Maria Gabriela Garcia Vassallo
Associate Professor of PsychiatryCards
About
Research
Publications
2026
Building epigenetic risk scores of opioid use disorder: Insights from human postmortem brain data
Heredia-Negrón F, Nagamatsu S, Carrasquillo-Carrion K, Hurd Y, Rompala G, Melín K, Garcia-Vassallo G, Roche-Lima A, Montalvo-Ortiz J. Building epigenetic risk scores of opioid use disorder: Insights from human postmortem brain data. Translational Psychiatry 2026, 16: 62. PMID: 41513637, PMCID: PMC12873295, DOI: 10.1038/s41398-025-03792-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGene interaction networksPostmortem brain dataEpigenetic landscapeGene candidatesDNA methylationInteraction networkEpigenetic mechanismsDNA hydroxymethylationFunctional pathwaysSignaling pathwayWnt signalingEmbryonic developmentMolecular underpinningsGenesFunctional analysisFunctional significanceOpioid use disorderOpioid signaling pathwaysUse disorderDNAPathwayRisk scoreBrain dataMethylationOUD
2025
Methadone for Opioid Use Disorder in the Fentanyl Era: Navigating Challenges and Evolving Strategies- a Narrative Review
Osagie E, Horton J, Lawrence D, Hermes G, Garcia-Vassallo G. Methadone for Opioid Use Disorder in the Fentanyl Era: Navigating Challenges and Evolving Strategies- a Narrative Review. Current Addiction Reports 2025, 12: 44. DOI: 10.1007/s40429-025-00655-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchOpioid use disorderDosing flexibilityEffective treatmentMethadone treatmentCornerstone of treatmentOpioid use disorder treatmentMethadone initiationMethadone doseDosing daysDosing considerationsDose selectionTreatment outcomesUse disorderWithdrawal managementPresence of fentanylOpioidRate of titrationDoseMethadoneFentanylSummaryThis reviewSynthetic opioidsDrug overdose deathsInitial careClinical decisions
2024
National Addiction Workshop: A Virtual Adaptation to Support Competency Development in Opioid Use Disorder Management
Garcia-Vassallo G, Quinn N, Moore B, Chaudhry S, Moore D, Sorenson S, Braddock S, Edens E. National Addiction Workshop: A Virtual Adaptation to Support Competency Development in Opioid Use Disorder Management. Substance Use & Addiction Journal 2024, 46: 127-133. PMID: 39297293, DOI: 10.1177/29767342241273423.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSubstance use disordersHealthcare staffTraining healthcare staffSpecialty care teamsMental health settingsSmall-group case discussionsManagement of substance use disordersLong-term opioid therapyOpioid use disorder managementSubstance use disorder treatmentPost-workshop surveySkill-based trainingConditions amenable to treatmentCollaborative careInterprofessional workshopSkill-building exercisesPrimary careCare teamHealth settingsOverall confidence scorePatient panelHealthcare settingsStaff preparednessOpioid use disorderTeam simulationHow Should the Use of Opioids Be Regulated to Motivate Better Clinical Practice?
Edens E, Garcia Vassallo G, Heimer R. How Should the Use of Opioids Be Regulated to Motivate Better Clinical Practice? The AMA Journal Of Ethic 2024, 26: e551-561. PMID: 38958424, DOI: 10.1001/amajethics.2024.551.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTreat opioid use disorderOpioid use disorderPrescribed long-term opioid therapyLong-term opioid therapyOpioid prescribing policiesOpioid therapyPrescribed opioidsOpioid prescribingUse disorderOpioidClinical practicePainPrescribing policiesDiagnostic categoriesClinical frameworkPrescribingPolitical reasonsTherapy
2021
Management of Adolescents With OUD: A Simulation Case for Subspecialty Trainees in Addiction Medicine and Addiction Psychiatry
Garcia-Vassallo G, Edens EL, Heward B, Auerbach MA, Wong AH, Camenga D. Management of Adolescents With OUD: A Simulation Case for Subspecialty Trainees in Addiction Medicine and Addiction Psychiatry. MedEdPORTAL 2021, 17: 11147. PMID: 33889724, PMCID: PMC8056775, DOI: 10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11147.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOpioid use disorderSimulation-based educational interventionClinical Opiate Withdrawal ScaleSymptoms of opioid withdrawalOpiate Withdrawal ScaleEducational interventionWithdrawal ScaleUse disorderOpioid withdrawalTreating adolescentsConfidence surveyTrainee confidenceAddiction medicineMedical treatment optionsAssess symptomsMedication treatment optionsQuality health careManagement of adolescentsParticipants' reportsEvaluating adolescentsMedical education curriculumAdolescentsIncrease trainees' confidenceAddictionTreatment options
2020
Brief Report: Rates of Fentanyl Use Among Psychiatric Emergency Room Patients
Elmarasi M, Garcia‐Vassallo G, Campbell S, Fuehrlein B. Brief Report: Rates of Fentanyl Use Among Psychiatric Emergency Room Patients. American Journal On Addictions 2020, 30: 92-95. PMID: 32779217, DOI: 10.1111/ajad.13087.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsUrine drug screensPsychiatric emergency roomFentanyl useEmergency roomPatient presentationUrine drug screening resultsDrug screensPsychiatric emergency room patientsPercent of patientsEmergency room patientsOpioid overdose deathsDrug screening resultsHarm reduction strategiesRates of fentanylVA ConnecticutRoom patientsRisk of fentanylBasic demographic informationOverdose deathsFentanylPatientsPsychiatric diagnosisOpioidsIllicit substancesEmergency population
News
News
- October 04, 2024Source: The American Journal on Addictions
Navigating New Norms: Addiction Specialists' Perspectives on Opioid Use Disorder Treatments and Policy Challenges in the Fentanyl Era
- July 05, 2024
Weleff Edits New Issue of AMA Journal of Ethics
- June 10, 2024
Med Ed Day Poster Winners
- February 01, 2024Source: Psychiatric Services
Adopting a Novel Approach to Prevent and Address Patient Mistreatment of Staff in a Community Mental Health Center