Paul Michael Ramirez
Chair, Institutional Review Board (IRB)Professor of PsychologyAdjunct Professor, Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
B.A., Lehman College, CUNYM.A., New York University; M.A., City College, CUNYM.Phil., Ph.D., The Graduate Center, CUNY
Postdoctoral Program in Psychopharmacology
paul.ramirez@liu.edu
Description
Dr. Paul Michael Ramirez is Professor and a former Chair of Psychology. He completed his doctoral degree in Psychology at The City College of the City University of New York (CUNY) with a specialization in Clinical Neuropsychology and a subspecialization in Clinical Psychopathology, while on a National Science Foundation Fellowship. He later completed a Postdoctoral Program in Psychopharmacology at Fairleigh Dickerson University. Dr. Ramirez also earned an M.Phil. in Psychology (Concentration in Neuropsychology) from the Graduate School & University Center, CUNY, an M.A. Degree in Psychology from the City College of New York and an M.A. Degree in Reading Disabilities with a postgraduate year studying Learning Disabilities at New York University. His clinical experience includes having served as Treatment Team Leader of the Geriatric and Neuropsychiatry Units and Acting Chief of the Research Unit of an Albert Einstein College of Medicine affiliated hospital in New York City where he also served as Director of Education for AECOM/BPC Psychopharmacology CME. He was also Senior Neuropsychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Ramirez currently serves on the Board of Advisors at the Center for Advanced Studies in India (CASII-Bhuj, Kutch; also called Kachchh in the District of Gujarat) as a clinical trial expert and has been appointed to a second 5-year term on the State Psychology Board by the New York State Board of Regents, currently serving as its Chair. He has also recently completed a term as Vice President of the New York Academy of Traumatic Brain Injury. Dr. Ramirez has made over 200 professional presentations and, over the past 20 years, has provided rater training for pharmaceutical efficacy and side effects scales across CNS indications as well as for the assessment of cognitive disorders throughout North America, South America, Central America, Asia, Eastern and Western Europe, Scandinavia and South Africa. Dr. Ramirez has published papers on schizophrenia, other major mental disorders, health psychology and has been Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator on grants from the National Institute of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) and pharmaceutical industry sponsors. Dr. Ramirez is also listed as a contributing author of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), a co-author of the Informant Questionnaire for the PANSS (IQ-PANSS) and a co-author of the official Japanese translation of the PANSS.
In addition to being Licensed to Practice Psychology in New York, Dr. Ramirez is certified in hypnosis, board certified in clinical biofeedback and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Disability Consultants. He has served on the Board of Directors of the New York Neuropsychology Group, New York Academy of Traumatic Brain Injury, Head Injury Association of New York State and North Carolina Biofeedback Society. He is also a past recipient of the APA’s Visiting Fellowship in fMRI at Harvard Medical School. An interest in crisis intervention led to his appointment as Director of Psychiatric Services for the 1994 and 1999 Woodstock Music Festivals where he and several LIU clinical students spent several sleepless, but clinically productive, nights.
Specialties
Clinical Neuropsychology, Clinical Neuroscience, Psychopathology, Psychopharmacology, Clinical Trials, Biofeedback, Hypnosis, Major Mental Illness, Traumatic Brain Injury, Schizophrenia, Cross-Cultural Issues and Health Psychology, Clinical Education Films
Publications
Cohen, CI, Palekar, N, Barker, J, Ramirez, PM. The relationship between trauma and clinical outcome variables among older adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2012; 20(5):408-15
Tomarken, A, Roth A., Holland, J, Ganz, O, Schachter, S, Kose, G, Ramirez, PM, Allen, R, Nelson, CJ (2012). Examining the role of trauma, personality and meaning in young prolonged grievers. Psychooncology. 2012; 21(7):771-7.
Ibrahim, F, Cohen, CI, Ramirez, PM. Successful aging in older adults with Schizophrenia: Prevalence and associated factors. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2010; 18(10):879-886.
Cohen, CI, Pathak, R, Ramirez PM, Vahia I. Outcome among community dwelling older adults with Schizophrenia: Results using five conceptual models. Community Mental Health Journal. 2009; 45(2): 151-156.
Jerrell JM, Ramirez PM. Changes in neuropsychological functioning following treatment with risperidone, olanzapine, and conventional antipsychotic medications. Hum. Psychopharmacol Clin Exp. 2008; 23: 1–10.
Consedine N, Adjei, B, Ramirez, PM, McKiernan, J. An object lesson: Source determines the relations that trait anxiety, prostate cancer worry, and fear of screening hold with prostate screening frequency. Cancer Epidemiol, Biomarkers & Prev. 2008; 17:1631-1639.
JYPO* and Ramirez PM. “Japanese Translation of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale”. Toronto: Multi-Health Systems. 2008. *Japan Young Psychiatrists Organization
Tomarken A, Holland J, Schachter S, Vanderwerker L, Zuckerman E, Nelson C, Coups E, Ramirez PM, Prigerson H. Factors of complicated grief pre-death in caregivers of cancer patients. Psychooncology. 2008; 17(2):105-11
Bankole A, Cohen CI.; Vahia I, Diwan, S, Palekar N, Reyes P, Sapra M, Ramirez PM. Symptomatic remission in a multiracial urban population of older adults with schizophrenia. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2008; 16(12):966-973.
Abstract:
Vahia, I., Cohen C.I. ,Ramirez, P., Nurhussein M. Adequacy of medical treatment in older persons with schizophrenia. Psychiatric Services. 2008; 59: 853-859.
Cohen C.I. Vahia, I., Reyes, P., Diwan,S., Bankole, A.O., Palekar, N. Kehn, M., Ramirez, P. Schizophrenia in later life: Clinical symptoms and well-being. Psychiatric Services. 2008; 59:232-234.
Bankole AO, Cohen CI, Vahia I, Diwan S, Kehn M, and Ramirez PM. Factors affecting quality of life in a multiracial sample of older persons with schizophrenia. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2007;15: 1015 - 1023.
Diwan S, Cohen CI, Bankole AO, Vahia I, Kehn M, and Ramirez PM. Depression in older adults
with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: Prevalence and associated factors. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry 2007; 15: 991 - 998.
Consedine NS, Horton D, Ungar, T, Joe, AK, Ramirez P, Borrell L. Fear, knowledge, and efficacy beliefs differentially predict the frequency of digital rectal examination versus prostate specific antigen screening in ethnically diverse samples of older men. Amer J of Men’s Health. 2007; 1(1): 29 – 43
Garno JL, Goldberg JF, Ramirez PM, Ritzler BA. Bipolar disorder with comorbid cluster B personality disorder features: Impact on suicidality. J Clin Psychiatry. 2005; 66(3):339-45.
Garno, JL, Goldberg, JF, Ramirez, PM, Ritzler, B. Impact of child abuse on the clinical course of
bipolar disorder. British J. of Psychiatry, 2005; 186: 121-125.
Opler, L.A., Ramirez, P.M., Dominguez, L., Johnson, P. Rethinking Medication Prescribing Practices in Hispanics. Journal of Psychiatric Practice. 2007; 10 (2):1-7.
Cohen, CI, Ramirez, PM, Kehn, M, Magai, C, Eimicke, J., Brenner, R. Assessing quality of life in older persons with schizophrenia. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2003; 11(6): 658-666.
Opler, L.A. & Ramirez, P.M. “The Informant Questionnaire for the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (IQ-PANSS)”. Toronto, Canada: Multi-Health Systems Publications, Inc. 2009.
Opler, L.A. & Ramirez, P.M. The Use of the Positive & Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) in
Clinical Practice. Journal of Practical Psychiatry & Behavioral Health. 1998; 4:157-162.
Opler, L.A., Klahr, D., & Ramirez, P.M. Pharmacologic treatment of delusional disorders. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 1995; 18(2): 379-391.
Klahr, D., Opler, L.A., & Ramirez, P.M. Cognitive deficits in affective disorders and schizophrenia. [Refereed letter] American Journal of Psychiatry. 1995; 152, 2, 303.
Ramirez, P.M. Cultural awareness and mental health. The Hispanic Outlook In Higher Education, 1995; 6, 17-18.
Johnson, P.B., Ramirez, P.M., Opler, L.A., Malgady, R. Relationship between neuroleptic dose and positive and negative symptoms. Psychological Reports. 1994; 74, 481-482.
Opler, L.A., Ramirez, P.M., & Lee, S.K. Serotonergic agents and frontal lobe dysfunction. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 1994; 55, 362-363.
Opler, L.A., Albert, D., & Ramirez, P.M. Psychopharmacological treatment of negative schizophrenic symptoms: A review. Comprehensive Psychiatry. 1994; 35(1): 16-28.
Ramirez, P.M. & Opler, L.A. Hypnosis as a therapeutic tool in the treatment of adult survivors of childhood incest. The International Journal of Professional Hypnosis. 1994; 7, 33-38.
Ramirez, P.M. & Opler, L.A Hypnosis in the treatment of incest: A case study. The International Journal of Professional Hypnosis. 1994; 7, 38-40.
Ramirez, P.M. & Opler, L.A. Neuroleptic effects on positive & negative phenomenology in schizophrenia. [Refereed letter] Schizophrenia Research. 1993; 9(2-3): 109.
Ramirez, P.M., Opler, L.A., Goldberg, E.A., Kay, S.R., & Gerstman, L.J. The relationship of positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia to syndromal homogeneity, affect, and neuropsychological functioning. [Poster Abstract] International Journal of Neuroscience. 1992; 63, 240-241.
Opler, L.A., Ramirez, P.M., Rosenkilde, C.E., & Fiszbein, A. Neurocognitive features of chronic schizophrenic inpatients. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 1991; 179: 638-640.
Ramirez, P.M. & Opler, L.A. Cerebral dysfunction in schizophrenia and its relationship to positive and negative symptoms [Refereed letter]. New England Journal of Medicine. 1990; 323 (8), 546-547.
Merriam, A.E., Kay, S.R., Opler, L.A., & Ramirez, P.M. Information processing deficit in schizophrenia: A frontal lobe sign? Archives of General Psychiatry. 1989; 46, 760.
Ramirez, P.M. [Invited Review of Valett Inventory of Critical Thinking Abilities (VICTA)]. The Reading Teacher. 1987; 41, No. 3, 348-350.
Ramirez, P.M. Brain-behavior relationships relevant to the neuropsychological assessment of learning disorders. Journal of Educational Neuropsychology. 1982; 2, 1-23.
Ramirez, P.M. The case for a neuropsychological approach to learning disorders. Minnesota Reading Association Highlights. 1982; 4: 1.
Chapters:
Ramirez, P.M., Castro-Blanco, D., Kehn, M. The diagnostic family conference. In Richter R.W. & Richter, B.Z. (Eds.), “Alzheimer’s Disease-A Physician's Guide to Practical Management”. Totowa,NJ: Humana Press. 2004.
Opler, L.A., Ramirez, P.M., Mougios, V.M. Outcome assessment in the treatment of serious mental illness. In Ishak, W., Burt T., Sederer, L. (Eds.), “Outcome Measurement in Psychiatry: A Critical Review”. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Press, Inc. 2002.
Ramirez, P.M., DeSantis, D., Opler, L.A. EEG biofeedback training in the treatment of attention deficit disorder in adults: A viable augmentation to traditional medical intervention. In Wasserstein, J., Wolf, L., & LeFever, F.F.(Eds.), “Adult Attention Deficit Disorder: Brain Mechanisms and Life Outcomes”. NY: New York Academy of Sciences. 2001.
Opler. L.A., Frank, D.M., Ramirez, P.M. Psychostimulants in the treatment of adults with psychosis and attention deficit disorder. In Wasserstein, J., Wolf, L., & LeFever, F.F.(Eds.), “Adult Attention Deficit Disorder: Brain Mechanisms and Life Outcomes”. NY: New York Academy of Sciences. 2001.
Gibson, C. & Ramirez, P.M. Managed Care and the Therapeutic Community Psychologist. In LKW Berg, & MG O’Leary (Eds), “Time Effective Treatment: Psychotherapy in The Era of Rationed Care”, GCMH: Albany, NY. 1996.
Exhibits
One-Man Photography Exhibition, Advertising Club of New York, Park Ave and 35th Street, 1975.
Honors/Awards
Elected to Sr. Fellow Status, Biofeedback Certification Institute of America (BCIA)
Recipient, Visiting Fellowship, APA’s Advanced Training Institute in Functional
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), Harvard Medical School
Included in Lexington’s Who’s Who Biographical Registry Millennium Edition
Included in the Dictionary of American Scholars (10th Edition)
Recipient of the City University of N.Y. Ph.D. Alumni Assn’s Achievement Award
Included in Who's Who in Medicine & Healthcare
Included in Who's Who in the East (25th ed.)
Philip Morris Racial Tolerance Award Project Instructor
P.E.W. Faculty Development Award, Long Island University
National Institute of Mental Health Minority Research Investigator Fellowship Award
Elected to Sigma Xi Honorary Research Society in Psychology
Elected to the Psi Chi National Honor Society in Psychology
New York State Head Injury Association Recognition Award
National Science Foundation Fellow
Films
Producer and Director:
18 Educational Videos on The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (Schizophrenia)
20 Educational Videos on The Young Mania Rating Scale (Pediatric & Adult Bipolar Disorder)
10 Educational Videos on The Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (Depression)
20 Educational Videos on The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (Depression)
10 Educational Videos on The Children’s Depression Rating Scale (Pediatric Depression)
03 Educational Videos on The Clinical Depression Scale for Schizophrenia
04 Educational Videos on The Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive
02 Educational Videos on The Mini-Mental State Examination (Cognitive Testing)
05 Educational Video on The Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (EPS)
02 Educational Videos on the Simpson-Angus Scale (Extrapyramidal Side Effects)
02 Educational Videos on The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM
05 Educational Videos on The CY-BOCS (Children’s Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale)
01 Educational Video on The K-SADS-PL (Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime).
Professional Affiliations
American Psychological Association
Diplomate: American Board of Professional Disability Consultants
Senior Fellow, Association for Applied Psychophysiology & Biofeedback
Member, Common Rules and Standards Task Force, Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards
Board Certified, Biofeedback Certification Institute
Member, Board of Advisors, The Center for Advanced Study in India (Clinical Trials Consultant)
Hispanic Neuropsychological Society
International Neuropsychological Society
Chair, New York State Board for Psychology (NYS Education Dept)
New York Academy of Traumatic Brain Injury (2005-2011)
New York State Psychological Association (NYSPA)
NYSPA Neuropsychology Division (2000-2012)
Board of Directors, North Carolina Biofeedback Society (2006-2009)
