About Us
The Yale OCD Research Clinic is dedicated to advancing our understanding of the brain changes that contribute to OCD, and to the application of this knowledge for the development of new treatments.
Many cases of OCD can be successfully treated with established medications – especially the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) – and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) involving exposure and response prevention. However, a substantial minority gets little symptom relief from these established approaches. Furthermore, many patients who do respond to medication or CBT are left with residual symptoms and lead constricted lives. New treatments, deriving from new understanding of the neurobiology of the disorder, are urgently needed.
Much recent and current research in the clinic is focused on a new hypothesis of OCD: that its symptoms may, at least in some cases, involve disruptions in the brain of the neurotransmitter glutamate. This suggests that medications that modulate glutamate levels may help those patients who get little or no benefit from established therapies. Indeed, recent studies from our clinic, and elsewhere, suggest that glutamate-modulating drugs hold promise for some patients with difficult-to-treat OCD. More details, and links to some of our recent publications, can be found in the research section of our site.
History of the Clinic
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The Yale OCD Research Clinic has a 25-year history of groundbreaking advances in the understanding and treatment of OCD. Founded in the mid-1980s by Drs. Wayne Goodman and Dennis Charney, the Clinic fostered the development of the field’s standard instrument for rating symptom severity – the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), as well as the first clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy of the medications that are now standard treatments for the disorder – the SSRIs and neuroleptics. The International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation, a leading education and advocacy organization for patients with OCD, was founded by participants in these early research trials.
Our current focus on glutamate modulators as potential treatments for OCD was begun in the early 2000s by Vladimir Coric, who treated the first patients with the glutamate-modulating drug riluzole. The current Director, Christopher Pittenger, took over the clinic in 2007 and continues this line of work, bringing to bear the neurobiological expertise he gained during his Ph.D. studies with Eric Kandel at Columbia University. With Benjamin Kelmendi, we have also begun studying the potential therapeutic use of psilocybin for OCD.
Training Opportunities
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The Yale University Department of Psychiatry is a superb training environment for MDs and Ph.D.s with interests in OCD, depression, and related conditions. We regularly work with trainees at the undergraduate, graduate, resident, fellow, and postdoc level.
While there is no dedicated funding for full-time fellow or postdoctoral trainees, several options exist at Yale for funding a training experience in clinical research.
For further information about training opportunities in the Yale OCD Research Clinic, please contact Christopher Pittenger, MD, Ph.D., at christopher.pittenger@yale.edu,
Frequently Asked Questions
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- Can I receive treatment there?
We are a research clinic, not a treatment clinic, so we are not able to provide general treatment services. We are, however, able to provide some participants treatment within the context of some research studies. We can also provide treatment recommendations to people who are screened for research participation, and to talk with their psychiatrist, primary care provider, or therapist about these recommendations. We can also help them find a psychiatrist or therapist in the community.
- What insurance do you take?
- We do not provide treatment services, so we do not interact with insurance companies. If you receive any form of treatment through our research, it will be free of charge to you, so you do not need to worry about insurance or copays.
- Will I have to stop my current medications if I participate?
No. Use of medications does not rule out participation in general. More importantly, your clinical needs are prioritized above our research, so we don't want medication changes to be primarily motivated by participation in our studies.
- Is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) available?
- Though not available directly from our clinic, some people may be able to receive CBT through qualified personnel in our building, the Connecticut Mental Health Center. We can also try to help you find a good CBT provider in the community.
- How long will my involvement with you last?
Participation will be scheduled at your convenience, to the extent possible. Your involvement will entail at least a couple of visits. After an initial evaluation session, scheduling for individual studies may begin. Depending on the study, this may involve one or more additional appointments.
- Is the information I share with you kept confidential?
- Absolutely. Not only are we required by law to keep your information confidential, it’s something we personally take seriously. Your information is kept strictly confidential.
- How much does participation cost me?
- Participation will not cost you, save for expenses such as transportation to our facilities. In fact, if you participate in our research studies, you may receive some compensation for your time.
- How much do you compensate me to participate?
- The amount you will be paid depends on the study (or studies) you participate in.
- Can I participate in more than one study?
- You certainly can, and we welcome it, provided you meet study criteria.
- I don’t have OCD. Can I still participate in research?
- We always need control participants with whom to compare individuals with OCD. Control participants need to pass a set of screening tests; psychiatric diagnoses, substance abuse, and major medical or neurological diseases are typically excluded. As with participants with OCD, control participants will be compensated for their time. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are at all interested.
- How is the clinic funded?
- We are funded through various research grants and donations.