What types of patients does a neurologist treat?

As a board-certified neurologist, Dr. Barratt has expertise in treating patients with the following conditions of the nervous system:

  • Stroke

  • Seizures

  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

  • Neuropathy

  • Myasthenia gravis

  • Headache

  • Back pain

  • Neck pain

  • Multiple sclerosis

  • Dementia

Hyperbaric and Diving Medicine

Between 1997 and 1999, Dr. Barratt completed a two-year fellowship in hyperbaric and diving medicine at Louisiana State University in New Orleans.  She received injured saturation divers from the Gulf of Mexico.  In addition to treating decompression sickness, arterial gas embolism, and other forms of barotrauma, she performed fitness to dive evaluations. She also cared for patients with chronic non-healing wounds, invasive fungal infections, and carbon monoxide poisoning.  Dr. Barratt’s fellowship led to a number of basic and clinical science research publications in peer-reviewed journals.  She served as a reviewer for Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine (now entitled Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance) and co-authors the chapter on fungal infections in the textbook Hyperbaric Medicine Practice.

Hyperbaric and Diving Medicine Publications

Garcia-Covarrubias L and Barratt D. Use of Adjunctive Hyperbaric Oxygen in the Management of Invasive Fungal Infections. In Whelan HT and Kindwall EP (Editors). Hyperbaric Medicine Practice. 4th Edition Best Publishing Company: Flagstaff, AZ, 2017: 881-894.

Garcia-Covarrubias L, Barratt DM. Use of Adjunctive Hyperbaric Oxygen in the Management of Invasive Fungal Infections. In Kindwall EP (Editor). Hyperbaric Medicine Practice. 3rd Edition Best Publishing Company: Flagstaff, AZ, 2008: 959-972.

Garland MM, Gutierrez A, Barratt DM. Peripheral neuropathy of the extremity after hyperbaric exposure. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2012;83:805-808.

Van Meter K, Sheps S, Kriedt F, Moises J, Barratt D, Murphy-Lavoie H, Harch PG, Bazan N. Hyperbaric oxygen improves rate of return of spontaneous circulation after prolonged normothermic porcine cardiopulmonary arrest. Resuscitation. 2008;78:200-14. Epub 2008 May 16.

Barratt DM and Van Meter K. Decompression Sickness in Miskito Indian Lobster Divers: A Review of 229 Cases. 2004. Aviat Space Environ Med. 75:350-353.

Garcia-Covarrubias L, Barratt DM, Bartlett R, Van Meter K. [Treatment of mucormycosis with adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen: five cases treated in the same institution and review of the literature] Rev Invest Clin. 2004 56:51-5. Spanish.

Barratt DM, Harch P, and Van Meter K. Decompression Illness in Divers—A review of the literature. Neurologist. 2002; 8:186-202.

Garcia-Covarrubias L, Barratt DM, Van Meter K, Metzinger SE, Bartlett R. Management of Invasive Aspergillosis with Adjuvant Hyperbaric Oxygenation: A retrospective clinical series at a single institution. South Med J 2002. 95:450-456.

Barratt DM, Van Meter K, Asmar P, Nolan T, Trahan C, Garcia-Covarrubias L, Metzinger S. Hyperbaric Oxygen as an Adjunct in Zygomycosis: Randomized Controlled Trial in a Murine Model. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2001; 45:3601-3602.

Garcia-Covarrubias L, Bartlett R, Barratt DM, Wassermann R. Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral Mucormycosis Attributable to Apophysomyces elegans in an Immunocompetent Individual: Case Report and Review of the Literature. J Trauma. 2001; 50:353-357.

Sleep Medicine

Dr. Barratt has a special focus on Sleep Medicine.  Her publication on EEG and Sleep received an award—the Association of American Medical College MedEdPORTAL Editor’s Choice Special Distinction as an exemplary resource. The field of sleep medicine encompasses promotion of healthy sleep habits, as well as treatment of sleep disorders.  Sleep disorders include the following:

  • Insomnia

  • Sleep apnea

  • REM behavior disorder

  • Narcolepsy

  • Restless Legs Syndrome

Home sleep tests are widely available and preferred by many patients over in-laboratory sleep studies.  There are many new treatments available for patients with sleep disorders.

Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion

Dr. Barratt has worked in trauma centers, where she cared for patients with traumatic brain injuries.  Her publication on increased intracranial pressure and head injury was published on MedEdPORTAL. 

According to the CDC, a concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury or TBI.  Although concussions can be described as mild when they are not life-threatening, patients can experience lasting symptoms that include headache, dizziness, balance problems, memory issues, and sleep disturbances.  With proper diagnostic evaluation and treatment, patients can experience recovery.