Current Studies
How Hormones and Exposure and Response Prevention (EX/RP) Affect the Brain of People with OCD
Studies show that hormones affect the brain's fear extinction network, which is relevant for therapy involving exposure and response prevention (EX/RP), a first-line treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This study will examine the effect of delivering EX/RP to women during different phases in their menstrual cycle to determine the effects of hormones on the fear extinction network and on their OCD symptoms. Men will also be recruited for this study to further explore biological sex differences.
If you are interested in learning more, please email us at Ocdteam@nyspi.columbia.edu or give us a call at 646-774-8082.
If you are interested in this study and are in the Philadelphia area, this study is also being conducted at the University of Pennsylvania.
Helping Adults with OCD Succeed at Work
Do you experience symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder that impact your ability to work? Unemployed and interested in OCD treatment and employment services?
A research study at the New York State Psychiatric Institute will compare two models of employment services for people with OCD in New York State (NYS) interested in finding and keeping employment. We are seeking participation of individuals 18 years or older with OCD who reside in NYS, are currently unemployed, and are interested in finding employment in NYS. The study will offer CBT Treatment and Employment Services at no cost to the participant.
If you are interested in learning more, please email us at impactocd@nyspi.columbia.edu.
MEGA-OCD: Using Global Brain Data to Understand OCD
The MEGA-OCD project is a collaboration with expert OCD sites around the globe. The project will use existing data from two major international OCD collaborations. Both datasets include brain scans and clinical information about individuals with OCD as well as healthy volunteers. With these data, the international research team will:
- Map brain signatures of OCD by combining different types of brain imaging (which show brain structure, the brain's wiring, and brain activity both at rest and during tasks) to identify brain signatures of OCD clinical profiles.
- Use advanced computer models to distinguish OCD from healthy controls, identify OCD biotypes that correspond to clinical subtypes, and predict how well someone might respond to treatment.
- Connect these brain patterns to genetics by exploring how these brain signatures relate to gene expression.