2013 Masters Program Scholar, University of Denver
(2013)
Research Interests
My research interests are primarily focused on evaluating autism treatment outcomes to improve medical procedures community and hospital-based care for individuals on the autism spectrum. I currently have an R01 NIH grant under the National Institute of Nursing Research studying the effects of therapeutic horseback riding on children with autism.
Teaching
Associate Professor
(2003)
School of Medicine,
Psychiatry
Publications
Peters BC, Pan Z, Christensen H, Gabriels RL. Self-Regulation Mediates Therapeutic Horseback Riding Social Functioning Outcomes in Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Front Pediatr. 2022;10:884054. PubMed PMID: 35837236
Wieckowski AT, Luallin S, Pan Z, Righi G, Gabriels RL, Mazefsky C. Gender Differences in Emotion Dysregulation in an Autism Inpatient Psychiatric Sample. Autism Res. 2020 Aug;13(8):1343-1348. PubMed PMID: 32222097
Stoddard J, Zik J, Mazefsky CA, DeChant B, Gabriels R. The Internal Structure of the Aberrant Behavior Checklist Irritability Subscale: Implications for Studies of Irritability in Treatment-Seeking Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorders. Behav Ther. 2020 Mar;51(2):310-319. PubMed PMID: 32138940
Germone MM, Gabriels RL, Guérin NA, Pan Z, Banks T, O'Haire ME. Animal-assisted activity improves social behaviors in psychiatrically hospitalized youth with autism. Autism. 2019 Oct;23(7):1740-1751. PubMed PMID: 30818971
Guérin NA, Gabriels RL, Germone MM, Schuck SEB, Traynor A, Thomas KM, McKenzie SJ, Slaughter V, O'Haire ME. Reliability and Validity Assessment of the Observation of Human-Animal Interaction for Research (OHAIRE) Behavior Coding Tool. Front Vet Sci. 2018;5:268. PubMed PMID: 30467548
Handen BL, Mazefsky CA, Gabriels RL, Pedersen KA, Wallace M, Siegel M. Risk Factors for Self-injurious Behavior in an Inpatient Psychiatric Sample of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Naturalistic Observation Study. J Autism Dev Disord. 2018 Nov;48(11):3678-3688. PubMed PMID: 29368233
Pedersen KA, Santangelo SL, Gabriels RL, Righi G, Erard M, Siegel M. Behavioral Outcomes of Specialized Psychiatric Hospitalization in the Autism Inpatient Collection (AIC): A Multisite Comparison. J Autism Dev Disord. 2018 Nov;48(11):3658-3667. PubMed PMID: 29170939
Pan Z, Granger DA, Guérin NA, Shoffner A, Gabriels RL. Replication Pilot Trial of Therapeutic Horseback Riding and Cortisol Collection With Children on the Autism Spectrum. Front Vet Sci. 2018;5:312. PubMed PMID: 30693284
Koski S, Gabriels RL, Beresford C. Interventions for paediatric surgery patients with comorbid autism spectrum disorder: a systematic literature review. Arch Dis Child. 2016 Dec;101(12):1090-1094. PubMed PMID: 27226525
McGuire K, Erickson C, Gabriels RL, Kaplan D, Mazefsky C, McGonigle J, Meservy J, Pedapati E, Pierri J, Wink L, Siegel M. Psychiatric Hospitalization of Children With Autism or Intellectual Disability: Consensus Statements on Best Practices. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2015 Dec;54(12):969-71. PubMed PMID: 26598469
Siegel M, Smith KA, Mazefsky C, Gabriels RL, Erickson C, Kaplan D, Morrow EM, Wink L, Santangelo SL. The autism inpatient collection: methods and preliminary sample description. Mol Autism. 2015;6:61. PubMed PMID: 26557975
McGonigle JJ, Venkat A, Beresford C, Campbell TP, Gabriels RL. Management of agitation in individuals with autism spectrum disorders in the emergency department. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2014 Jan;23(1):83-95. PubMed PMID: 24231169
Siegel M, Gabriels RL. Psychiatric hospital treatment of children with autism and serious behavioral disturbance. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2014 Jan;23(1):125-42. PubMed PMID: 24231172
Siegel M, Gabriels RL. Psychiatric hospital treatment of children with autism and serious behavioral disturbance. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2014 Jan;23(1):125-42. PubMed PMID: 24231172
McGonigle JJ, Venkat A, Beresford C, Campbell TP, Gabriels RL. Management of agitation in individuals with autism spectrum disorders in the emergency department. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2014 Jan;23(1):83-95. PubMed PMID: 24231169
Gabriels RL, Agnew JA, Pan Z, Holt KD, Reynolds A, Laudenslager ML. Elevated repetitive behaviors are associated with lower diurnal salivary cortisol levels in autism spectrum disorder. Biol Psychol. 2013 May;93(2):262-8. PubMed PMID: 23466586
UMACC Certified ADOS trainer, Specialized Training
(2005)
Certified Clinical Psychologist, License
(0001)
Conditions & Treatments
Child and Teen Health - Pediatric Diseases and Conditions
Child and Teen Health
Clinical Interests
I am a licensed clinical psychologist and an Associate professor in the departments of psychiatry and pediatrics at the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center. I am the founder and Program Director of the Neuropsychiatric Special Care program, a crisis assessment and intervention day treatment and inpatient unit for children with developmental disabilities (ages 4 to 17) with co-morbid conditions (medical and/or psychiatric) at the Children's Hospital. I have over 25 years of experience assessing and treating a variety of child, adolescent, and adult populations, has written articles and book chapters in the fields of autism, asthma, and art therapy, and have lectured and conducted workshops on autism spectrum disorders, both nationally and internationally. I have published two edited books, Autism: From Research to Individualized Practice, (2002) Jessica Kingsley Publishers and Growing Up with Autism: Working with School-Age Children and Adolescents (2007) Guilford Press.
Care Philosophy
I strive to provide the best care for my patients. I believe in treating the child as a whole, taking every aspect of a patient's life and health into consideration during diagnosis and treatment.
Personal Interests
In my spare time, I enjoy skiing, painting, Karate and yoga.
General Information
Graduate Schools:
MA, Norwich University
(1985)
PsyD, University of Denver
(1997)
Undergraduate Schools:
BA, University of Northern Colorado (CO)
(1983)
Internships:
University of South Carolina School of Medicine Program (Public Health)
(1997)