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    Denis Sukhodolsky, PhD

    Professor in the Child Study Center
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    Titles

    Professor in the Child Study Center

    Biography

    Denis Sukhodolsky is Professor in the Yale Child Study Center. His research concerns the efficacy and biomarkers of behavioral interventions for children with autism spectrum disorder, Tourette Syndrome, irritability, and related neurodevelopmental disorders. This work has been supported by grants from NIMH, NICHD, DoD CDMRP, and Simons Foundation. Currently, he is a principal investigator of clinical trials of behavior therapy for anxiety in school-age children with autism and another clinical trial of behavior therapy for irritability and aggressive behavior in adolescents with autism. He is also a Yale site PI of the ACE network study of gender differences and neural signatures of optimal outcomes in ASD during adolescence and young adulthood. In addition to his research, Dr. Sukhodolsky is a licensed and board-certified clinical psychologist working with children and their families at the Yale Child Study Center.

    Appointments

    Other Departments & Organizations

    • Center for Brain & Mind Health
    • Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Training Program
    • Child Study Center
    • Developmental Disabilities Program
    • MR Center
    • Sukhodolsky Lab
    • Tic Disorder & Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Program
    • Yale Medicine

    Education & Training

    Postdoctoral fellow
    Yale University (2003)
    PhD
    Hofstra University (1997)

    Research

    Overview

    Behavior therapy for irritability and aggression in adolescents with autism (AR190136). This clinical trial will test the effectiveness of a novel behavioral intervention for irritability and aggression (BTIA) in adolescents with autism complicated by disruptive behaviors such as anger outbursts and low frustration tolerance.  BTIA consists of 15 ninety-minute weekly sessions that are  conducted with the teens and their parents by experienced therapists. The goal of BTIA is to help adolescents on the autism spectrum acquire emotion regulation and problem-solving strategies for managing frustration.  Funded by the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, this 4-year clinical trial will enroll 126 participants in the age range from 12 to 18 years with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and co-occurring behavioral difficulties. Study participants are randomly assigned to BTIA  or a supportive psychotherapy control condition and outcome measures are conducted before, during and after treatment by a blinded rater. 

    Neural mechanisms of CBT for anxiety in autism (R01 HD083881). This is a randomized controlled trial of cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) versus Psychological education and Supportive Therapy (PST) for anxiety in children, ages 8 to 14, with autism and moderate to severe anxiety. The study utilizes fMRI to identify CBT-invoked changes in levels of activity/functional connectivity within the neural circuits involved in emotion regulation and social perception.

    Multimodal developmental neurogenetics of females with ASD (R01 MH100028). This is a multi-site, longitudinal study of sex differences in ASD at the levels of gene structure and expression, neural dynamics, brain function and connectivity. The ACE network has curated an unprecedented sex-balanced, age-, IQ- and severity-matched cohort of cognitively-able school-age boys and girls with ASD, and age- and IQ-matched typically developing children and unaffected siblings. The second five-year period of this ACE network study is conducted to understand neurodevelopmental sex differences in ASD during transition to adulthood.  


    Medical Research Interests

    Aggression; Anger; Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorders; Autistic Disorder; Behavior Therapy; Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Psychotherapy; Tourette Syndrome

    Public Health Interests

    Mental Health; Clinical Trials; Biomarkers

    Research at a Glance

    Yale Co-Authors

    Frequent collaborators of Denis Sukhodolsky's published research.

    Publications

    2024

    See All Publications

    Clinical Trials

    Current Trials

    See All Current Clinical Trials

    Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

    • activity

      Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies

      Professional OrganizationsMember
    • activity

      Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

      CommitteesMember
    • honor

      Research Mentor Award

      Yale School of Medicine AwardChild Study Center, Yale School of Medicine
    • honor

      Research Award

      National AwardSimons Foundation
    • activity

      Child Psychopathology and Developmental Disabilities (CPDD) Study Section

      Peer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsAd-hoc reviewer
    See All Achievements

    Clinical Care

    Overview

    Denis Sukhodolsky, PhD, is a clinical psychologist in the Yale Child Study Center who treats children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, Tourette syndrome and OCD. He also sees patients with oppositional defiant and disruptive mood dysregulation disorders. Patients with these disorders often have frequent anger outbursts and chronic irritability, the type of symptoms that fall into the category of emotion dysregulation.

    “For example, most children may be upset about not being able to play a video game, but get over it quickly,” Sukhodolsky says. “But children who have trouble regulating their emotions can stay upset for prolonged periods of time or get into long arguments that ruin their day.”

    Sukhodolsky works with children and their family members to develop strategies to face challenging situations when they happen.

    “We discuss the importance of creating daily routines for patients and helping them transition between activities,” he says.

    Sukhodolsky uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a form of psychotherapy that focuses on helping patients change negative emotions and thinking patterns through practicing specific behavioral strategies.

    “One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is helping children change how they interact with their social world by giving them the tools to understand and master their emotions,” Sukhodolsky says.

    In his current research, Sukhodolsky leads clinical trials that test behavioral therapy interventions for children with anger outbursts, anxiety and autism.

    Clinical Specialties

    Psychiatry; Psychotherapy Psychology

    Fact Sheets

    Board Certifications

    • Child Psychology

      Certification Organization
      AB of Professional Psychology
      Original Certification Date
      2013

    • Behavioral & Cognitive Psychology

      Certification Organization
      AB of Professional Psychology
      Latest Certification Date
      2017
      Original Certification Date
      2013

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    Get In Touch

    Contacts

    Email
    Academic Office Number
    Secondary Academic Office Number
    Appointment Number
    Clinic Fax Number
    Mailing Address

    Child Study Center

    PO Box 207900, 230 South Frontage Road

    New Haven, CT 06520-7900

    United States

    Locations

    • Neison Irving Harris Building

      Academic Office

      230 South Frontage Road

      New Haven, CT 06519

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