Current OCD Studies for Adults
Treatment with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Attaining and Maintaining Wellness in OCD (IRB# 6628)
- Are you between the ages of 18 - 75?
- Are you taking one of the following medications for obsessive- compulsive disorder (OCD)?
- Clomipramine (Anafranil)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac)
- Fluvoxamine (Luvox)
- Sertraline (Zoloft)
- Paroxetine (Paxil)
- Citalopram (Celexa)
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)
- Are you still having bothersome symptoms?
- Are you interested in receiving no-cost therapy treatment that may improve your symptoms such that you may be able to stop taking your medication?
If you answered "yes" to all four questions, you may be eligible for treatment as part of our research study.
Eligible participants initially remain on a stable dose of their OCD medication and will receive Cognitive-Behavioral therapy consisting of Exposure and Ritual Prevention (EX/RP or ERP) twice a week for up to 12 weeks as additional treatment. Participants who become well (with only minimal to mild OCD symptoms) after the EX/RP (ERP) will be randomly assigned (assigned by chance) to either continue their medication or begin to taper off their medication and have it gradually replaced with a placebo (sugar pill).
All patients will be carefully monitored throughout the study for 24 weeks. The goal of the study is to understand whether patients with OCD on Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SRIs) who achieve wellness from EX/RP (ERP) can safely discontinue their medication.
This study is currently enrolling participants. For more information about participation or for a phone screening, contact us by phone, or email, or see our study specific website.
- (646) 774-8062 or chenste@nyspi.columbia.edu for the New York site
- (215) 746-3327 or pjuliana@mail.med.upenn.edu for the Philadelphia site
This study is done in conjunction with the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety, at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn). The UPenn team is led by Dr. Edna Foa, author of Stop Obsessing! If you would like more information about her book, click here.
Control and Reward Circuits in OCD (IRB#7000)
- Are you between the ages of 18 – 55?
- Do you have bothersome OCD symptoms?
- Are you not taking any psychiatric medications?
- Are you interested in receiving no-cost therapy treatment that may improve your symptoms?
If you answered "yes" to all four questions, you may be eligible for treatment as part of our research study “Control and Reward Circuits in OCD.” Eligible participants will be asked questions about their symptoms, perform tasks on a computer, and receive 17 sessions of Cognitive-Behavioral therapy consisting of Exposure and Ritual Prevention (EX/RP or ERP). You will receive a brain scan using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) both before and after therapy. The purpose of this study is to assess whether therapy treatment with EX/RP (ERP) changes the brain.
For more information about participating, please call Rachel Middleton at (646) 774-8138 or email her at middlet@nyspi.columbia.edu.
Toward Precision Medicine for OCD (IRB# 7127)
The Center for OCD and Related Disorders at New York State Psychiatric Institute is conducting a research study to look for genetic causes of OCD. Our goal is to look at the genes of individuals with OCD to see if we can identify what may have caused their OCD. All participants will receive a clinical evaluation, and have their genes analyzed, at no cost.
If you, or a family member, has OCD, you may be eligible to participate. All study participants will receive a clinical evaluation, and will provide a sample of their blood, for ana. Findings that we consider significant from these genetic tests will be reported back to study participants if they want this information. You will be compensated $50 for participating in this research study.
For more information about participating, please contact Yael Stovetzky at 646-774-8011 or email her at stovetz@nyspi.columbia.edu.
Stress Reactivity in Patients with Anxiety (IRB# 7111)
- Are you struggling with generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or a specific phobia?
- Are you between the ages of 18-50?
- Are you not taking psychiatric medications?
If you answered "yes" to these questions, then you may be eligible to participate in our research study, “Stress Reactivity in Patients with Anxiety.” Eligible participants will be asked questions about their symptoms and health, complete questionnaires, read brief stories on a computer, and complete a stress reactivity task. The purpose of this study is to learn more about how individuals with anxiety respond to a stress reactivity task. This study will help us to better understand the brain basis of anxiety so that we can improve anxiety treatments.
Participants may earn up to $100 for completing all study procedures. Additional payment of $0-$66 will also be provided based on performance on one of the tasks.
For more information about participating, please call Yael Stovetzky at 646-774-8011 or email her at stovetz@nyspi.columbia.edu.
Cannabinoids and OCD (IRB #7239)
- Are you between the ages of 18 and 60?
- Do you have bothersome OCD symptoms?
- Are you not currently taking any psychiatric medications?
If you answered yes to all these questions, you may be eligible for treatment as part of our research study, at no cost to you. This study is investigating the medicinal effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one of the active ingredients of marijuana, for (OCD).
For more information about participating, please call Dr. Ivar Snorrason 646-774-8118 or email her at snorras@nyspi.columbia.edu