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Pliszka, Steven R M.D

School of Medicine
Psychiatry
(210) 567-5475
pliszka@uthscsa.edu

Steven R. Pliszka, M.D. has been a faculty member at UTHSCSA since 1986, joining the Department of Psychiatry after completing his general and child adolescent psychiatry residencies at UTHSCSA. Throughout his career he has been involved in a wide range of administrative, research, clinical and educational activities. As Chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry since 1995 he has built up a diverse faculty with interests in both biological and psychosocial interventions. He has served as Vice Chair of Psychiatry since 2005, being responsible for the day-to-day implantation of Department policies and the Departments clinical services.

His research has focused on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD) and disorder than common co-occur with it. Early in his career he researched the effect of anxiety on ADHD and studied the role of neurotransmitters in both disorders. He has been involved with clinical trials of the most medications used for ADHD currently uses functional magnetic imaging to examine impulse and emotional control in ADHD.

Dr. Pliszka teaches the psychopharmacology of child and adolescent disorders to residents and medical students, as well as neuroscience. He is the author a Neuroscience for the Mental Health Clinician (Guilford Press) which is used by many department to teach the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders. He has been very active in the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, authoring the academys practice parameters for the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD.

Dr. Pliszka has an active clinical practice, caring for many children and adolescents with ADHD and other psychiatric disorders; he also serves as the attending psychiatrists for two residential facilities for children with severe behavioral and emotional disorders.

Appointments Education Expertise Teaching Publications Grants

9/2003 - Present

Professor

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Psychiatry, San Antonio, TX

Journal Article

Olvera RL, Fonseca M, Caetano SC, Hatch JP, Hunter K, Nicoletti M, Pliszka SR, Cloninger CR, Soares JC. Assessment of personality dimensions in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder using the Junior Temperament and Character Inventory J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2009 Feb;19(1):13-21.

Semrud-Clikeman M, Pliszka S, Liotti M, Pliszka SR. Executive functioning in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: combined type with and without a stimulant medication history Neuropsychology 2008 May;22(3):329-340.

Biederman J, Pliszka SR. Modafinil improves symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder across subtypes in children and adolescents J Pediatr 2008 Mar;152(3):394-399.

Caetano SC, Fonseca M, Hatch JP, Olvera RL, Nicoletti M, Hunter K, Lafer B, Pliszka SR, Soares JC. Medial temporal lobe abnormalities in pediatric unipolar depression Neurosci Lett 2007 Nov;427(3):142-147.

Liotti M, Pliszka SR, Perez R 3rd, Luus B, Glahn DC, Semrud-Clikeman M. Electrophysiological correlates of response inhibition in children and adolescents with ADHD: influence of gender, age, and previous treatment history Psychophysiology 2007 Nov;44(6):936-948.

Olvera RL, Caetano SC, Fonseca M, Nicoletti M, Stanley JA, Chen HH, Hatch JP, Hunter K, Pliszka SR, Soares JC. Low levels of N-acetyl aspartate in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of pediatric bipolar patients J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2007 Aug;17(4):461-474.

Liotti M, Pliszka SR, Perez R, Luus B, Glahn D, Semrud-Clikeman M. Electrophysiological correlates of response inhibition in children and adolescents with ADHD: Influence of gender, age, and previous treatment history Psychophysiology 2007 Jul;.

Pliszka S, Pliszka SR. Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2007 Jul;46(7):894-921.

Pliszka SR, Liotti M, Bailey BY, Perez R, Glahn D, Semrud-Clikeman M. Electrophysiological effects of stimulant treatment on inhibitory control in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2007 Jun;17(3):356-366.

Pliszka SR, Liotti M, Bailey BY, Perez R 3rd, Glahn DC, Semrud-Clikeman M. Electrophysicological effects of stimulant treatment on inhibitory control in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2007 Jun;17(3):356-366.

Bearden CE, Glahn DC, Caetano S, Olvera RL, Fonseca M, Najt P, Hunter K, Pliszka SR, Soares JC. Evidence for disruption in prefrontal cortical functions in juvenile bipolar disorder Bipolar Disord 2007 Jun;9 Sup:145-159.

Pliszka SR. Pharmacologic treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: efficacy, safety and mechanisms of action Neuropsychol Rev 2007 Mar;17(1):61-72.

Hughes CW, Emslie GJ, Crismon ML, Posner K, Birmaher B, Ryan N, Jensen P, Curry J, Vitello B, Lopez M, Shon S, Pliszka SR, Trivedi M. Texas Children''s Medication Algorithm Project: Update From Texas Consensus Conference Panel on Medication Treatment of Childhood Major Depressive Disorder Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 2007 Jan;46(6):667-686.

Semrud-Clikeman M, Pliszka SR, Lancaster J, Liotti M. Volumetric MRI differences in treatment-nave vs chronically treated children with ADHD Neurology 2006 Sep;67(6):1023-1027.

Pliszka SR, Glahn DC, Semrud-Clikeman M, Franklin C, Perez Iii R, Xiong J, Liotti M. Neuroimaging of inhibitory control areas in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who were treatment naive or in long-term treatment Am J Psychiatry 2006 Jun;163(6):1052-1060.

Pliszka SR, Crismon ML, Hughes CW, Corners CK, Emslie GJ, Jensen PS, McCracken JT, Swanson JM, Lopez M. The Texas Children''s Medication Algorithm Project: revision of the algorithm for pharmacotherapy of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2006 Jun;45(6):642-657.

Pliszka SR, Matthews TL, Braslow KJ, Watson MA. Comparative effects of methylphenidate and mixed salts amphetamine on height and weight in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2006 May;45(5):520-526.

Spencer TJ, Abikoff HB, Connor DF, Biederman J, Pliszka SR, Boellner S, Read SC, Pratt R. Efficacy and safety of mixed amphetamine salts extended release (adderall XR) in the management of oppositional defiant disorder with or without comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in school-aged children and adolescents: A 4-week, multicen Clin Ther 2006 Mar;28(3):402-418.

Glahn DC, Bearden C.E., Caetano S.C., Fonseca, M, Najt P, Hunter K, Pliszka SR, Olvera RL, Soares JC. Declarative memory impairment in pediatric bipolar disorder Bipolar Disorders 2005 Dec;7(6):546-554.

Caetano SC, Fonseca M, Olvera RL, Nicoletti M, Hatch JP, Stanley JA, Hunter K, Lafer B, Pliszka SR, Soares JC. Proton spectroscopy study of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in pediatric depressed patients Neurosci Lett 2005 Aug;384(3):321-326.

Pliszka SR. The neuropsychopharmacology of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder Biol Psychiatry 2005 Jun;57(11):1385-1390.

Liotti M, Pliszka SR, Perez R, Kothmann D, Woldorff MG. Abnormal brain activity related to performance monitoring and error detection in children with ADHD Cortex 2005 Jun;41(3):377-388.

Olvera RL, Semrud-Clikeman M, Pliszka SR, Odonnell L. Neuropsychological deficits in adolescents with conduct disorder and comorbid bipolar disorder: a pilot study Bipolar Disord 2005 Feb;7(1):57-67.

Book/Monograph

Pliszka S. ADHD and Comorbid Disorders: Psychosocial and Psychopharmacological Interventions New York: Guilford Press; 2009.

Book Chapter

Wagner KD, Pliszka SR. Treatment of child and adolescent disorders. In: Schatzberg AF, Nemeroff CB. Textbook of Psychopharmacology. Washington DC: American Psychiatric Press; 2009. p. 1309-1372.

Pliszka SR, Glahn DC. Neuroimaging of treatment effects in developmental neuropsychiatric disorders. In: Rumsey RM, Ernst E. Neuroimaging in Developmental Clinical Neuroscience. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2009. p. 344-364.

Abstract

Olvera RL, Pliszka SR, Nicoletti M, Stanley JA, Soares JC. Decreased N-Acetyl-Aspartate in the Hippocampus of Juvenile Offenders with Bipolar Disorder: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; 2008 Oct. (Scientific Proceedings of the 55th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry).

Hahn T, Frazier TW, Hooper S, Hatch JP, Kopecek, M, Olvera RL, Zunta-Soares G, Pliszka SR, Youngstrom EA, Soares JC. An Investigation of Pediatric Bipolar Patients with and without ADHD Using Baddeley''s Multi-Component Model of Working Memory: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; 2008 Oct. (Scientific Proceedings of the 55th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry).

Joseph, MF, Youngstrom, EA, Caetano, S, Hatch JP, Olvera RL, Walss-Bass C, Nicoletti, M, Pliszka SR, Escamilla MA, Soares, JC. Possible Interaction Among BDNF Genotype, Family Environment, and Brain N-Acetyl-Aspartate Levels in Pediatric Bipolar Disorder: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; 2008 Oct. (Scientific Proceedings of the 55th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry).

Olvera RL, Glahn DC, Pliszka SR, ODonnell L, Bearden, CE, Dierske, NA, Soares JC. Decreased Prefrontal Gray Matter Density in Bipolar Patients with Comorbid Conduct Disorder; 2008 Apr. (Biological Psychiatry; vol. 63, no. 7s).

Caetano, S.C., Olvera RL, Stanley, J., Hatch JP, Nicoletti, M, Pliszka SR, Soares, J.C. Abnormal Metabolism in the Cingulate of Child and Adolescent Offspring of Bipolar Patients: An in vivo H-MRS Study; 2008 Apr. (Biological Psychiatry; vol. 63, no. 7s).

Tinney, Q., Hatch JP, Olvera RL, Zunta-Soares, G., Frazier, T., Youngstrom, E., Pliszka SR, Soares, J.C. Clinical Characteristics across Pesiatric Bipolar Disorder Subtypes; 2008 Apr. (Biological Psychiatry; vol. 63, no. 7s).

Kopecek, M, Quinones MP, Olvera RL, Hatch JP, Pliszka SR, Soares JC. A Critical Role of Viral Infections in the Development of Symptoms and Suicide Behavior in Bipolar Disorder; 2008 Apr. (Biological Psychiatry; vol. 63, no. 7s).

Quinones MP, Ahmadi Sara, Ahuja SS, Torres V, Nery FG, Olvera RL, Hatch JP, Pliszka SR, Soares JC. Differential involvement of inflammatory markers in adult and pediatric bipolar disorder; 2007 Dec. (Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology; vol. 17, no. 6).

Olvera RL, Pliszka SR, Dierschke, Nicole A., Stanley, Jeffrey A., Nicoletti, Mark A., Hatch JP, Li, John, Soares, Jair C. A Proton Magnetic Spectroscopy Study of Juvenile Offenders with Mood and Impulse- Control Disorders; 2007 Apr. (Biological Psychiatry; vol. 61, no. 8S).

Quinones MP, Ahmadi, S, Nery, FG., Estrada, C,Olvera RL, Hatch JP, Vipraio, G, Pliszka SR, Soares JC. Plasma TNF-RII as a New Specfic Biomarker for the Pathogenesis of Bipolar Disorder; 2007 Apr. (Biological Psychiatry; vol. 61, no. 8S).

Jain S, Belardinelli, C, Nicoletti, M, Caetano, S,Olvera RL,Hatch JP, Mezzomo, K, Fonseca, M, Zunta, G, Pliszka SR, Soares JC. Effects of Family History of Mood Disorders and Bipolar Disorder (BPD) Diagnosis on Left Subgenual Prefrontal Cortex (LSGFPC) Volumes in a Pediatric Sample; 2007 Apr. (Biological Psychiatry; vol. 61, no. 8S).

Quinones MP, Nery F, Ahmadi S, Torres V, Estrada C,Olvera RL, Hatch JP, Vipraio G, Pliszka SR, Soares JC. Infectious Agents and the Pathogenesis of Pediatric and Adult Mood Disorders; 2007 Apr. (Biological Psychiatry; vol. 61, no. 8S).

Quinones MP, Nery FG, Ahmadi S, Torres V, Estrada C,Olvera RL, Hatch JP, Vipraio G, Pliszka SR, Soares JC. Plasma Level of CC Chemokine Ligand (CCL)- 22 and CCL5 as Biomarkers in Adult or Pediatric Mood Disorders; 2007 Apr. (Biological Psychiatry; vol. 61, no. 8S).

Mezzomo KM, Olvera RL,Caetano SC., Fonseca M, Belardinelli C, Zunta G, HunterK, Hatch JP, Pliszka SR, Soares JC. Family Environment in Pediatric Unipolar Depression; 2007 Apr. (Biological Psychiatry; vol. 61, no. 8S).

Quinones MP, Torres, V, Nery, FG., Ahmadi, S, Estrada, C, Olvera RL, Hatch JP, Vipraio, G, Pliszka SR, Soares JC. Differential Involvement of Inflammatory Markers in Adult and Pediatric Bipolar Disorder; 2007 Apr. (Biological Psychiatry; vol. 61, no. 8S).

Quinones MP, Estrada C, Ahmadi S, Nery FG, Torres V,Olvera RL,Hatch JP, Vipraio G, Pliszka SR, Escamilla MA, Walss-Bass C, Soares JC. Reduction in the Availability of the Neurotrophic Factor Insulin Growth Factor (IGF)- 1, but not Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), in individuals with Mood Disorders may Result from Synergistic Effects of Disease-Specific Processes and Normal Age; 2007 Apr. (Biological Psychiatry; vol. 61, no. 8S).

Soares JC, Bearden, Carrie E., Glahn DC, Caetano, Sheila C., Fonseca, Manoela, Olvera RL, Najt, Pablo, Hunter, Kristina, Pliszka SR. Deficits in Working Memory and Exective Function in Juvenile Bipolar Disorder; 2006 Apr. (Biological Psychiatry; vol. 59, no. 8S).

Soares JC, Olvera RL, Caetano, Sheila C., Fonseca, Manoela, Nicoletti, Mark, Stanley, Jeffrey A., Chen, Hua-Hsuan, Hatch P, Hunter, Kristina, Pliszka SR. N-Acetyl Aspartate Reduction in the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex in Pediatric Bipolar Patients; 2006 Apr. (Biological Psychiatry; vol. 59, no. 8S).

Soares JC, Belardinelli, Cecilia, Fonseca, Manoela, Caetano, Sheila, Olvera RL, Nicoletti, Mark, Hatch P, Pliszka SR. Functioning of Families with Juvenile Bipolar Disorder; 2006 Apr. (Biological Psychiatry; vol. 59, no. 8S).

Pliszka SR, Matthews TL, Braslow, K, Watson, M, Olvera RL. Comparative effects of methylphenidate and amphetamine on long term growth; 2004 Oct. (Scientific Proceedings of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Annual Meeting).

Olvera RL, Glahn DC, Caetano Sheila C., Bearden Carrie E., Najt P., Hunter K., Bowden CL, Pliszka SR, Soares JC. Neuropsychological Deficits in Patients with Juvenile Onset Bipolar Disorder: Presented at the Annual Congress of the Society of Biological Psychiatry; 2004 Apr. (Biological Psychiatry; vol. 55, no. 8s).

Review Article

Caetano SC, Olvera RL, Glahn DC, Fonseca M, Pliszka SR, Soares JC. Fronto-limbic brain abnormalities in juvenile onset bipolar disorder Biological Psychiatry 2005 Oct;58(7):525-531.

Not Specified

Bledsoe J, Semrud-Clikeman M, Pliszka SR. A magnetic resonance imaging study of the cerebellar vermis in chronically treated and treatment-nave children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder combined type Biol Psychiatry 2009 Apr;65(7):620-624.

Hughes CW, Emslie GJ, Crismon ML, Posner K, Birmaher B, Ryan N, Jensen P, Curry J, Vitiello B, Lopez M, Shon SP, Pliszka SR, Trivedi MH. Texas Children''s Medication Algorithm Project: update from Texas Consensus Conference Panel on Medication Treatment of Childhood Major Depressive Disorder J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2007 Jun;46(6):667-686.

Kratochvil CJ, Lake M, Pliszka SR, Walkup JT. Pharmacological management of treatment-induced insomnia in ADHD J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2005 May;44(5):499-501.

Federal
Funding Agency	National Institute of Mental Health
Title	Stepped Pharmacotherapy for Aggressive Youth with ADHD
Status	Active
Period	5/2008 - 4/2013
Role	Co-Investigator
Grant Detail	In this 3-site trial (Overall PI: Blader), children with ADHD and aggression are first treated with stimulants and behavioral therapy. Non-responders to this initial treatment are randomized to receive risperidone, valproate or placebo for a 6-week trial. Our main hypothesis is that the two active drug conditions will be superior to placebo in reducing aggressive behaviors.
Funding Agency	NIMH
Title	MRI Study of Impulse and Mood Disorders in Youth Offenders
Status	Active
Period	4/2004 - 3/2009
Role	Co-Investigator
Grant Detail	This study explores the differences between conduct disordered adolescents and those who have conduct disorder and comorbid bipolar disorder, comorbid Intermittent Explosive Disorder and healthy controls using a neuropsychological test battery as well as magnetic resonance imaging. (MRI/MRS). We will look at differences on test performance, neuro-anatomy and neuronal biochemistry.
Private
Funding Agency	Meadows Foundation
Title	Semp Russ Research Professorship in Child Psychiatry
Status	Active
Period	9/2000 - Present
Role	Principal Investigator
Grant Detail	Funds pilot research projects and supports ongoing child psychiatry research at UTHSCSA.
Funding Agency	Friends for Psychiatric Research
Title	Development of a hand held device for reliably reporting psychiatric symptoms in mentally retarded patients
Status	Active
Period	7/2004 - Present
Role	Principal Investigator
Grant Detail
Funding Agency	Baptist Health Foundation
Title	Early Interventions for Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia in at Risk Youth
Status	Active
Period	9/2008 - 8/2010
Role	Consultant
Grant Detail	This award (PI: Escamilla) will pilot early identification and treatment of bipolar disorders and schizophrenia in youth at high familial risk within an underserved population.
Funding Agency	Eli Lilly
Title	Assessing ADHD Efficacy with Atomoxetine hydrochloride in children and adolescents with ADHD and Dyslexia
Status	Active
Period	10/2007 - 3/2010
Role	Co-Investigator
Grant Detail	This clinical trial (PI: O''Donnell) will study the efficacy of atomoxetine in children and adolescents with ADHD and Dyslexia.
Funding Agency	McNeil PPC, Inc.
Title	An Open-Label, Dose-Titration, Long-Term Safety Study to Evaluate CONCERTA at Doses of 36mg, 54mg, 72mg, 90mg, and 108mg per day in Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Status	Active
Period	6/2006 - 5/2007
Role	Principal Investigator
Grant Detail
State
Funding Agency	Texas Department of State Services
Title	SUPPORT
Status	Active
Period	9/2009 - 3/2010
Role	Principal Investigator
Grant Detail	Project evaluation for a behavioral intervention regimen for children receiving primary medical care within a pediatric clinic.
Funding Agency	Texas Department of State Health Services
Title	Services Uniting Pediatrics and Psychiatry Outreaching to Texas
Status	Active
Period	1/2008 - 8/2009
Role	Principal Investigator
Grant Detail	Lack of identification and treatment of childhood and adolescence behavioral and emotional problems is a major problem in pediatric primary care, particularly for low income children served by the Medicaid program. A shortage of child and adolescent mental health professionals, difficulties in getting reimbursement for mental health services in primary care and resistance from families to seek mental health care all contribute to these problems. Services Uniting Pediatrics and Psychiatry Outreaching to Texas will seek to address this lack of mental health services by placing Licensed Practitioners of the Health Arts (LPHA) in pediatric practices to carry out mental health assessments and interventions. Child and adolescent psychiatrists will consult both with the LPHA and the pediatrician to treat the child or adolescent in an integrated fashion.

Year	Degree	Discipline	Institution
1986	Residency	Child & Adolescent Psychiatry	University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio , TX
1986	Residency	General Psychiatry	University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio , TX
1981	MD	Medicine	University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio San Antonio , TX
1977	BA	Psychology	University of Texas at Austin Austin , TX

Date	Description	Institution	# Students
7/2003 - Present	Individual Instruction	UTHSCSA/Meadowland Residential Treatment Center

7/1995 - Present	Child & Adolescent Psychopharmacology		3 students

6/1995 - Present	Child & Adolescent Psychiatry	The University of Texas Health Science Center
Supervise and coordinate MS IVs on Child Psychiatry Selective
9/1990 - Present	Psychopathology	The University of Texas Health Science Center	200 students
Lecture of Child and Adolescent Psychopathology to MS IIs
7/1989 - Present	Neurobiology and Advanced Psychopharmacology		3 students
Teach neurobiology relevant to psychiatric disorders to child and adolescent psychiatry residents
7/1986 - Present	Child & Adolescent Psychopathology		6 students
Discuss the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD, tic disorders, learning disabilities and brain injury related to psychiatric disorders to child & adolescent psychiatry residents
7/1986 - Present	Child & General Psychiatry Resident Supervision	Child Guidance Center at San Antonio	4 students
Supervise 2 General Psychiatry PG III residents and one Child and Adolescent Psychiatry resident one half day a week in a child psychiatry outpatient mental health setting.
7/1986 - Present	Psychiatry Clerkship	The University of Texas Health Science Center	200 students
Lecture to third year psychiatry clerks on psychiatric interview of the child and adolescent

Faculty

FAQ

Suggestions

Pliszka, Steven R M.D

1. Neuroimaging of ADHD

2. Pediatric Psychopharmacology

3. Electronic Medical Records

4. Author of clinical textbooks

Journal Article

Book/Monograph

Book Chapter

Abstract

Review Article

Not Specified

Federal

Private

State