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Patricia Harrison-Monroe

  • Psychologist IV
Contact
  • (520) 626-6216
  • AHSC, Rm. 2106
  • TUCSON, AZ 85724-5026
  • pharriso@arizona.edu
  • Bio
  • Interests
  • Courses
  • Scholarly Contributions

Biography

Dr. Harrison-Monroe is Clinical Associate Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine.  She has been a faculty member for the past eleven years.   Dr. Harrison-Monroe is the Director of Community Outreach & Clinical Development for the Department of Psychiatry and is responsible for educational initiatives that enhance the understanding of behavioral health and reduce the perception of stigma within underserved communities on a local and statewide basis.  She is further responsible for the development of innovative clinical service lines toward the expansion of behavioral health services and the development of a Center of Behavioral Health Excellence.  She is also Director of the Early Psychosis Intervention Center (EPICenter), where she oversees clinical services provided to individuals in the early stages of psychotic illness and their families.  The EPICenter is currently the only such program of its kind in Arizona. For the past 2 years, Dr. Harrison-Monroe has also provided counseling services within the College of Medicine assisting medical students in managing severe stressors, both personal and academic.    

Dr. Harrison-Monroe maintains a private practice providing individual, couples and family therapy and is a frequently invited guest speaker on topics including multicultural counseling, domestic violence, forensic mental health, child development, as well as public healthcare policy and its effect on at-risk populations.  She is an active member of the community and serves on numerous Boards, including the Pima County Crime Victims Compensation Board, the National Alliance of Mental Illness – Southern Arizona (NAMI-SA), and Interfaith Community Services (ICS).  She is a member of the College of Medicine Faculty Diversity Advisory Committee and serves on various UA College of Medicine and Pima County Department of Health committees to address community health needs.  Dr. Harrison-Monroe has been honored as one of the 25 most influential African-Americans in Arizona.  

Prior to moving to Tucson in 2002 with her husband, she was Assistant Commissioner with the New York City Department of Mental Health.  In that role, she had oversight of behavioral health services in two of New York City’s boroughs. She additionally shared oversight responsibility for publicly funded forensic services in New York City and the development of a comprehensive community re-entry service system for mentally ill individuals discharged from New York City’s 15 correctional facilities. 

Dr. Harrison-Monroe was honored for her service in the aftermath of the World Trade Center disaster.  She holds a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Columbia University, New York.

Degrees

  • Ph.D. Clinical Psychology
    • Columbia University, New York, New York

Work Experience

  • University of Arizona, College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry (2015 - Ongoing)
  • UA-College of Medicine, Tucson (2015 - Ongoing)
  • University of Arizona, College of Medicine (2015 - Ongoing)
  • University of Arizona Medical Center – South Campus (2010 - 2014)
  • UofA, COM Dept of Psychiatry/ University Physicians Healthcare, Inc./ Pima County Juvenile Detention (2005 - 2010)
  • First Correctional Medical, Inc./ Pima County Juvenile Detention (2002 - 2005)
  • New York City Department of Mental Health (1999 - 2002)
  • Correctional Health Services, New York City Health and Hospitals (1996 - 1999)
  • Covenant House New York (1988 - 1993)

Awards

  • Departmental DEI Excellence Award
    • COM-T/ODEI, Summer 2021
  • 2020 Frances McClelland Vision Award
    • UA Frances McClelland Institute, Fall 2020
  • Inclusive Excellence Award
    • UA COM-T Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Summer 2020
  • Herring-Farrell Psychology Interns’ Award
    • Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Spring 2020
    • Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Spring 2017
  • Training Director’s Award
    • Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Spring 2019
    • Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Spring 2017
  • Mental Health /Health Promotion
    • NAACP, Fall 2018
  • Health Promotion Awardee - Making a Powerful Impact through Powerful Service
    • Alpha Kappa Alpha, Spring 2018
  • Outstanding Teacher Award
    • Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Summer 2015
  • Academic Leadership Institute Fellow
    • University of Arizona, Fall 2013

Licensure & Certification

  • Clinical Psychologist, AZ Board of Psychologist Examiners (2002)

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Interests

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Courses

2022-23 Courses

  • Honors Thesis
    HNRS 498H (Spring 2023)
  • Honors Thesis
    HNRS 498H (Fall 2022)

2021-22 Courses

  • Honors Thesis
    PSIO 498H (Spring 2022)
  • Honors Thesis
    PSIO 498H (Fall 2021)

2020-21 Courses

  • Honors Thesis
    PSIO 498H (Spring 2021)
  • Honors Thesis
    PSIO 498H (Fall 2020)

2016-17 Courses

  • Independent Study
    PSY 399 (Fall 2016)

2015-16 Courses

  • Independent Study
    PSY 399 (Spring 2016)

Related Links

UA Course Catalog

Scholarly Contributions

Journals/Publications

  • Fernandez, F., Harrison-Monroe, P., Tubbs, A. S., Perlis, M. L., & Grandner, M. A. (2020). When reason sleeps: attempted suicide during the circadian night. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, 16(10), 1809-1810. doi:10.5664/jcsm.8662
    More info
    Disrupted sleep and nocturnal wakefulness are evidence-based risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. We present a suicide attempt following a rapid increase in nocturnal wakefulness. This case illustrates how nocturnal wakefulness may drive suicide risk through circadian misalignment.
  • Tubbs, A. S., Harrison-Monroe, P., Fernandez, F. X., Perlis, M. L., & Grandner, M. A. (2020). When reason sleeps: attempted suicide during the circadian night. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 16(10), 1809-1810.
    More info
    Disrupted sleep and nocturnal wakefulness are evidence-based risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors. We present a suicide attempt following a rapid increase in nocturnal wakefulness. This case illustrates how nocturnal wakefulness may drive suicide risk through circadian misalignment.
  • Breitborde, N. J., Moe, A. M., Woolverton, C., Harrison-Monroe, P., & Bell, E. K. (2018). An Uncontrolled trial of multi-component care for first-episode psychosis: Effects on social cognition.. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 12(3), 464-468.
  • Harrison-Monroe, P., Woolverton, C., Bell, E., Moe, A., & N.J.K, B. (2017). Social Cognition and the Course of Social Functioning in First-Episode Psychosis. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 6, 1151-1156. doi:10.1111/eip.12432
  • Woolverton, C., Harrison-Monroe, P., Breitborde, N. J., Moe, A. M., & Bell, E. K. (2018). Social cognition and the course of social functioning in first-episode psychosis. Early Intervention in Psychiatry. doi:10.1111/eip.12432
    More info
    Social functioning deficits greatly affect individuals with psychotic disorders resulting in decreased ability to maintain relationships, jobs and pursuit of educational goals. Deficits in social cognition have been hypothesized to be an important contributor to these deficits in social functioning. In particular, 5 domains of social cognition have been suggested to be relevant in the study of psychotic disorders: (1) attributional style, (2) emotion recognition, (3) social knowledge, (4) social perception and (5) theory of mind. Yet, to date, no study has simultaneously investigated the association between these 5 domains of social cognition and social functioning.We investigated the cross-section and longitudinal association between social cognition and social functioning among 71 individuals with first-episode psychosis.We found modest cross-sectional associations between social cognition and social functioning that were often in the unexpected direction (ie, greater social cognition associated with worse social functioning). Social cognition at baseline was not associated with the longitudinal course of social functioning.These unexpected findings fail to align with previous research that has documented a more robust relationship between these 2 constructs, and raise critical questions with regard to the nature of the association between social cognition and social functioning among individuals with first-episode psychosis.
  • Breitborde, N. J., Moe, A. M., Woolverton, C., Harrison-Monroe, P., & Bell, E. K. (2017). An uncontrolled trial of multi-component care for first-episode psychosis: Effects on social cognition. Early intervention in psychiatry.
    More info
    Growing evidence suggests that specialized, multi-component treatment programmes produce improvements in numerous outcomes among individuals with first-episode psychosis. However, these programmes often lack interventions specifically designed to address deficits in social cognition. This raises questions about the effectiveness of such programmes in addressing deficits in social cognition that accompany psychotic disorders. We investigated the effect of participation in a multi-component treatment programme on social cognition among 71 individuals with first-episode psychosis. Participants experienced gains in emotion processing, social knowledge, social perception and theory of mind. However, after controlling for multiple comparisons, these improvements were limited to theory of mind and recognition of social cues in low emotion interactions. Although our findings should be interpreted cautiously, they raise the possibility that individuals participating in multi-component treatment programmes for first-episode psychosis without interventions specifically targeting social cognition may still experience gains in social cognition.
  • Harrison-monroe, P., Gallitano, A. L., Woolverton, C., Maple, A. M., Harrison-monroe, P., Gallitano, A. L., Dawson, S. C., Breitborde, N. J., & Bell, E. K. (2017). Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein predicts response to cognitive remediation among individuals with first-episode psychosis.. Schizophrenia research, 184, 147-149. doi:10.1016/j.schres.2016.12.005
  • Breitborde, N. J., Maple, A. M., Bell, E. K., Dawson, S. C., Woolverton, C., Harrison-Monroe, P., & Gallitano, A. L. (2016). Activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein predicts response to cognitive remediation among individuals with first-episode psychosis. Schizophrenia research.
  • Rhodes, S. M., Patanwala, A. E., Cremer, J. K., Marshburn, E. S., Herman, M., Shirazi, F. M., Harrison-Monroe, P., Wendel, C., Fain, M., Mohler, J., & Sanders, A. B. (2016). Predictors of Prolonged Length of Stay and Adverse Events among Older Adults with Behavioral Health-Related Emergency Department Visits: A Systematic Medical Record Review. The Journal of emergency medicine, 50(1), 143-52.
    More info
    Behavioral health (BH)-related visits to the emergency department (ED) by older adults are increasing. This population has unique challenges to providing quality, timely care.
  • Shirazi, F., Harrison-Monroe, P., Sanders, A. B., Mohler, J., Fain, M. J., Wendel, C. S., Herman, M., Marshburn, E. S., Cremer, J. K., Patanwala, A. E., & Rhodes, S. M. (2016). Predictors of Prolonged Length of Stay and Adverse Events among Older Adults with Behavioral Health−Related Emergency Department Visits: A Systematic Medical Record Review. The Journal of emergency medicine. doi:10.1016/j.jemermed.2015.06.073
    More info
    Behavioral health (BH)-related visits to the emergency department (ED) by older adults are increasing. This population has unique challenges to providing quality, timely care.To characterize older adults with BH-related ED visits and determine risk factors associated with prolonged length of stay (LOS) and adverse events (AEs).We performed a retrospective electronic health record review of all patients ≥65 years who presented to our ED from September 2011 to August 2012 for BH-related complaints. Sociodemographic, clinical, and utilization data were tested for association with LOS and AE.The 213 elder BH patients represented 4% of the 5267 total elder visits during the study period. Median age was 75 (interquartile range [IQR] 70-82); largely white (84.5%), female (58.7%), and non-Hispanic (69.5%). There was a median of two comorbidities (IQR 1-3), and 46.9% were cognitively impaired. Most (71.5%) were being evaluated on an involuntary basis. Median LOS was 16.2 h (IQR 9.7-29.7). Increased LOS was associated with involuntary status (12.4 h, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 6.4-18.4); use of restraints (11.9 h, 95% CI 5.7-18.2); and failed discharge (28.8 h, 95% CI 21.2-36.6). For every 10 additional hours in the ED, the risk for an AEs (p = .002) or potential AEs (p = .01) increased 20%.Elderly ED patients with BH complaints had high rates of cognitive impairment and multiple comorbidities. LOS was prolonged, and there were multiple contributing factors including involuntary status, chemical or physical restraint, and failed discharge. Patients with longer LOS were at increased risk of an AE or potentially AEs.
  • Wahl, R. A., Cotton, S., & Harrison-Monroe, P. (2008). Spirituality, adolescent suicide, and the juvenile justice system. Southern medical journal, 101(7), 711-5.
    More info
    Spirituality is often overlooked as a coping method and resilience factor in the lives of adolescents. An improved understanding of the role of spirituality in the lives of adolescents will help in understanding the choices many teens face during times of personal crisis. Youth entering the juvenile justice system often present with high rates of mental health problems and suicidal ideation.
  • Wahl, R. A., Harrison-Monroe, P., & Cotton, S. (2008). Spirituality, Adolescent Suicide, and the Juvenile Justice System. Southern Medical Journal. doi:10.1097/smj.0b013e31817a7e73
    More info
    Spirituality is often overlooked as a coping method and resilience factor in the lives of adolescents. An improved understanding of the role of spirituality in the lives of adolescents will help in understanding the choices many teens face during times of personal crisis. Youth entering the juvenile justice system often present with high rates of mental health problems and suicidal ideation.Two clinical vignettes of adolescents who exhibited suicidal ideation while in juvenile detention are discussed.An understanding of the role of spirituality for an adolescent in crisis can greatly enhance our ability to provide culturally competent care and offer meaningful support. This becomes increasingly important as the juvenile detention population becomes ever more diverse. Valuable information can be obtained by taking a "clinical spiritual history" which enables clinicians to have a clearer understanding of an adolescent's worldview and provide the necessary therapeutic interventions. Specific questions are suggested as a basis for obtaining this information.

Presentations

  • Harrison-Monroe, P. (2022, April). COVID 19 and Mental Health. Arizona CEAL COVID-19 and Mental Health Town Hall. Tucson, AZ; Florida; MN: Mayo Clinic.
    More info
    Discuss impact of COVID 19 on community mental health and issues of access to appropriate care
  • Harrison-Monroe, P. (2022, February). Social Determinants of Mental Health. Mental Health Care Disparities Forum Panel. Tucson, AZ: COM-T ODEI & Department of Psychiatry.
    More info
    Panel member discussing various aspects of mental healrh care disparities and suggested action steps to impact these disparities
  • Harrison-Monroe, P. (2022, February). Implicit Bias in Interviewing. Neuroscience Garand Rounds. Tucson, AZ: Department of Neurology.
    More info
    Presentation of research on implicit bias and practical implications in the interviewing process in academic medicine
  • Harrison-Monroe, P. (2022, October). Mental Health Stigma in the Black Community. Day of Health. Tucson, AZ: Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church.
    More info
    Community healtth event focused on the African American community in Tucson
  • Harrison-Monroe, P., Begay, T. K., Singh, M. K., & Pace, B. L. (2022, March). Striving for Health Equity in Translational Medicine: Bridging the Gap in Mental Healthcare. Eureka Arizona. Tucson, AZ: Eureka Institute for Translational Medicine and COM-T, University of Arizona.
    More info
    While there are many barriers to translating clinical research outcomes into effective care delivery, a significant challenge is posed by the persistent lack of diversity within academia, among researchers, clinicians, and educators, as well as within research participant engagement and recruitment.  This is particularly evidenced in behavioral health research. This health equity panel will provide a variety of perspectives on addressing inequity in mental healthcare, by discussing the challenges of mental health research design from an inclusive stance, addressing reluctance among underrepresented populations to participate specifically in mental health research, as well as some of the systemic barriers that continue to challenge an equitable approach to translational medicine.
  • Harrison-Monroe, P. (2021, June). Under the Rainbow: LGBTQ+ Individuals & Treatment Disparities . Department of Psychiatry Grand Rounds. Tucson, AZ: Department of Psychiatry, COM-T.
    More info
    Individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning (LGBTQ) experience worse health outcomes than their heterosexual counterparts, with a significant percentage avoiding medical and mental health care for fear of discrimination.  A goal is to gain greater awareness of clinicians' roles in reducing disparities and the importance of practicing cultural humility.                     
  • Harrison-Monroe, P. (2021, March). Beyond Implicit Bias: The White Space in Clinical Practice. Psychiatry Grand Rounds. Tucson, AZ: Department of Psychiatry, COM-T.
    More info
    A discussion of the persistence of White Spaces and the effects of these spaces on BIPOC individuals and their abiliity to receive approppriate and effective mental health care.Despite a significantly growing racially diverse middle class, overwhelmingly white neighborhoods, schools, universities, workplaces, restaurants, and other public spaces remain. These White spaces if not explicitly so, convey to many people of color that they are off-limits, or ought to be occupied only with express or implied permission.  Through a long history of racist beliefs and discriminatory practices, the clinical mental health setting is such a White Space.
  • Harrison-Monroe, P. (2018, April). Violence and Mental Illness. Arizona Public Media - subject matter expert interview. Tucson, AZ: Arizona Public Media.
  • Harrison-Monroe, P. (2018, February). Psychosis 101 and Hearing Voices Training. Early Psychosis Intervention Center. Tucson, AZ: Department of Psychiatry.

Creative Productions

  • Harrison-Monroe, P. (2022. ARiM Student Recruitment & Retention Subcommittee Video. Tucson, AZ: Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, COM-T. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fVU-AEraYqUOdtlCPqAeMHcqorZrLJbw/view?usp=sharing
    More info
    Wrote script for the ARiM Student Recruitment & Retention Subcommittee video of accomplishments, which was performed and filmed by student participants of the committee
  • Harrison-Monroe, P., Perez, G., & Irgens, M. (2020. Early Onset Psychosis Orientation for Educators. YouTube. Tucson, AZ: The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson Department of Psychiatry and Banner Health's Early Psychosis Intervention Center (EPICenter).. https://youtu.be/urvbRuGCubI
  • Harrison-Monroe, P., Perez, G., & Irgens, M. (2020. Psychosis 101 for Teenagers. YouTube. Tucson, AZ: The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson Department of Psychiatry and Banner Health's Early Psychosis Intervention Center (EPICenter).. https://youtu.be/exkGM2Hg3hE
  • Harrison-Monroe, P., Perez, G., & Irgens, M. (2020. Seeing Shadows, Hearing Whispers Psychosis 101 for Parents & Caregivers. YouTube. Tucson, AZ: The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson Department of Psychiatry and Banner Health's Early Psychosis Intervention Center (EPICenter).. https://youtu.be/D48Z9WBamkE
  • Harrison-Monroe, P., & Wiggins, F. (2006. Stress in the Workplace. Tucson-Southern Arizona Black Chamber of Commerce Newsletter. Tucson, AZ: Tucson-Southern Arizona Black Chamber of Commerce.

Others

  • Harrison-Monroe, P. (2016, February). Mental Health Issues in Children & Adolescents. Arizona Public Media.
    More info
    Mental Health Issues in Children & Adolescents. Roundtable participant as subject matter expert. Arizona Public Media Mental Health Awareness Project. Tucson, AZ
  • Harrison-Monroe, P. (2016, February). Mental Health Treatment and Access Disparities for African-Americans. Arizona Public Media – Arizona Illustrated.
    More info
    Arizona Public Media – Arizona Illustrated Science video segment on mental health treatment and access disparities for African-Americans – subject matter expert interview; www.originals.azpm.org
  • Harrison-Monroe, P. (2016, March). “Two kinds of healthcare”. Arizona Daily Star.
    More info
    Innes, S. “Two kinds of healthcare”. Arizona Daily Star. Front page article based on interview at the Banner-UA Whole Health Clinic. http://tucson.com/news/local/new-tucson-clinic-integrates-mental-physical-health-care/article_8447117a-a4bc-5b68-889c-af25936d6bef.html
  • Harrison-Monroe, P. (2016, September). “Coping in the Classroom”. Arizona Public Media – Arizona Illustrated.
    More info
    Arizona Public Media – Arizona Illustrated Children & Education video segment.Subject matter expert interview. https://originals.azpm.org/arizonaillustrated/

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