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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

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

Biomarkers; Clinical Trials; Mental Health

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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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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