• B.A. 1990, University of Puerto Rico, Psychology
• M.S. 1995, Caribbean Center for Advanced Studies, Clinical Psychology
• Ph.D. 1997, Caribbean Center for Advanced Studies, Clinical Psychology
• Associate Professor

Research interests:

Executive functioning and ADHD in adults; sensation seeking, impulsivity and self-regulation; young adult and adolescent sexual behavior; risk behavior; health disparities; psychometrics

Selected publications:

González, R. A., Vélez-Pastrana, M. C., Ruiz Varcárcel, J. J., Levin, F. R., & Albizu-García, C. E. (in press- 2012). Childhood ADHD symptoms are associated with lifetime and current illicit substance-use disorders and in-site health risk behaviors in a representative sample of Latino prison inmates. Journal of Attention Disorders. doi:10.1177/1087054712461690

Castro-Díaz, B. L., Rodríguez-Gómez, J., & Vélez-Pastrana, M. C. (2012). Factor structure and reliability of the Spanish version of the Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire for Older Persons. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 11, 310–321. doi:10.1080/15332691.2012.718970

Soto Molina, C., Rodríguez-Gómez, J. R., & Vélez Pastrana, M. C. (2009). Psychometric properties of the Spanish-language Child Depression Inventory with Hispanic children who are secondary victims of domestic violence. Family Therapy, 36, 1-15.

Vélez-Pastrana, M. C., González-Rodríguez, R. A., & Borges-Hernández, A. (2008). Risk and resilience factors related to Latino/Hispanic adolescents’ sexual activity. In J. R. Rodríguez-Gómez (Ed.), Antología de investigaciones de los programas académicos de la Universidad Carlos Albizu (pp. 151-167). San Juan: Publicaciones Puertorriqueñas.

González-Rodríguez, R. A. & Vélez-Pastrana, M. C. (2007). Propiedades psicométricas de la escala de autoinforme Wender Utah Rating Scale para la evaluación de síntomas del TDAH en adultos/as puertorriqueños/as (Psychometric propeties of the Wender Utah Rating Scale for the assessment of ADHD symptoms in Puerto Rican adults). Ciencias de la Conducta, 159-186.

Vélez-Pastrana, M. C., González-Rodríguez, R. A., & Borges-Hernández, A. (2005). Family functioning and early onset of sexual intercourse in Latino adolescents. Adolescence, 40, 777-791. 1R24MD000152-01

Carrillo Pérez, F.J., Rodríguez, J.R. & Vélez-Pastrana, M. (2005). El funcionamiento familiar y la satisfacción marital en matrimonios pertenecientes a tres denominaciones eclesiales: católica romana, bautista y pentecostal. In L.M. Rivera & J.R. Rodríguez (Eds.), Investigaciones Eclesiales (pp.147-174. San Juan, PR: Publicaciones Puertorriqueñas.

Vélez-Pastrana, M.C., Rodríguez, J. & Martínez, M. (2002). Validez de constructo del Inventario de Conductas de Apoyo Social. Ciencias de la Conducta, 17, 41-69.

Vélez-Pastrana, M.C., Rodríguez, J. & Martínez, M. (1997). Apoyo social, actividad y salud en ancianos(as). Boletín de la Asociación Médica de Puerto Rico, 89, 174-183.

Álvarez, V. & Vélez-Pastrana, M.C. (1995). La profesión de la psicología en Puerto Rico. Revista Latinoamericana de Psicología, 27, 175-185.

Selected presentations:

Cruz-Román, G., & Vélez-Pastrana, M. C. (2012, September). Non-suicidal self-injury and sensation seeking in adults. Poster presented at the 2nd International Congress on Borderline Personality Disorder and Allied Disorders, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Cruz-Román, G., & Vélez-Pastrana, M. C. (2012, September). The assessment of self-harm in Spanish-speaking populations: Validation of the Spanish-language Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury (ISAS). Poster presented at the 2nd International Congress on Borderline Personality Disorder and Allied Disorders, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Rivera-Narvaez, M., & Vélez Pastrana, M. C. (2011). Translation and validation of the Terrorism Catastrophizing Scale (TCS) in Spanish. Poster presented at the Caribbean Regional Conference of Psychology, Nassau, Bahamas.

Ilarraza, T., Vélez Pastrana, M. C., Rivera, M., Rodríguez, J., Delgado, J., Catalá, I., . . . Aponte, M. (2011). Características relacionadas al TDAH, la búsqueda de sensaciones y la expresión de emociones en una muestra de personas adultas puertorriqueñas. Poster presented at the 58th Annual Meeting of the Puerto Rico Psychological Association, Rio Grande, PR.

Vélez Pastrana, M. C., Ilarraza, T., Rivera, M., Bradley, G., Pérez, C., Pérez, F., . . . Alvarado , V. (2011). Sensation seeking, alcohol and substance use, reckless driving and sexual behavior: A cross cultural study of Puerto Rican and Australian adults. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association 119th Convention, Washington, DC.

Palou-Miranda, A. L., & Vélez Pastrana, M. C. (2011). Sensation seeking and the expression of anger and hostility. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association 119th Convention, Washington, DC.

Aponte, M., & Vélez Pastrana, M. C. (2011). Validation of the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale in a Puerto Rican sample. Poster presented at the American Psychological Association 119th Convention, Washington, DC.

González, R. A., Vélez Pastrana, M. C., Estrada, L. V., López, E., & Albizu, C. E. (2011). Profile of psychiatric comorbidity, health history and sociodemographic characteristics in a sample of Latino prison inmates with ADHD symptomatology. Poster presented at the Third International Congress on ADHD, May 26-29, Berlin, Germany.

Ilarraza, T., Vélez-Pastrana, M. C., Rivera, M., Rodríguez, J., Delgado, J., Catalá, I., et al. (2011). Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, reactive inhibition and emotional regulation in Puerto Rican adults. Poster presented at the Third International Congress on ADHD, May 26-29, Berlin, Germany.

Palou, A. L., & Vélez Pastrana, M. C. (2010). Búsqueda de sensaciones y la intensidad y frecuencia del coraje (Sensation seeking and frequency/intensity in anger expression). Poster presented at the 57th Annual convention of the Asociación de Psicología de Puerto Rico, Dorado, PR.

Vélez Pastrana, M. C., Bradley, G., Palou, A. L., Pérez, C., Rivera, M., & Ilarraza, T. V. (2010). Validación transcultural del constructo búsqueda de sensaciones: Desarrollo de una nueva escala en español. Paper presented at the 57th Annual convention of the Asociación de Psicología de Puerto Rico, Dorado, PR.

Vélez Pastrana, M. C., Bradley, G., Palou, A. L., Pérez, C., Rivera, M., & Ilarraza, T. V. (2010, July). Cross-cultural validation of the sensation-seeking construct: Development and validation of a new Spanish-language sensation-seeking scale. Paper presented at the 27th International Congress of Applied Psychology. Melbourne, Australia.

Hilerio, C.M., Martinez, J.V & Velez-Pastrana, M.C. (2009, August).Validity and Reliability of the Spanish Version of the Trauma Symptom Inventory. Poster presented at the 117th annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, Canada.

Vélez-Pastrana, M. C., Bradley, G., González, F. J., Rivera, M., Aponte, M., Torres, A., et al. (2009, July). Sensation seeking and sexual risk behaviours: comparison of Puerto Rican and Australian emerging adults. Poster presented at the XI European Congress of Psychology, Oslo, Norway.

Vélez-Pastrana, M. C., González, F. J., Rivera, M., Aponte, M., Torres, A., Palou, A., et al. (2009, July). Sensation seeking and sexual risk behaviours in Latino emerging adults. Poster presented at the XI European Congress of Psychology, Oslo, Norway.

Vélez-Pastrana, M. C., González-Rodríguez, R., González, F. J., Palou, A., Rivera, M., Aponte, M., et al. (2009, July). Sensation seeking: A new Spanish-Language scale. Poster presented at the XI European Congress of Psychology, Oslo, Norway.

Hilerio, C., Martinez, J., Vélez Pastrana, M. C., & Zorrilla, C. (2008, December). Comparison of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms between a group of Hispanic females with either breast cancer or HIV. Paper presented at the 11th RCMI International Symposium on Health Disparities, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Vélez Pastrana, M. C., Figueroa-Pérez, M., Bustillo, M., Gonzalez, F., Palou, A. L., Ilarraza, T., et al. (2008, October). Expressive and receptive language abilities in Spanish-speaking children with Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity disorder. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Puerto Rican Speech-Language-Hearing Association (OPPHLA). San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Gonzalez Rodriguez, R. A., Velez Pastrana, M. C., & Perez Mojica, D. (2008). Neuropsychological assessment of Spanish-speaking adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Poster presented at the XXIX International Congress of Psychology, Berlin, Germany.

Vélez-Pastrana, M., Figueroa-Pérez, M., Bustillo, M., González, F., Palou, A., Rodríguez, S., et al. (2008). Expressive and receptive language abilities in Spanish-speaking children with Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder. Paper presented at the XXIX International Congress of Psychology. Berlin, Germany.

Vélez Pastrana, M. C., Carradero Torres, H., Bernier, L., Torres Vecchini, A., Ramos, B., Pérez, C., et al. (2008). Sensation seeking, sexual risk behaviors and ADHD characteristics in Puerto Rican young adults. Poster presented at the XXIX International Congress of Psychology. Berlin, Germany.

Socarrás, J., Vélez Pastrana, M. C., & Nazario, J. (2008). ADHD symptoms in people in treatment for substance abuse vs. a community sample. Paper presented at the XXIX International Congress of Psychology. Berlin, Germany.

Vélez Pastrana, M.C. (2008). Instrumentos y Estrategias para la Evaluación del TDAH en Adultos Puertorriqueños/as (Instruments and Strategies for the assessment of ADHD in Puerto Rican Adults). Invited Conference. Congreso de Medición: Innovación, Tecnología y Nuevas Prácticas en la Psicometría (Congress on Assessment: Innovation, Technology and New Practices in Psychometrics). Puerto Rican Psychological Association. Universidad Central de Bayamón, Puerto Rico.

Vélez Pastrana, M. C., Borges-Hernández, A., Rosa-Pimentel, R., & González-Rodríguez, R. (2006, July). Families and HIV-risk behaviors in Puerto Rican adolescents. Poster session presented at the NIMH Annual International Research Conference on the Role of Families in Preventing and Adapting to HIV/AIDS. San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Vélez-Pastrana, M. C., Borges-Hernández, A., & González-Rodríguez, R. (2006, July). Psychometric properties of a Spanish-language sexual permissiveness scale for adolescents, Paper presented at the 26th International Congress of Applied Psychology. Athens, Greece.

Borges-Hernández, A., & Vélez-Pastrana, M. C. (2006, July). Adults' attitudes about sexual education in children: A Spanish-language scale, Paper presented at the 26th International Congress of Applied Psychology. Athens, Greece.

Rosa, R., Trujillo, B., González, Y. & Vélez Pastrana, M.C. (2005, July). Adults’ expectations about adolescent sexual behavior: A Spanish-language scale. Paper presented at the 9th European Congress of Psychology, Granada, Spain.