While therapies such as exposure and response prevention (ERP) can effectively treat OCD in children, not all children see a decrease in symptoms. From a cognitive perspective, OCD is associated… Read more »
2015 Donor-Awarded Research Grants: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Prediction, understanding, and treatment of perfectionism using acceptance and commitment therapy Used for OCD and other mental health disorders, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a form of cognitive behavioral… Read more »
Targeted real-time NIRS-driven neurofeedback: A novel treatment for OCD
Despite a variety of treatments for OCD existing, about a quarter of people with OCD do not experience a substantial decrease in symptoms. However, non-invasive treatments that target certain brain… Read more »
In vivo identification of antibody targets in PANDAS/PANS
At the time of this study, one proposed method by which PANDAS/PANS takes hold in patients is the autoimmune response of antibodies made to fight Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS;… Read more »
MRS glutamate-stratified treatment of pediatric OCD
Although cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for pediatric OCD, not all patients respond to it equally — with some seeing little to no decrease in symptoms. This… Read more »
Sleep and circadian disturbances as a vulnerability for OCD
Sleep and circadian rhythms (internal regulators of sleep cycles) are crucial for mental health, and disorders such as insomnia have immensely negative consequences on daily functioning and wellbeing. Studies by… Read more »
PANDAS autoantibodies and the blood-brain barrier
Infections with S. pyogenes (GAS) are associated with brain autoimmune disorders: Sydenham’s chorea (SC) and Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections (PANDAS). Autoantibodies form when the immune system fails to… Read more »
Explicating the influence of object attachment in hoarding disorder
Even after completing CBT, many patients with hoarding disorder (HD) continue to experience clinically significant hoarding symptoms. While CBT challenges the importance of hoarded objects, it does not address patients’… Read more »
Use of transcranial direct current stimulation to enhance consolidation of therapeutic learning in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
While medications and psychotherapy can each help about 60% of OCD patients, troubling symptoms can often persist even among treatment responders. New therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. The top therapeutic… Read more »
Decision-making impairments in OCD: An integrated behavioral economics model
Patients with OCD often view risky situations as aversive, with high rates of avoidance of feared situations and stimuli (e.g., public restrooms, kitchen stoves). However, the research on risk aversion… Read more »