Alëna A. Balasanova, MD

Department of Psychiatry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (Balasanova).

  • 11Articles
  • 116.1KReads
  • 2020–2026Active
  • 18Collaborators
  • 23Citations

About

Alëna A. Balasanova, MD, is affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. Balasanova has published extensively on clinical topics including addiction, catatonia, anxiety, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, delirium, pain, and phobic disorders. Her work encompasses case studies and clinical analyses related to substance use disorders, withdrawal syndromes, and psychiatric complications associated with various substances. Balasanova’s research has appeared in Psychiatrist.com from 2020 through 2026.

Publications

PCC
7-OH-Mitragynine–Induced Psychosis
Case Report

7-OH-Mitragynine–Induced Psychosis

April 14, 2026

The authors present the case of a patient who developed psychosis and delirium following several months of heavy 7-OH use that persisted for nearly a week following cessation.
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PCC
Benzodiazepine-Induced Neurologic Dysfunction
Case Report

Benzodiazepine-Induced Neurologic Dysfunction

November 27, 2025

This case illustrates how benzodiazepine-induced neurologic dysfunction and benzodiazepine use disorder can coexist, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between them to guide diagnosis and management.
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PCC
Excited Catatonia in Opioid and Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
Case Report

Excited Catatonia in Opioid and Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

June 5, 2025

A 37-year-old man developed excited catatonia in the setting of concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine withdrawal, requiring high dosages of benzodiazepines to resolve.
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PCC
Liver Failure and Transplant After Excessive Energy Drink Consumption
Case Report

Liver Failure and Transplant After Excessive Energy Drink Consumption

January 16, 2024

A 21-year-old man developed acute liver failure and cerebral edema following a binge episode of energy drink consumption.
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PCC
Multisystem Organ Failure in Inhalant Use Disorder
Case Report

Multisystem Organ Failure in Inhalant Use Disorder

May 2, 2023

A previously physically healthy man developed severe multisystem organ failure due to hydrocarbon toxicity from recreational use of compressed air.
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PCC
Malignant Catatonia in Opioid and Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
Case Report

Malignant Catatonia in Opioid and Benzodiazepine Withdrawal

March 16, 2023

Malignant catatonia can occur during simultaneous benzodiazepine and opioid withdrawal.
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PCC
Impact of ER Naltrexone on Readmission Rates in Alcohol Use Disorder
Original Research

Impact of ER Naltrexone on Readmission Rates in Alcohol Use Disorder

October 25, 2022

This study evaluated the impact of extended-release intramuscular naltrexone on readmission rates for hospitalized patients with alcohol use disorder.
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PCC
Phenibut and Bromazolam Use Disorders Requiring Medically Supervised Withdrawal
Case Report

Phenibut and Bromazolam Use Disorders Requiring Medically Supervised Withdrawal

July 12, 2022

Here, read about a patient who attempted to wean himself off phenibut and bromazolam but experienced severe withdrawal symptoms requiring hospitalization for medical management.
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PCC
Etizolam Use Disorder and Withdrawal
Case Report

Etizolam Use Disorder and Withdrawal

March 31, 2022

Here, the authors present the case of a 29‐year‐old man in sustained remission from cocaine, methamphetamine, and opioid use disorders who developed an addiction to etizolam after obtaining it...
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PCC
Case Report

Stimulant Use for Analgesia

January 14, 2021

Here, read about 2 patients who utilized nonprescription stimulants for analgesia. One smoked methamphetamine for relief of chronic back pain, while another smoked cocaine for relief of eye pain...
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PCC
Case Report

Autoimmune Encephalitis in a Patient With AUD

December 10, 2020

Determining whether symptoms are from a primary psychiatric disorder or secondary to another medical condition can be difficult. This report describes a patient with alcohol use disorder and mental...
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Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc. (PPP) makes no warranties about the accuracy or completeness of any information published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry or other PPP materials, and disclaims liability for any use or non-use of that information. Clinicians should not rely solely on these materials and should exercise their own professional judgment when making patient care decisions on an individualized basis.

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