Research & Publishing
- Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology
- Drug and Alcohol Dependence
- Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
- Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
Dr. Thurstone is also a big believer in transparency. He wants you to know how his research is funded — and what the money invested in his work has helped produce.
Ongoing Research Support
Role: Project Director
Funding Source: Daniels Fund
Dates: 9/1/2015-8/31/2018
Total Directs: $750,000
This project supports the novel implementation of impACT substance treatment in two Denver School-Based Health Centers for three years.
Role: Project Director
Funding Source: Anschutz Foundation
Dates: 9/1/2016-8/31/2018
Total Directs: $200,000
This project supports the maintenance and implementation of impACT school-based substance treatment in five Denver School-Based Health Centers for two years.
Completed Research Support
Role: Project Director
Funding Source: Caring for Colorado
Dates: 9/1/2015-8/31/2016
Total Directs: $50,000
This project will continue the implementation of evidence-based, integrated mental health and substance treatment (using the Encompass protocol) for adolescents. It will also support the data collection necessary to negotiate sustainable reimbursement for this service.
Role: Project Director
Funding Source: Colorado Office of Behavioral Health
Dates: 6/1/2015-5/31/2016
Total Directs: $25,000
This project supplements the implementation of the Encompass treatment model into two school-based health centers.
Role: Project Director
Funding Source: Colorado Office of Behavioral Health
Dates: 6/1/2015-5/31/2016
Total Directs: $5,000
This project provides the supplies needed to train therapists in evidence-based treatments in adolescent substance treatment.
Role: Project Director
Funding Source: Denver Foundation
Dates: 8/1/2015-7/31/2016
Total Directs: $150,000
This project supports the novel implementation of Encompass substance treatment in one Denver School-Based Health Center for one year.
Role: Project Director
Funding Source: Daniels Fund
Dates: 5/15/2013-5/14/2015
Total Directs: $425,000
This project focuses on implementing and sustaining the Encompass treatment model in the Denver Health adolescent substance treatment program. Encompass is an evidence-based treatment for adolescent and young adult psychiatric and substance use disorders. Treatment outcomes are carefully tracked and reported and the outcomes of the dissemination will be evaluated.
Role: Project Director
Funding Source: Caring for Colorado
Dates: 3/1/2014-2/28/2015
Total Directs: $50,000
This project supplements the implementation of the Encompass treatment model described above. This grant was renewable for a second year of funding.
Role: Co-I
Funding Source and Grant Number: NIDA 1 R01DA031816-01A1
Dates: 9/1/2011-8/31/2015
Effort: 20%
Total Directs: $239,625
This grant, titled The Impact of Medical Marijuana in Metropolitan Denver, will evaluate the impact of medical marijuana on variables such as prevalence of marijuana use, substance treatment admissions and emergency department visits using qualitative and quantitative research methods. The grant is funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the principal investigator is Dr. Robert Booth at the University of Colorado Denver.
Role: PI
Funding Source & Grant Number:NIDA 5 P60 DA011015
Dates: 5/1/09-2/28/14
Effort: 8 percent
Total Directs: $46,680
This grant, titled Genetics of Antisocial Drug Dependence, will evaluate the genetic risk factors of HIV risk behavior among youth in substance treatment. The grant is funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the principal investigator is Dr. John Hewitt at the University of Colorado Boulder. For more about the researchers, see the Center for Anti-Social Drug Dependence.
Role: Project Director
Funding Source & Grant Number: Colorado Health Foundation
Dates: 11/1/2013-10/31/2014
Total Directs: $78,257
This project supplements the implementation of the Encompass treatment model. This grant was renewable for a second year of funding.
Role: Co-I
Funding Source and Grant Number: NIDA 3 U10DA013045-11S3
Dates: 5/1/2011-8/31/2015
Effort: 20%
Total Directs: $239,625
This multi-site trial, titled Cocaine Use Reduction with Buprenorphine, will evaluate the effectiveness of buprenorphine/injectable naltrexone compared to placebo/injectable naltrexone for cocaine dependence. The grant is funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the principal investigator is Dr. Walter Ling at the University of California Los Angeles.
Role: PI
Funding Source and Grant Number: NIDA 2 P60 DA011015-06A
Dates: 5/01/04 – 1/31/05
Effort: 10 percent
Total Directs: $25,000
This study, titled Ibuprofen for Adolescent Cannabis Dependence, evaluated the preliminary safety and feasibility of ibuprofen for adolescent cannabis dependence. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the principal investigator was Dr. Christian Thurstone.
Role: PI
Funding Source and Grant Number: NIH NOT-OD-02-025
Dates: 7/01/03 – 6/01/05
Effort: 75 percent
Total Directs: $92,000
This grant, titled Medication Development for Adolescent Substance Use Disorders, was a loan repayment program for conducting mentored clinical research in child psychiatry. The grant was funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the principal investigator was Dr. Christian Thurstone.
Role: PI
Funding Source and Grant Number: NIDA DA 000357-06A1K12
Dates: 7/01/05-5/15/10
Effort: 75 percent
Total Directs: $773,095
This study, titled Atomoxetine for ADHD in Adolescents with Substance Use Disorders, evaluated the efficacy of atomoxetine for ADHD in adolescents presenting for substance treatment. The grant was funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the principal investigator was Dr. Christian Thurstone.
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Dr. Thurstone’s clinical work and medical research have resulted in several papers published in peer-reviewed journals. Among them:
Thurstone CC, Alahi P (2000), “A possible case of quetiapine withdrawal syndrome [letter].” Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 61: 602-603
Davies RD, Thurstone C, Woyewodzic K (2004), Substance Use Disorders and Neurologic Illness. Current Treatment Options in Neurology 6: 421-432
Ritvo JL, Koonce R, Thurstone CC, Causey HL 3rd (2007), Tramadol dependence: treatment with buprenorphine/naloxone. American Journal of Addiction 16:67-68
Thurstone C, Riggs PD, Klein C, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK (2007), A one-session human immunodeficiency virus risk-reduction intervention in adolescents with psychiatric and substance use disorders. Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 46:1179-1186
Thurstone C, Riggs PD, Salomonsen-Sautel S, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK (2010), Randomized, controlled trial of atomoxetine for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adolescents with substance use disorder. Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 49:573-582
Thurstone C, Salomonsen-Sautel S, Riggs PD (2010), How teens with substance use disorder spend research payments. Drug Alcohol Dependence 111:262-264
Thurstone C, Liebmeran SA, Schmiege SJ (2011), Medical marijuana diversion and associated problems in adolescent substance treatment. Drug Alcohol Dependence
Nussbaum AM, Thurstone C, Binswanger I (2011), Medical marijuana use and suicide attempt in a patient with major depressive disorder. Am J Psychiatry 168:778-781
Nussbaum AM, Thurstone C (2011), “Mile High Macaroons; The Medicalization of Marijuana in Colorado.” Journal of Global Drug Policy and Practice 5:5-15
Salomonsen-Sautel S, Sakai JT, Thurstone C, Corley R, Hopfer C (2012), “Medical Marijuana Use Among Adolescents in Substance Abuse Treatment.” Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Volume 51, Issue 7, Pages 694-702
Hopfer C, Salomonsen-Sautel S, Mikulich-Gilbertson S, Min SJ, McQueen M, Crowley T, Young S, Corley R, Sakai J, Thurstone C, offenber A, Hartman C, Hewitt J (2013), Conduct disorder and initiation of susbtance use: a prospective longitudinal study. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 52:511-518
Thurstone C, Salomonsen-Sautel S, Profita T, Tomcho M (2013), Medical marijuana diversion: When sharing is not a virtue. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 52:653-654
Thurstone C, LaJoie T (2013), Heart rate variability biofeedback in adolescent substance treatment. Global Advances in Health and Medicine 2:22-23
Thurstone C, Salomonsen-Sautel S, Hartman CA, Sakai JT, Hoffenberg AS, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK, McQueen MB, Min S, Crowley TJ, Corley RP, Hewitt JK, Hopfer CJ, Prevalence and predictors of injection drug use among adolescents in substance treatment. Am J Addict 22:558-565
Thurstone C, Binswanger IA, Corsi, KF, Rinehart DJ, Booth RE (2014), Medical marijuana use and parenting: a qualitative study. Adolescent Psychiatry 3:190-194
Schuermeyer J, Salomonsen-Sautel S, Kato Price R, Balan S, Thurstone C, Min SJ, Sakai JT. Temporal trends in marijuana attitudes, availability and use in Colorado compared to non-medical marijuana states: 2003-2011 (2014), Drug and Alcohol Dependence 140:145-155
Salomonsen-Sautel S, Min SJ Sakai JT, Thurstone C, Hopfer C (2014). Trends in fatal motor vehicle crashes before and after marijuana commercialization in Colorado Drug and Alcohol Dependence S0376-8716
Nussbaum AM, Thurstone C, McGarry L, Walker B, Sabel AL (2015), Use and diversion of medical marijuana among adults admitted to inpatient psychiatry. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 6:1-7
Thurstone C (2016), The Triple Play: Pubescent Boys, Pot and Paranoia. American Journal on Psychiatry
Thurstone C, Hull M, LeNoue S, Brandt N, Riggs PD (2016), A Completer’s Analysis of an Integrated Psychiatric/Substance Treatment for Adolescents and Young Adults. University of Colorado Journal of Psychiatry and Psychology
Sakai JT, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK, Young SE, Rhee SH, McWilliams SK, Dunn R, Salmonsen-Sautel S, Thurstone C, Hopfer CJ (2016), Adolescent male conduct-disordered patients in substance use discorder treatment: examining the “limited prosocial emotions” specifier. Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse
LeNoue SR, Wongngamnit N, Thurstone C (2016), Practical Aspects of Discussing Marijuana in a New Era. Journal of Psychiatric Practice 22:471-477
Thurstone C, Loh R, Foreman K, Thurstone CA, Wolf C (2023), Program Evaluation to Aid Choice of Aripiprazole or Risperidone for Hospitalized Adolescents with Cannabis Use Disorder and Psychosis. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology 33(8):332-336. doi: 10.1089/cap.2023.0053.
Scientific Abstracts
The following scientific abstracts were competitively peer-reviewed and published or presented at scientific meetings (all competitive):
Thurstone CC, Teitsworth SW (1991), “Quantum chaos effects in an irregular drumhead.” Bulletin of the American Physical Society 36: 2746
Thurstone CC, Teitsworth SW (1992) Unstable periodic orbits and chaotic spectra in an irregularly-shaped drumhead. Bulletin of the American Physical Society 37: 268
Thurstone C, Riggs PD, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK (2004), “Assessment of Nicotine Dependence in Adolescents.” Oral presentation at the annual meeting of the College in Problems of Drug Dependence, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Thurstone C, Riggs PD, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK (2004), “Evaluation of the Fagerstrom Test of Nicotine Dependence in Adolescence.” Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Washington, DC
Thurstone C, Riggs PD, Orton HD, Libby AM (2005), “Fluoxetine and cannabis withdrawal in depressed adolescents.” Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the College in Problems of Drug Dependence, Orlando, Florida
Thurstone C, Riggs PD, Schwab S (2005), “Adoption of an evidence-based treatment for adolescent substance use disorder.” Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Toronto, Canada
Thurstone C, Riggs PD, Wackwitz J (2006), “Pilot safety and feasibility study of ibuprofen for adolescent cannabis dependence.” Oral presentation at the annual meeting of the College in Problems of Drug Dependence, Scottsdale, AZ
Thurstone C, Riggs PD (2006), “Adoption and benchmarking of an evidence-based treatment for adolescent substance use disorder.” Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, San Diego, CA
Thurstone C (2007), “Adolescent heroin abuse.” Oral presentation at the annual meeting of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, Denver, CO
Thurstone C, Riggs PD, Klein C, Stover SK, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK (2007) “The relationship between cannabis and nicotine use in adolescent substance use disorder treatment.” Presented at the annual meeting of the College in Problems of Drug Dependence, Quebec, Canada
Thurstone C (2007), “Implementing the “Fishbowl” into a Community Setting.” Oral presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Boston, MA
Thurstone C (2007), “Adopting an Integrated Treatment Model into a Community Setting.” Oral presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Boston, MA
Thurstone C, M deDios, PD Riggs (2007), “How teens with substance use disorder spend research payments.” Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Boston, MA
Lott DC, Thurstone C (2008), “Varenicline for Adolescent Smoking: Preliminary Case Data.” Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the College in Problems of Drug Dependence, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Thurstone C, Riggs PD, Salomonsen-Sautel S (2008), “The relationship between change in cannabis and change in nicotine use among teens in treatment for cannabis.” Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the College in Problems of Drug Dependence, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Thurstone C, Riggs PD, Salomonsen-Sautel S, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK (2008), “Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of atomoxetine for ADHD in adolescents with substance use disorder.” Presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Chicago, IL
Thurstone C, Riggs PD, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK (2008), Results from a one-session HIV intervention for adolescents with psychiatric and substance use disorders. Oral presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Chicago, IL
Salomonsen-Sautel S, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK, Riggs PD, Thurstone C (2009), Neighborhood disadvantage and substance use among adolescents. Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the College in Problems of Drug Dependence, Reno, NV
Thurstone C, Riggs PD, Salomonsen-Sautel S, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK (2009), One-session HIV prevention intervention for teens in substance use disorder treatment. Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the College in Problems of Drug Dependence, Reno, NV
Thurstone C, Salomonsen-Sautel S, Hartman C, Stallings M, Crowley TJ, Sakai J, Hoffenberg A, Corley R, Mikulich-Gilbertson S, Young S, McQueen M, Hewitt J, Hopfer CJ (2011), Longitudinal HIV risk in youth referred to substance treatment. Oral presentation at the annual meeting of the College in Problems of Drug Dependence, Hollywood, FL
Thurstone C (2011), “Medical marijuana in Colorado and its impact on youth.” Oral presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Toronto, Canada
Thurstone C (2012), “Impact of legalizing marijuana on adolescents.” 3rd World Forum Against Drugs, Stockholm, Sweden
Thurstone C (2012), “Don’t be afraid of adolescent substance abuse.” Clinical perspectives presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, San Francisco
Tomcho M, Thurstone C, Salomonsen-Sautel S (2013), “Medical marijuana diversion and associated problems in adolescent primary care.” Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Belendiuk K, Black T, Thurstone C (2013), “The effect of marijuana commercialization on adolescent drug treatment outcomes.” Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Orlando, FL
McWilliams S, Riggs PD, Thurstone C, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK (2015), “An electronic method for capturing Timeline Follow Back Interview Data for adolescents with substance use disorders, poster presentation at the annual meeting of the College in Problems of Drug Dependence, San Juan, PR
LeNoue SR, Thurstone C, Koch J, McKay S, Keniston A, Ladegard K (2016), School-Based Mental Health Clinic Outcomes. Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York.
LeNoue SR, Salomonsen-Sautel S, Min SM, Thurstone C (2016), “The relationship between medical marijuana commercialization and adolescent substance treatment outcomes.” Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, Bonita, FL
Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications
Books
Thurstone C and Tatum C (2015), Clearing the Haze: Helping Families Face Teen Addiction, published by Rowman and Littlfield, New York, New York
Book reviews
Thurstone C (2003), Children with Autism and Asperger Syndrome: A guide for Practitioners and Carers, by Patricia Howlin [Book Review]. Residential Treatment for Children and Youth 21: 71-73
Martin A, Thurstone C (2007), Adolescent Substance Abuse: Research and Clinical Advances, by Liddle and Rowe [Book Review]. J Am Acad of Child Adolesc Psychiatry 46:547-548
Media Publications
Thurstone, C (2009 -Present), “Talk 2 Me.” Weekly advice column in The Mash, a high school newspaper published by the Chicago Tribune and distributed to more than 200,000 high school students in metro Chicago
Thurstone C (2010), “Smoke and Mirrors.” Denver Health Perspectives Piece, published January 31, 2010
Thurstone C (2010), “We must regulate medical marijuana.” Denver Post Opinion Piece, co-written with Colorado state Sen. Chris Romer
Thurstone C (2010), “Marijuana and Youth – Experiences from a practicing physician.” Of Substance Blog, Office of National Drug Control Policy
Professional Society Publications
Thurstone C (2011), “Spice.” Article written for the quarterly newsletter of the Colorado Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Society
Thurstone C (2011), “Why child psychiatrists should oppose legalizing marijuana.” Article written for the quarterly newsletter of the Colorado Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Society
Thurstone C (2013), “Colorado Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Society Wins White House Award,” written for the quarterly newsletter of the Colorado Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Society.
Thurstone C (2014), “Experience of a Child Psychiatrist Deployed to a Combat Zone,” written for the quarterly newsletter of the Colorado Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Society
Thurstone C (2015), “What Child Psychiatrists Need to Know about the Opioid Epidemic,” written for the quarterly newsletter of the Colorado Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Society