Ghose SS, Beehler S, Pinals DA, Crocker L, Hoey T, Masiakowski NP, Goldman H, Karakus M, Thomas T, Patel NA. Youth Inpatient and Residential Treatment Psychiatric Beds: National Trends and Potential Causal Factors, 2010-2022. Psychiatr Serv. 2025 Apr 01; 76(4):343-349. PMID: 39881597.
      Citations:    
    2. Anacker L, Edwards M, Nonnemacher S, Pinals DA. Attending to Persons with Intellectual and/or Other Developmental Disorders in Crisis Settings. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2024 Sep; 47(3):563-576. PMID: 39122346.
      Citations:    
    3. O'Neil MM, Johnson RA, C?rdova D, Pryor J, Pinals DA. A legal dispute resolution intervention for patients with substance use disorders: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. BMC Public Health. 2023 03 06; 23(1):435. PMID: 36879259.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:HumansCTClinical Trials
    4. Bruzios KE, Shaffer PM, Byrne T, Pinals DA, Trojano M, Pressman K, Smelson D. Examining Perceived Coercion in Drug Treatment Courts. Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2023 01; 67(1):53-65. PMID: 35670193.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    5. Gaba A, Shaffer PM, Andre M, Pinals DA, Drawbridge D, Smelson D. Racial and ethnic differences in behavioral health, criminal legal system involvement, and service needs among mental health court participants: Implications for service delivery. Psychol Serv. 2022 Nov; 19(4):637-647. PMID: 35549301.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    6. Guina J, Dornfeld B, Pinals DA. A 20-year follow-up survey of police officers' experience with Tarasoff warnings: How law enforcement reacts to clinicians' duty to protect. Behav Sci Law. 2022 Jul; 40(4):505-513. PMID: 35195297.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    7. Fader-Towe H, Pinals DA. Data on Evaluations as a Foundation for States Rethinking Competency to Stand Trial. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2021 12; 49(4):540-544. PMID: 34625465.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    8. Pinals DA, Hovermale L, Mauch D, Anacker L. Persons With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the Mental Health System: Part 2. Policy and Systems Considerations. Psychiatr Serv. 2022 03 01; 73(3):321-328. PMID: 34346727.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    9. Pinals DA, Hovermale L, Mauch D, Anacker L. Persons With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the Mental Health System: Part 1. Clinical Considerations. Psychiatr Serv. 2022 03 01; 73(3):313-320. PMID: 34346730.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    10. Pinals DA, Gaba A, Shaffer PM, Andre MA, Smelson DA. Risk-need-responsivity and its application in behavioral health settings: A feasibility study of a treatment planning support tool. Behav Sci Law. 2021 Feb; 39(1):44-64. PMID: 33569766.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    11. Pinals DA, Hepburn B, Parks J, Stephenson AH. The Behavioral Health System and Its Response to COVID-19: A Snapshot Perspective. Psychiatr Serv. 2020 10 01; 71(10):1070-1074. PMID: 32781926.
      Citations: 24     Fields:    Translation:HumansCellsPHPublic Health
    12. Pinals DA, Fuller DA. The Vital Role of a Full Continuum of Psychiatric Care Beyond Beds. Psychiatr Serv. 2020 07 01; 71(7):713-721. PMID: 32321386.
      Citations: 8     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    13. Pinals DA, Callahan L. Evaluation and Restoration of Competence to Stand Trial: Intercepting the Forensic System Using the Sequential Intercept Model. Psychiatr Serv. 2020 07 01; 71(7):698-705. PMID: 32237983.
      Citations: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    14. Callahan L, Pinals DA. Challenges to Reforming the Competence to Stand Trial and Competence Restoration System. Psychiatr Serv. 2020 07 01; 71(7):691-697. PMID: 32237984.
      Citations: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    15. Smelson DA, Gaba A, Pressman K, Clary KM, Shaffer PM, Pinals DA. Embedding a Co-occurring Disorders Rehabilitation Intervention in Veterans Courts: A Pilot Study with Male Veterans. Community Ment Health J. 2020 07; 56(5):970-977. PMID: 32006293.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    16. Pinsky HM, Guina J, Berry M, Chesanow C, Pinals DA. Psychiatry and Fitness to Fly After Germanwings. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2020 Mar; 48(1):65-76. PMID: 31753966.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    17. Kapoor R, Benedek E, Bonnie RJ, Gandhi T, Gold L, Judd S, Pinals DA. Resource Document on Risk-Based Gun Removal Laws. Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2019 Oct; 17(4):443-451. PMID: 32015728.
      Citations:    
    18. Pinals DA. Liability and Patient Suicide. Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2019 Oct; 17(4):349-354. PMID: 32047380.
      Citations:    
    19. Pinals DA, Gaba A, Clary KM, Barber J, Reiss J, Smelson D. Implementation of MISSION-Criminal Justice in a Treatment Court: Preliminary Outcomes Among Individuals With Co-occurring Disorders. Psychiatr Serv. 2019 11 01; 70(11):1044-1048. PMID: 31337322.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    20. Hanna J, Kubiak S, Pasman E, Gaba A, Andre M, Smelson D, Pinals DA. Evaluating the implementation of a prisoner re-entry initiative for individuals with opioid use and mental health disorders: Application of the consolidated framework for implementation research in a cross-system initiative. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2020 01; 108:104-114. PMID: 31285078.
      Citations: 11     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    21. Wall BW, Ash P, Keram E, Pinals DA, Thompson CR. AAPL Practice Resource for the Forensic Psychiatric Evaluation of Competence to Stand Trial. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2018 Sep; 46(3 Supplement):S4-S79. PMID: 30602602.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    22. Wall BW, Ash P, Keram E, Pinals DA, Thompson CH. AAPL Practice Resource for the Forensic Psychiatric Evaluation of Competence to Stand Trial. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2018 09; 46(3):373. PMID: 30368470.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    23. Smelson D, Farquhar I, Fisher W, Pressman K, Pinals DA, Samek B, Duffy MK, Sawh L. Integrating a Co-occurring Disorders Intervention in Drug Courts: An Open Pilot Trial. Community Ment Health J. 2019 02; 55(2):222-231. PMID: 29516336.
      Citations: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    24. Pinals DA, Felthous AR. Introduction to this double issue: Jail diversion and collaboration across the justice continuum. Behav Sci Law. 2017 09; 35(5-6):375-379. PMID: 29271027.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    25. Trojano ML, Christopher PP, Pinals DA, Harnish A, Smelson D. Perceptions of voluntary consent among jail diverted veterans with co-occurring disorders. Behav Sci Law. 2017 Sep; 35(5-6):408-417. PMID: 28762534.
      Citations: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    26. Winkelman TNA, Frank JW, Binswanger IA, Pinals DA. Health Conditions and Racial Differences Among Justice-Involved Adolescents, 2009 to 2014. Acad Pediatr. 2017 Sep - Oct; 17(7):723-731. PMID: 28300655.
      Citations: 21     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    27. Friedman SH, Appel JM, Ash P, Frierson RL, Giorgi-Guarnieri D, Martinez R, Newman AW, Pinals DA, Resnick PJ, Simpson AI. Unsolicited E-mails to Forensic Psychiatrists. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2016 Dec; 44(4):470-478. PMID: 28003391.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    28. Anacker L, Pinals DA. GPS Monitoring for Life. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2016 12; 44(4):497-499. PMID: 28003397.
      Citations:    Fields:    
    29. Dunlop J, Pinals DA. Criteria for Increasing Involuntary Medication Dosage for a Committed Insanity Acquittee. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2016 12; 44(4):501-503. PMID: 28003399.
      Citations:    Fields:    
    30. Harnish A, Corrigan P, Byrne T, Pinals DA, Rodrigues S, Smelson D. Substance Use and Mental Health Stigma in Veterans With Co-Occurring Disorders. J Dual Diagn. 2016 Jul-Dec; 12(3-4):238-243. PMID: 27723432.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    31. Pinals DA, Anacker L. Mental Illness and Firearms: Legal Context and Clinical Approaches. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2016 12; 39(4):611-621. PMID: 27836155.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    32. Christopher PP, Pinals DA, Stayton T, Sanders K, Blumberg L. Nature and Utilization of Civil Commitment for Substance Abuse in the United States. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2015 Sep; 43(3):313-20. PMID: 26438809.
      Citations: 9     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    33. Hartwell S, Fisher W, Deng X, Pinals DA, Siegfriedt J. Intensity of Offending Following State Prison Release Among Persons Treated for Mental Health Problems While Incarcerated. Psychiatr Serv. 2016 Jan; 67(1):49-54. PMID: 26278228.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    34. Steadman HJ, Monahan J, Pinals DA, Vesselinov R, Robbins PC. Gun Violence and Victimization of Strangers by Persons With a Mental Illness: Data From the MacArthur Violence Risk Assessment Study. Psychiatr Serv. 2015 Nov; 66(11):1238-41. PMID: 26073414.
      Citations: 13     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    35. Glancy GD, Ash P, Bath EP, Buchanan A, Fedoroff P, Frierson RL, Harris VL, Hatters Friedman SJ, Hauser MJ, Knoll J, Norko M, Pinals D, Price M, Recupero P, Scott CL, Zonana HV. AAPL Practice Guideline for the Forensic Assessment. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2015 Jun; 43(2 Suppl):S3-53. PMID: 26054704.
      Citations: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    36. Bonnie RJ, Appelbaum PS, Pinals DA. The Evolving Position of the American Psychiatric Association on Firearm Policy (1993-2014). Behav Sci Law. 2015 Jun; 33(2-3):178-85. PMID: 26036695.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    37. Pinals DA, Appelbaum PS, Bonnie R, Fisher CE, Gold LH, Lee LW. American Psychiatric Association: Position Statement on Firearm Access, Acts of Violence and the Relationship to Mental Illness and Mental Health Services. Behav Sci Law. 2015 Jun; 33(2-3):195-8. PMID: 26095100.
      Citations: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    38. Pinals DA, Appelbaum PS, Bonnie RJ, Fisher CE, Gold LH, Lee LW. Resource Document on Access to Firearms by People with Mental Disorders. Behav Sci Law. 2015 Jun; 33(2-3):186-94. PMID: 26095099.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    39. Pinals DA. Crime, violence, and behavioral health: collaborative community strategies for risk mitigation. CNS Spectr. 2015 Jun; 20(3):241-9. PMID: 25915735.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    40. Kaempf AC, Baxter P, Packer IK, Pinals DA. Gender and the experience of mental health expert witness testimony. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2015 Mar; 43(1):52-9. PMID: 25770280.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    41. Pinals DA. Forensic services, public mental health policy, and financing: charting the course ahead. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2014; 42(1):7-19. PMID: 24618515.
      Citations: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    42. Pinals DA, Frierson RL. The educational mission in forensic publishing. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2014; 42(3):290-6. PMID: 25187281.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    43. McCabe PJ, Christopher PP, Pinals DA, Fisher WH. Predictors of criminal justice involvement in severe mania. J Affect Disord. 2013 Jul; 149(1-3):367-74. PMID: 23477847.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    44. Hartwell SW, Deng X, Fisher W, Fulwiler C, Sambamoorthi U, Johnson C, Pinals DA, Sampson L, Siegfriedt J. Harmonizing databases? Developing a quasi-experimental design to evaluate a public mental health re-entry program. Eval Program Plann. 2012 Nov; 35(4):461-72. PMID: 22436598.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    45. Christopher PP, Arikan R, Pinals DA, Fisher WH, Appelbaum PS. Evaluating psychiatric disability: differences by forensic expertise. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2011; 39(2):183-8. PMID: 21653261.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    46. Pinals DA. Ready or not, here it comes: maintenance of certification. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2011; 39(3):294-6. PMID: 21908743.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    47. Pinals DA. Veterans and the justice system: the next forensic frontier. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2010; 38(2):163-7. PMID: 20542935.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    48. LeBourgeois HW, Pinals DA, Williams V, Appelbaum PS. Hindsight bias among psychiatrists. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2007; 35(1):67-73. PMID: 17389347.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    49. Mossman D, Noffsinger SG, Ash P, Frierson RL, Gerbasi J, Hackett M, Lewis CF, Pinals DA, Scott CL, Sieg KG, Wall BW, Zonana HV. AAPL Practice Guideline for the forensic psychiatric evaluation of competence to stand trial. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2007; 35(4 Suppl):S3-72. PMID: 18083992.
      Citations: 7     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    50. Byatt N, Pinals D, Arikan R. Involuntary hospitalization of medical patients who lack decisional capacity: an unresolved issue. Psychosomatics. 2006 Sep-Oct; 47(5):443-8. PMID: 16959935.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    51. Sattar SP, Pinals DA, Din AU, Appelbaum PS. To commit or not to commit: the psychiatry resident as a variable in involuntary commitment decisions. Acad Psychiatry. 2006 May-Jun; 30(3):191-5. PMID: 16728764.
      Citations: 10     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    52. Pinals DA, Tillbrook CE, Mumley DL. Practical application of the MacArthur competence assessment tool-criminal adjudication (MacCAT-CA) in a public sector forensic setting. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2006; 34(2):179-88. PMID: 16844797.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    53. Pinals DA. Forensic psychiatry fellowship training: developmental stages as an educational framework. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2005; 33(3):317-23. PMID: 16186194.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    54. Vermette HS, Pinals DA, Appelbaum PS. Mental health training for law enforcement professionals. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2005; 33(1):42-6. PMID: 15809237.
      Citations: 8     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    55. Pinals DA, Packer IK, Fisher W, Roy-Bujnowski K. Relationship between race and ethnicity and forensic clinical triage dispositions. Psychiatr Serv. 2004 Aug; 55(8):873-8. PMID: 15292536.
      Citations:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    56. Mester R, Pinals D. Comparing aspects of mental health legislation of Israel and Massachusetts. Isr J Psychiatry Relat Sci. 2004; 41(2):133-9. PMID: 15478459.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    57. Sattar SP, Pinals DA, Gutheil TG. Countering countertransference, II: beyond evaluation to cross-examination. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2004; 32(2):148-54. PMID: 15281415.
      Citations: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    58. Sattar SP, Pinals DA. When taking medications is a sin. Psychiatr Serv. 2002 Feb; 53(2):213-4. PMID: 11821555.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    59. Sattar SP, Pinals DA, Gutheil T. Countering countertransference: a forensic trainee's dilemma. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2002; 30(1):65-9; discussion 70-3. PMID: 11931370.
      Citations: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
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