Anxiety
UCLA Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Program for Psychiatric Disorders
What is OCD?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent thoughts, impulses, or images that are unwanted, distasteful, inappropriate, intrusive and often personally repugnant. These obsessions are coupled with repetitive, ritualized behaviors called compulsions that are intended to prevent or correct some dreaded event associated with the obsessions. Typically, those with OCD recognize that the obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors are irrational – but even so, they cannot be resisted, leading to further distress. People with severe OCD experience profound impairment in social and/or occupational functioning.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is treated with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and a class of medications called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). While this may help many people, there are some who do not find adequate relief.
What is DBS?
UCLA is now offering patients with chronic, severe, treatment-resistant OCD another option in treatment. Deep Brain Stimulation, or DBS, is a neurosurgical procedure where two leads are implanted in the brain, two extensions connected to the leads are implanted in the chest which are connected to neurostimulators. A neurostimulator is a sealed device similar to a cardiac pacemaker that produces the electrical pulses needed for stimulation. The pulses travel through the two extensions and leads to specific targets in the brain known to be associated with OCD. The pulses can be adjusted wirelessly to check or change the neurostimulator settings.
Dual Diagnosis Program
Welcome To The UCLA Dual Diagnosis Program
Treatment For Addiction And Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions
Although addiction trends in the United States have changed over the years, addiction remains one of the most challenging issues facing America. In addition to addictions to illegal drugs like heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine, an increasing number of individuals are developing addictions to prescription drugs (e.g., OxyContin and Xanax) as well as to relatively new "designer drugs" (e.g., bath salts, K2, spice), inhalants, and sleep aids. Behavioral addictions (also called process addictions) have become more prevalent as well with pathological gambling and sex addiction in the foreground. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that individuals who suffer from an addiction are twice as likely as their healthy counterparts to also suffer from another mental health condition as well.
For many years, the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA has consistently ranked as "Best in the West" for psychiatry as part of the US News and World Report rankings of top hospitals. As an extension of its reputation as a leader in treating psychiatric conditions, UCLA added the Dual Diagnosis Program to its treatment services in 2012. This program specializes in treating recovering addicts who have also been diagnosed with co-occurring depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and ADHD, in an intensive outpatient environment. The program's clinicians are experts in the field of addiction medicine with extensive experience treating multiple mental health conditions simultaneously. To inquire about the program or to schedule an appointment, please contact us.
Sarosh J. Motivala, Ph.D. – Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist
Sarosh J. Motivala, Ph.D. – Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist
Sarosh J. Motivala, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and is a cognitive-behavioral therapist specializing in research-supported treatment of OCD. At the UCLA OCD Intensive Treatment Program he conducts individual therapy and runs groups on cognitive therapy and coping skills. In addition to his focus on helping individuals with chronic anxiety, He also specializes cognitive-behavioral strategies to help individuals with chronic insomnia.
Scott C. Fears, M.D., Ph.D – Psychiatrist
Scott C. Fears, M.D., Ph.D – Psychiatrist
Scott C. Fears, M.D., Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor and Daniel X. Freedman Scholar in the UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and is an attending physician in the OCD Intensive Treatment Program since 2009. In addition to working with patients, Dr. Fears is actively involved in conducting basic science research identifying key genes underlying brain structure and complex behavior. He is also actively involved in providing mental health care to Los Angeles’ homeless population. He was the Director of Psychiatric Services at Homeless Health Care Los Angeles (www.hhcla.org) from 2004-2007 and is now on the board of directors with a focus on designing the mental health treatment programs.
Michelle Otelsberg, MFT – Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist
Michelle Otelsberg, MFT
Michelle Otelsberg, MFT, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and is a Clinical Specialist in the UCLA OCD Intensive Treatment Program, working both one-on-one with the patients as well as leading group therapy since 2008. Ms. Otelsberg specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy to treat mood disorders and anxiety disorders including panic, generalized anxiety (GAD), social anxiety, post-traumatic stress (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and specific phobias. In 2009, Ms. Otelsberg also joined the UCLA Childhood OCD, Anxiety and Tic Disorders Program where she participates in the evaluation and treatment of anxiety and related disorders in children and adolescents, and acts as an independent evaluator for Tourette’s Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder research studies.
Karron Maidment, RN, MFT – Program Coordinator
Karron Maidment, RN, MFT – Program Coordinator
Ms. Maidment is a registered nurse and a marriage and family therapist. She is a cognitive-behavioral therapist in the UCLA Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Intensive Treatment Program. She has been a therapist in this program since its inception in 1991.
