Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior - Anxiety

Sarosh J. Motivala, Ph.D. – Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist

System Admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:07:21 +0000

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.

Anxiety Disorders Program

Scott C. Fears, M.D., Ph.D – Psychiatrist

System Admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:02:22 +0000

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.

Anxiety Disorders Program

Michelle Otelsberg, MFT – Cognitive-Behavioral Therapist

System Admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:56:37 +0000

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.

Anxiety Disorders Program

Karron Maidment, RN, MFT – Program Coordinator

System Admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:50:39 +0000

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.

Anxiety Disorders Program

Jamie D. Feusner, M.D. – Program Director

System Admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:39:21 +0000

Jamie D. Feusner, M.D. – Program Director

Dr. Feusner is an Associate Professor in the UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences. He has been treating patients in the UCLA Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Intensive Treatment Program since 2002, and has been director of the program since 2006. Dr. Feusner has published extensively on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), anxiety disorders and mood disorders and has lectured nationally and internationally on these topics. He is a principal investigator on a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) funded study on the effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy on brain glutamate concentration in individuals with OCD.

Anxiety Disorders Program

Our Staff

System Admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:26:17 +0000

Our Staff

Jamie D. Feusner, M.D. – Program Director
Dr. Feusner is an Associate Professor in the UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences. He has been treating patients in the UCLA Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Intensive Treatment Program since 2002, and has been director of the program since 2006. more…

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.

Anxiety Disorders Program

OCD Intensive Treatment Program

System Admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:40:33 +0000

OCD Treatment at UCLA

The UCLA Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Intensive Treatment Program is for people who have moderate to severe obsessive-compulsive disorder and a strong commitment to treatment. Our program has been helping individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) since 1991.

Anxiety Disorders Program

Attention Training for Childhood Anxiety Disorders

System Admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:05:54 +0000

Study Detail

This UCLA Research Study conducted by Dr. Susanna Chang is investigating the usefulness of a novel computer-based attention training treatment for childhood anxiety. We are seeking help from children ages 8 – 17 with social anxiety, generalized anxiety, and separation anxiety as study participants. Participation involves EEG recordings and 4 weeks of a non-medication attention training treatment.
Call (310) 825-0122 or email anxietyinfo@ucla.edu for more information.

Project:

Attention Training for Childhood Anxiety Disorders

Review and Approval

IRB Flyer:

AMP Anxiety flyer.pdf

Renewal Date:

2012, August 24

Childhood OCD, Anxiety & Tic Disorders Program

UCLA Childhood OCD, Anxiety and Tic Disorders Program Research Participation Opportunities

System Admin — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 23:08:25 +0000

Research

The Child OCD, Anxiety & Tic Disorders Program at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA is a world-renowned clinical research and training program that also provides state-of-the art evaluation and treatment for children and adolescents up to age 17 with anxiety and related disorders. Clinical trials test new treatment options while exploring the neurobiological, psychological and genetic underpinnings of OCD, anxiety and tic disorders. Eligible children may receive treatment through one of the program’s ongoing clinical trials. Please see below for information about current research opportunities.

Current Research Projects

Attention Training for Childhood Anxiety Disorders

Attention Training for Childhood OCD

Attention Training for Childhood Tic Disorders

CBIT-JR TIC STUDY

Childhood OCD MRS Study

Effects of Tic Suppression and Behavior Treatment on Current and Subsequent Cognitive Functioning

Family Focused Treatment for Childhood OCD

Current Opportunities to Participate in Research

Childhood OCD, Anxiety & Tic Disorders Program

UCLA Research Study on Youth With Autism or Asperger Syndrome

Dr. Candace J. Wilkinson — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 00:46:04 +0000

Study Detail

Many youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience increased daily stress due to ASD-related symptoms. Social skills challenges, communication difficulties, or sensory sensitivities could potentially generate stress for youth with ASD in a variety of contexts. In typically developing children, stress level can be measured using a variety of techniques, such as collection of saliva samples (i.e., salivary cortisol collection). This technique is reliable and noninvasive. In this study, we plan to use salivary cortisol collection and examine the relation between cortisol and stress in youth (age 7-14) with high-functioning autism or Asperger's Syndrome. Establishing a relation between cortisol and stress in youth with ASD has the potential to serve as an objective marker of distress in youth who often have difficulty reporting emotions. Further, it will provide a more complete understanding of the physiological systems underlying stress and anxiety in ASD. This project is supported in part by a UCLA Center for Autism Research and Treatment (CART) Pilot Grant award to Lindsey Sterling, Ph.D. who works with CART investigator Jeffrey Wood, Ph.D.

Project:

CART Pilot Project: Youth With Autism or Asperger Syndrome

More information and application

Target audience:

Youth with autism or Asperger syndrome between the ages 7 and 14 years.

Involvement:

Parents of potentially eleigible youth will be screened over the telephone; this will last approximately 5-10 minutes. Youth selected for the study will participate in a 2 hour session involving two activities assessing brain and nervous system responses in youth with autism or Asperger syndrome. They will also be asked to collect small samples of their saliva at home for 3 days.

Benefits:

Eligible youth will receive $45 and a FREE of charge diagnostic evaluation of abilities, cognitive functioning, and adaptive skills.

Contact details:

For more information, please contact: Dr. Lindsey Sterling and Dr. Jeffrey Wood at: 310- 882-0537 or lsterling@mednet.ucla.edu

Review and Approval

IRB Flyer:

Sterling PACA flyer_ ASD NO Anxiety IRBexp11.3.2011.pdf

Renewal Date:

2011, November 3

Research at the Semel Institute

Sweating the small stuff: Early adversity, prior depression linked to high sensitivity to stress

Semel Web Manager — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 19:00:00 +0000

We all know people who are able to roll with life's punches, while for others, every misfortune is a jab straight to the gut. Research examining this issue has found that although most people require significant adversity to become depressed — the death of a loved one, say, or getting fired — roughly 30 percent of people with first-time depression and 60 percent of people with a history of depression develop the disorder following relatively minor misfortunes. But no one knew why. Now, a new study led by UCLA researchers suggests that people become depressed more easily following minor life stress in part because they have experienced early life adversity or prior depressive episodes, both of which may make people more sensitive to later life stress.

Author:

Mark Wheeler

Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior

Genetic Studies of Antidepressant Response

System Admin — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:31:02 +0000

Psychiatry Grand Rounds

Steven P. Hamilton, M.D., Ph.D.

Carol Cochran Schaffner Endowed Chair in Mental Health
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry
Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute
University of California San Francisco

The topic of the presentation will be “Genetic Studies of Antidepressant Response”

Learning Objectives:

Review genetic factors that may influence response to antidepressants
Discuss genetic factors that may influence antidepressant side effects
Identify limitations of genetic data for predictions of treatment response

NEW--Podcast Preview available on the website, www.psychiatrygrandrounds.com

Event detail

15 Mar 2011 - 11:00 - 12:30

Semel Institute Auditorium C8-183

760 Westwood Plaza

Los Angeles, CA 90024

See map: Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps, MapQuest

Psychiatry Grand Rounds

Attention Training for Childhood Anxiety Disorders

Melody Keller — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 18:02:42 +0000

Project summary

Investigators

Primary Investigator:

Susanna Chang, Ph.D.

Co-Investigators:

John Piacentini, Ph.D., ABPP

Co-Investigators:

James McCracken, M.D.

Childhood OCD, Anxiety & Tic Disorders Program

Childhood OCD MRS Study

Melody Keller — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 22:13:41 +0000

Project summary

The purpose of this project is to determine what, if any, changes in brain structure and brain chemistry take place in children during standardized cognitive behavioral treatment for childhood OCD. Another purpose is to determine if treatment improves “cognitive” abilities, such as memory and attention.

Investigators

Primary Investigator:

Joseph O'Neill

Co-Investigators:

John Piacentini, Ph.D., ABPP

Co-Investigators:

James McCracken, M.D.

Childhood OCD, Anxiety & Tic Disorders Program

'Good' Worry: How Worrying Well Can Help You Manage Stress

System Admin — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 08:00:00 +0000

Article link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/martin-rossman-md/good-anxiety-how-worrying-well_b...

Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz, a research psychiatrist at the Semel Institute, was featured in a Nov. 22 Huffington Post column about how worrying “well” can help individuals manage stress.