Hal Wortzel, MD

Professor, Psychiatry-Neuropsychiatry

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Medical School
  • MD, New York University School of Medicine (2001)
Undergraduate School
  • BA, Amherst College (MA) (1996)
Internship
  • Lenox Hill Hospital Program (2002)
Residency
  • University of Colorado, Psychiatry (2005)
Fellowships
  • University of Colorado, Forensic Psychiatry (2006)
  • University of Colorado, Behavioral Neurology (2008)
Languages
English
Department
Psychiatry-Neuropsychiatry

Recognitions

  • President, Colorado Psychiatric Society, CPS (2013)
  • Michael K. Cooper Professorship in Neurocognitive Disease, University of Colorado SOM - Dept. of Psychiatry (2012)
  • Fellow, American Neuropsychiatry Association (2014)
  • Distinguished Fellow, American Psychiatric Association (2018)
  • Outstanding Achievement Award, Colorado Psychiatric Society (2018)
  • Vice President, American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law (2020)

Publications

  • Pressman PS, Molden J, Wortzel HS, Plys E, Woodcock JH, Filley CM, Arciniegas DB. Psychiatric Screening Measures in Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2024 Spring;36(2):160-165. PubMed PMID: 37981780
  • Wortzel HS. Advanced Neuroimaging and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation, Revisited. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2022 Sep;50(3):336-341. PubMed PMID: 37824294
  • Brawman-Mintzer O, Tang XC, Bizien M, Harvey PD, Horner MD, Arciniegas DB, Raskind M, Johnson-Greene L, Martineau RJ, Hamner M, Rodriguez-Suarez M, Jorge RE, McGarity S, Wortzel HS, Wei Y, Sindowski T, Mintzer J, Kindy AZ, Donovan K, Reda D. Rivastigmine Transdermal Patch Treatment for Moderate to Severe Cognitive Impairment in Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury (RiVET Study): A Randomized Clinical Trial. J Neurotrauma. 2021 Jul 15;38(14):1943-1952. PubMed PMID: 33514274
  • Wortzel HS, Borges LM, McGarity S, Nazem S, Barnes SM, Bahraini NH, Clark K, Matarazzo BB. Therapeutic Risk Management for Violence: Augmenting Clinical Risk Assessment With Structured Instruments. J Psychiatr Pract. 2020 Sep;26(5):405-410. PubMed PMID: 32936587
  • Wortzel HS, Barnes SM, Gerard G, Clark K, Borges LM, McGarity S, Nazem S, Bahraini NH, Matarazzo BB. Therapeutic Risk Management for Violence: Stratifying Risk and Characterizing Violence. J Psychiatr Pract. 2020 Nov;26(6):503-509. PubMed PMID: 33275387
  • Wortzel HS, Borges LM, Barnes SM, Nazem S, McGarity S, Clark K, Bahraini NH, Matarazzo BB. Therapeutic Risk Management for Violence: Clinical Risk Assessment. J Psychiatr Pract. 2020 Jul;26(4):313-319. PubMed PMID: 32692128
  • Matarazzo BB, Brenner LA, Wortzel HS, Bahraini NH. Balancing Scientific Evidence, Clinical Expertise, and Patient Preferences: VHA's Suicide Risk Identification Strategy. Psychiatr Serv. 2020 Dec 1;71(12):1303-1305. PubMed PMID: 32781925
  • Belanger HG, Wortzel HS, Vanderploeg RD, Cooper DB. A model for intervening with veterans and service members who are concerned about developing Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Clin Neuropsychol. 2020 Aug;34(6):1105-1123. PubMed PMID: 31847694
  • Wortzel HS, Barnes SM, Cannizzaro KA, Villarreal EJ, Allen MH, Matarazzo BB. Welfare Checks for Suicide Risk Management: Risks and Benefits. J Psychiatr Pract. 2019 Sep;25(5):379-382. PubMed PMID: 31505523
  • Wortzel HS, Barnes SM, Cannizzaro KA, Villarreal EJ, Matarazzo BB, Allen MH. Welfare Checks and Therapeutic Risk Management. J Psychiatr Pract. 2019 Nov;25(6):470-474. PubMed PMID: 31821224
  • Stanley IH, Simpson S, Wortzel HS, Joiner TE. Documenting suicide risk assessments and proportionate clinical actions to improve patient safety and mitigate legal risk. Behav Sci Law. 2019 May;37(3):304-312. PubMed PMID: 31063254
  • Murray H, Wortzel HS. Psychiatric Advance Directives: Origins, Benefits, Challenges, and Future Directions. J Psychiatr Pract. 2019 Jul;25(4):303-307. PubMed PMID: 31291211
  • Borges LM, Nazem S, Matarazzo BB, Barnes SM, Wortzel HS. Therapeutic Risk Management: Chain Analysis of Suicidal Ideation and Behavior. J Psychiatr Pract. 2019 Jan;25(1):46-53. PubMed PMID: 30633732
  • Wortzel HS, Nazem S, Bahraini NH, Matarazzo BB, Silverman MM. The Potential Perils of a Suicide-specific Diagnosis. J Psychiatr Pract. 2018 Sep;24(5):354-358. PubMed PMID: 30427823
  • Holliday R, Monteith LL, Wortzel HS. Understanding, Assessing, and Conceptualizing Suicide Risk Among Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Fed Pract. 2018 Apr;35(4):24-27. PubMed PMID: 30766350
  • Gutierrez PM, Wortzel HS, Forster JE, Leitner RA, Hostetter TA, Brenner LA. Blister Packaging Medication Increases Treatment Adherence in Psychiatric Patients. J Psychiatr Pract. 2017 Sep;23(5):320-327. PubMed PMID: 28961661
  • Wortzel HS, Nazem S, Bahraini NH, Matarazzo BB. Why Suicide Risk Assessment Still Matters. J Psychiatr Pract. 2017 Nov;23(6):436-440. PubMed PMID: 29303951
  • Vasile M, Hamalian G, Wortzel HS. New Guidelines for Forensic Assessment. J Psychiatr Pract. 2016 Mar;22(2):124-7. PubMed PMID: 27138081
  • Richards PM, Wortzel HS. Avoiding Dual Agency in Clinical and Medicolegal Practice. J Psychiatr Pract. 2015 Sep;21(5):370-3. PubMed PMID: 26352223
  • Wortzel HS, Granacher RP Jr. Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Update: Forensic Neuropsychiatric Implications. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2015 Dec;43(4):499-505. PubMed PMID: 26668228
  • Wortzel HS, Arciniegas DB. The DSM-5 approach to the evaluation of traumatic brain injury and its neuropsychiatric sequelae. NeuroRehabilitation. 2014;34(4):613-23. PubMed PMID: 24820171
  • Wortzel HS, Homaifar B, Matarazzo B, Brenner LA. Therapeutic risk management of the suicidal patient: stratifying risk in terms of severity and temporality. J Psychiatr Pract. 2014 Jan;20(1):63-7. PubMed PMID: 24419312
  • Arciniegas DB, Wortzel HS. Emotional and behavioral dyscontrol after traumatic brain injury. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2014 Mar;37(1):31-53. PubMed PMID: 24529422
  • Matarazzo BB, Homaifar BY, Wortzel HS. Therapeutic risk management of the suicidal patient: safety planning. J Psychiatr Pract. 2014 May;20(3):220-4. PubMed PMID: 24847995
  • Wortzel HS, Arciniegas DB. A forensic neuropsychiatric approach to traumatic brain injury, aggression, and suicide. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2013;41(2):274-86. PubMed PMID: 23771941
  • Wortzel HS, Shura RD, Brenner LA. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy and suicide: a systematic review. Biomed Res Int. 2013;2013:424280. PubMed PMID: 24328030
  • Wortzel HS, Matarazzo B, Homaifar B. A model for therapeutic risk management of the suicidal patient. J Psychiatr Pract. 2013 Jul;19(4):323-6. PubMed PMID: 23852108
  • Wortzel HS. The DSM-5 and forensic psychiatry. J Psychiatr Pract. 2013 May;19(3):238-41. PubMed PMID: 23653081
  • Wortzel HS, Brenner LA, Arciniegas DB. Traumatic brain injury and chronic traumatic encephalopathy: a forensic neuropsychiatric perspective. Behav Sci Law. 2013 Nov-Dec;31(6):721-38. PubMed PMID: 24019038
  • Homaifar B, Matarazzo B, Wortzel HS. Therapeutic risk management of the suicidal patient: augmenting clinical suicide risk assessment with structured instruments. J Psychiatr Pract. 2013 Sep;19(5):406-9. PubMed PMID: 24042246
  • Wortzel HS, Blatchford P, Conner L, Adler LE, Binswanger IA. Risk of death for veterans on release from prison. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2012;40(3):348-54. PubMed PMID: 22960917
  • Wortzel HS, Strom LA, Anderson AC, Maa EH, Spitz M. Disrobing associated with epileptic seizures and forensic implications. J Forensic Sci. 2012 Mar;57(2):550-2. PubMed PMID: 22150773
  • Wortzel HS, Arciniegas DB. Treatment of post-traumatic cognitive impairments. Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2012 Oct;14(5):493-508. PubMed PMID: 22865461
  • Wortzel HS, Arciniegas DB, Anderson CA, Vanderploeg RD, Brenner LA. A phase I study of low-pressure hyperbaric oxygen therapy for blast-induced post-concussion syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder: a neuropsychiatric perspective. J Neurotrauma. 2012 Sep 20;29(14):2421-4; author reply 2425-30. PubMed PMID: 22519979
  • Wortzel HS, Kraus MF, Filley CM, Anderson CA, Arciniegas DB. Diffusion tensor imaging in mild traumatic brain injury litigation. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2011;39(4):511-23. PubMed PMID: 22159979
  • Wagner PJ, Wortzel HS, Frey KL, Anderson CA, Arciniegas DB. Clock-drawing performance predicts inpatient rehabilitation outcomes after traumatic brain injury. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2011 Fall;23(4):449-53. PubMed PMID: 22231317
  • Wortzel HS, Arciniegas DB. Combat veterans and the death penalty: a forensic neuropsychiatric perspective. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2010;38(3):407-14. PubMed PMID: 20852228
  • Arciniegas DB, Frey KL, Newman J, Wortzel HS. Evaluation and Management of Posttraumatic Cognitive Impairments. Psychiatr Ann. 2010 Nov 1;40(11):540-552. PubMed PMID: 21270968
  • Wortzel HS, Gutierrez PM, Homaifar BY, Breshears RE, Harwood JE. Surrogate endpoints in suicide research. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2010 Oct;40(5):500-5. PubMed PMID: 21034212
  • Wortzel HS, Binswanger IA, Anderson CA, Adler LE. Suicide among incarcerated veterans. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2009;37(1):82-91. PubMed PMID: 19297638
  • Wortzel HS, Frey KL, Anderson CA, Arciniegas DB. Subtle neurological signs predict the severity of subacute cognitive and functional impairments after traumatic brain injury. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2009 Fall;21(4):463-6. PubMed PMID: 19996256
  • Binswanger IA, Wortzel HS. Treatment for individuals with HIV/AIDS following release from prison. JAMA. 2009 Jul 8;302(2):147; author reply 148. PubMed PMID: 19584343
  • Wortzel HS, Oster TJ, Anderson CA, Arciniegas DB. Pathological laughing and crying : epidemiology, pathophysiology and treatment. CNS Drugs. 2008;22(7):531-45. PubMed PMID: 18547124
  • Wortzel HS, Arciniegas DB. Amnesia and crime: a neuropsychiatric response. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2008;36(2):218-23. PubMed PMID: 18583698
  • Wortzel HS, Filley CM, Anderson CA, Oster T, Arciniegas DB. Forensic applications of cerebral single photon emission computed tomography in mild traumatic brain injury. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2008;36(3):310-22. PubMed PMID: 18802178

Practice Locations

Hospital Affiliation
  • Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Psychiatry, Board Certification (2007)
  • Forensic Psychiatry, Board Certification (2009)
  • Neuropsychiatry & Behavioral Neurology, Certificate (2009)

School of Medicine

CU Anschutz
Fitzsimons Building

13001 East 17th Place

Aurora, CO 80045

303.724.5375

School
General
Students