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As part of our Lecture Series, we are thrilled to announce that we are hosting an event featuring Christopher Pittenger, MD, PhD, director of the Yale OCD Research Clinic, as the keynote speaker. Dr. Pittenger will share his groundbreaking research on novel treatments for OCD, shedding light on the latest advancements in the field. He will also provide a comprehensive overview of the basics regarding OCD, treatment, medication, etc.

Dr. Pittenger, a renowned psychiatry researcher, is a leading figure in the field. He earned his MD and Ph.D. from Columbia University and later returned to Yale University, his undergraduate alma mater, for research and residency. Pittenger’s research focuses on the brain’s role in creating thought, feeling, and consciousness, as well as how brain dysregulation leads to mental suffering. His work has been particularly focused on OCD and Tourette syndrome, and the cortico-basal ganglia circuitry. He co-founded the Yale Program for Psychedelic Science, focusing on how molecules like psilocybin and LSD can teach us about brain and behavior, potentially leading to new treatments for neuropsychiatric pathology. Pittenger is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the International OCD Foundation and OCD Connecticut, and a Fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, American Psychiatric Association, and American Neurological Association.

The event will take place on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, at 7:00 pm in the Cohen Auditorium located in the Yale Child Study Center, 230 S. Frontage Road NIHB E-02, New Haven, CT. For driving and parking directions to the Cohen Auditorium, click here.

Dr. Pittenger’s website is https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/christopher-pittenger/.
The Yale OCD Research Clinic website is https://medicine.yale.edu/psychiatry/ocd/.

If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to ct.ocdf@gmail.com.

On May 15, 2024, we were honored to welcome Denis Sukhodolsky, PhD, clinical psychologist and professor at the Yale Child Study Center, to conduct a virtual Zoom presentation entitled: OCD in Children and Adolescents: Assessment, Diagnosis and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Dr. Sukhodolsky spoke about the phenomenology and clinical assessment of OCD in children and adolescents. Particular attention was paid to the diagnosis of complex presentations and co-occurring neurodevelopmental disorders. In addition, principles and methods of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for OCD, also known as exposure and response prevention (ERP), were reviewed with illustrations of application to specific symptom profiles.

Dr. Sukhodolsky is a clinical psychologist and professor at the Yale Child Study Center, where he conducts research on psychotherapy for children with neurodevelopmental disorders. He also works with children and their families at the Center and teaches a course on cognitive-behavior therapy for child psychiatry fellows at the Yale School of Medicine.

His website is https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/denis-sukhodolsky/.

Dr. Sukhodolsky graciously allowed us to share his slide presentation on our website. To view the presentation, click here.

According to a recent investigation, behavioral avoidance may reduce the long-term effectiveness of exposure and response prevention (ERP), a popular treatment for OCD. Click here to read more.

We are happy to welcome a new board member, Sara Carpenter. She will act as a Board Member at Large. Sara is passionate about raising OCD awareness in the hopes that people affected with OCD will be able to access proper diagnosis and treatment sooner. She is enthusiastic to make significant contributions to our affiliate.

OCD affects approximately one person in 40 and causes great suffering and disability. Effective evidence-based treatments are available but are difficult for many patients to access. Specialty programs can provide expert psychotherapeutic care and pharmacological management that is difficult to access in other settings.

The OCD and Anxiety Disorders Track Program, which accepts government and Connecticut state insurance, has grown quickly and has succeeded in its first year in providing effective, expert care to patients in southern Connecticut seeking help with the symptoms of OCD and related conditions.

The OCD treatment community is small, but the need for high-quality intervention is high. Click here to download the REACH OCD IOP program flyer. If you have any questions, you may contact the Program Director, Brian Zaboski (brian.zaboski@yale.edu), Medical Director, Fatima Motiwala (fatima.motiwala@bpthosp.org), or Program Manager, Jennifer Naughton (jennifer.naughton@bpthosp.org). You can also call Bridgeport Hospital’s REACH main phone number (203-384-3377). Their website is: https://www.bridgeporthospital.org/services/mental-health/reach-program.

Stanford Medicine is currently recruiting patients with OCD for a Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) clinical trial. DBS has provisional FDA approval for treating OCD under the Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE) and has shown significant benefit for many patients, but 40-50% of patients who have gotten DBS for OCD do not respond to the treatment. The purpose of their trial is to use multiple temporary implantable electrodes to identify the optimal stimulation locations in the brain for each patient that most effectively relieve their OCD symptoms, and then implant a DBS device with permanent electrodes at the best stimulation sites. The hope is to use this research to personalize OCD DBS treatment more effectively to improve patient outcomes.

Because this is an invasive clinical trial, they are enrolling patients with markers of severe OCD with a high degree of treatment resistance. Participants will need to meet the following criteria:

• Between the ages of 22 and 75.
• Have had OCD for more than 5 years.
• OCD is their primary psychiatric diagnosis.
• No substance use disorder in the last 2 years.
• No lifetime history of bipolar disorder or a psychotic disorder.
• Severe OCD symptoms.
• Failure to respond to multiple trials of medications, including two SSRI trials at maximum FDA approved dose, a trial of clomipramine, and at least 1 trial of augmentation with an antipsychotic medication.
• Failure to respond to Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP).
• No history of severe head trauma, implanted devices, or metal in the head.
• Does not plan to become pregnant in the next 3 years.

If you or someone you know would be a good candidate for this study, please reach out to Stanford Medicine at ocddbsstudy@stanford.edu.

Click here to download the survey’s information sheet.

The Online Hoarding Disorder Conference offers an opportunity for professionals — from therapists and social workers to firefighters and other public safety officials — to learn how to work effectively and compassionately with individuals with hoarding disorder (HD).

Professionals will hear from leading researchers and experts in the field and will walk away with a new understanding and practical strategies for working with those affected by HD.

The Online Hoarding Disorder Conference also provides useful information to individuals with lived experience, families and supporters affected by HD, community providers, clinicians and researchers to educate about effective and compassionate care.

The program for the Online Hoarding Disorder Conference will be released in early 2024. The full schedule will feature sessions for a variety of audiences:

• Individuals with Hoarding Disorder: Those with lived experience with hoarding disorder. Programming focuses on recovery options and building motivation for treatment.
• Family Members and Supporters: Non-professionals who have been affected by hoarding disorder in their families or other relations. Programming focuses on communication skills and effective support systems.
• Community Providers: Professionals outside of the mental health space who work with or on behalf of those with hoarding disorder, such as human service providers, housing authorities, case managers, first responders, government officials, etc. Programming focuses on strategies for addressing hoarding disorder in communities, including interventions and collaboration models.
• Clinicians and Researchers: Mental health professionals who treat and/or research hoarding disorder. Programming focuses on skills training and enhancing the clinical understanding of the disorder.

ANNOUNCING THE 2024 FAITH & OCD CONFERENCE
Navigating OCD in Diverse Faith-Based Communities

Thursday, April 18, 2024
REGISTRATION OPENING SOON!

The International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) is excited to present the fourth annual Faith and OCD Conference taking place virtually on Thursday, April 18, 2024!

The conference was specifically created to address the needs of a diverse community — spanning all faiths, ethnicities, and backgrounds. We’ll provide education about effective treatment and ways to support those in the faith community living with OCD.

Join the IOCDF for this collaborative conversation between faith leaders, mental health providers, and the OCD community!

Join us for this collaborative conversation between faith leaders, mental health providers, and the OCD community!

Who Should Attend

Individuals & Families — Those with lived experience with anxiety and OCD will hear from faith leaders and mental health professionals about how to build a supportive network for recovery — and receive messages of hope shared by those impacted by OCD and related disorders.

Faith Leaders — Spiritual and religious leaders will hear from those with lived experience with faith-related anxiety and OCD and find out how to recognize symptoms. Learn about treatment options and how you can help in the recovery process.

Mental Health Professionals — Mental health providers will gain insight from faith leaders about the ways anxiety, OCD, and treatment intersect with their clients’ faith practices. Learn how to adapt your practice by integrating faith leaders and families in the development of treatment plans.