1. The CALM Project: Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Anxious Children
   
   
2. D-Cycloserine Augmentation to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Exposure and Response Prevention for Adults and Adolescents Diagnosed with OCD
   
   
3. Columbia University Neuroimaging Study Seeking Participants with Anxiety
   
   
4. Research Study for Teenagers who have been Diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder
   
   
5. Tourette's Disorder Research Program
   
   
6. OCD Research Program
   
   
7. Research Study using MRI to examine Bulimia Nervosa in adolescent girls
   
   
8. Program for Adolescents who are Depressed and Hurting Themselves
   
   
9. Program for Depressed Adolescents and Their Parents

If you or someone you know has OCD and is 18 or older, they may be eligible for free treatment as part of the adult OCD research program at Columbia University Medical Center/NYSPI.

Call Jose Hernandez at212-543-5367 or go to www.Columbia-OCD.org for more information.

The CALM Project: Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Anxious Children

Children as young as 3 years old can experience intense anxiety when separated from their parents, in social situations, or when exposed to a feared object or situation. The distress or avoidance caused by these fears can lead to considerable impairment for children and their families. Whereas traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is generally used to treat anxiety symptoms, the concepts and strategies utilized in CBT are often too developmentally advanced for young children to understand.

Research suggests that teaching parents how to effectively respond to their child's anxiety can reduce anxiety in children. Essentially, parents learn to praise their child's courageous behavior and to ignore anxious/avoidant behavior, which reinforces courageous behavior on the child's part. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, or PCIT, is a specific treatment in which a therapist trains parents to effectively interact with their children while the parent plays with the child. This creates a therapy context that is fun for the child and that teaches parents how to respond in the moment to problematic situations.

Although PCIT was originally designed to treat behavior disorders such as ADHD, it has been adapted for use with young children suffering from anxiety disorders. PCIT helps teach parents of anxious children the following skills:

• How to positively attend to your child
• How to effectively praise courageous behavior
• How to ignore anxious/avoidant behavior
• How to model effective coping in feared situations

Open-Label Exploratory Investigation of D-Cycloserine Augmentation to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with Exposure and Response Prevention for Adults and Adolescents Diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - A Feasibility Study

Principal Investigator: Moira Rynn, MD; Blair Simpson, MD, PhD

NYSPI IRB Protocol: #5828

Diagnostic Groups: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Age Range: 12-65 (inclusive)

Gender: Male and Female

Language Requirements: English-speaking only

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Able to understand and follow study procedures
2. Adolescents and adults ages of 12-65 who are in good physical health
3. All sexually active participants of childbearing potential who are using a medically acceptable form of birth control
4. If receiving SRI medication, participants should already be on it for at least 12 weeks
5. If receiving other psychotropic medication, participants should already be on it for at least 4 weeks

1. Medical conditions that would conflict with participation
2. Psychiatric disorders or symptoms that would conflict with participation
3. Receiving psychotherapy
4. Females who are pregnant or nursing, or who plan to become pregnant

Columbia University Neuroimaging Study Seeking Participants with Anxiety

Conducted by Dr. Bradley Peterson, this on-going research study is focused on learning more about the causes of several disorders that develop in childhood and adolescence. Two of the conditions of interest are Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Social Phobia.

The study requires participants to agree to one or two visits, and includes an MRI scan which lasts about one and a half hours. This study requires a total of 6-7 hours to complete.

Participants must be between the ages of 12-17, can be taking certain medications, and also may have other diagnosed conditions in addition to Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Social Phobia.

No expense will be incurred by eligible subjects, and a modest payment for participation is being offered. Participants will receive $120, in the form of a gift certificate or a check depending upon age, as a ?gthank you?h for being in the study.

Study location: Columbia University, NY State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY Contact person: Kristin Klahr| 1-212-543-6072 < mristudy@childpsych.columbia.edu >

Note: Those contacting the study coordinator to learn more about the project are under no obligation to agree to participate.

Has Your Teenager Been Diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)?

WE WANT TO HELP!

If your teenager is experiencing sad mood, irritability, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, decreased energy, no longer seems to enjoy the activities he/she used to enjoy, is eating more or less than usual, is having trouble sleeping, and/or is sleeping more or less than usual, he/she may be suffering from Major Depressive Disorder.

The New York State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University is looking for research volunteers (ages 12-17) to help find possible treatments for adolescents suffering from MDD. Your teenager may be eligible for a research study that includes a clinical evaluation, medical tests, a physical exam, research medication, and three months of follow-up treatment.

These services will be provided at no cost to you. Additionally, travel expenses will be reimbursed.

For more information, please call 212-543-0266.

Has Your Child Been Diagnosed with Tourette's Disorder (TD)?

WE WANT TO HELP!

If your child or adolescent is experiencing sudden, rapid, involuntary movements and/or repeated vocal outbursts, he/she may be suffering from Tourette's Disorder.

New York State Psychiatric Institute/Columbia University is looking for research volunteers (ages of 6-17) to help learn about possible treatment for children and adolescents suffering from TD. Your child may be eligible for a research study that may include a clinical evaluation, medical tests, a physical exam, 6 weeks of treatment with medication or placebo (pills without medication), and three months of follow-up treatment. These services will be provided at no cost to you.

For more information, please call 212-543-0266

Would You Like to Help in a Study Trying to Understand Some Causes of OCD?

You and your parents can help us better understand the possible genetic contributions to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

In order to participate, you must be age 18-60.

Participation involves a 2-3 hour interview and a blood sample from both you and your parents (your parents do not have to give an interview).

Compensation is $75 for the interview and blood sample. Your parents will each be paid $35 for their blood sample.

You will have the option of participating from your home or coming to the New York State Psychiatric Institute.

If interested, please contact Research Staff at (212) 543-5372.

NYSPI - IRB Protocol #5607

Program for Adolescents who are Depressed and Hurting Themselves

• Have you been experiencing symptoms of depression, such as feeling sad, crying
  often,or complaining of being bored and irritable?
• Have you recently injured yourself on purpose, like cutting with a sharp object or
  burning with a cigarette?
• Do you think you are in need of help for these symptoms and behaviors?
• Are you 18?

If the answer to each of the above questions is "yes then you may be eligible to participate in a program designed to evaluate whether a treatment that is known to treat depression in Adolescents, Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed Adolescent (IPT-A) is also effective at helping teens to stop hurting themselves.

If you are interested in being evaluated for possible participation in a research study designed for teenagers who are depressed and self-injuring, please call Dr. Colleen Jacobson at 212-543-5931 to set up an appointment.

Participation in the study will include a full psychiatric diagnostic evaluation.

If it is decided that this program is a good match for you, you will receive12 weeks of individual psychotherapy. Plus you may receive 6 months of "booster" sessions.

Therapy will be provided by psychologists in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry of Columbia University.

Parents will be asked to participate in the treatment as needed.

There is no cost to participating in the study.

This project is taking place at New York State Psychiatric institute in northern Manhattan.

Do you binge-eat and purge? Have you been diagnosed with Bulimia Nervosa?

Research Study using MRI to examine Bulimia Nervosa in adolescent girls

Would you like to participate in a research study?

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
12-21 yrs old Females
All ethnic groups

The study takes place at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive in Manhattan. Participation requires 5-6 hours of your time and includes interviews, games and puzzles, and an MRI. Total compensation is $100 per person. For more information please call the Eating Disorders Clinic at 212-543-5316 and mention the BN MRI study.

Program for Depressed Adolescents and Their Parents

Is your adolescent displaying symptoms of depression, such as:

• Sadness
• Irritability
• Crying spells
• Loss of interest in activities
• Feeling worthless
• Feeling tired or lacking energy

Would you and your adolescent like to participate in a research study designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a treatment called Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed Adolescents and Parents (IPT-AP)? 

IPT-AP Treatment

• 4 months of weekly psychotherapy that focuses on reducing depressive symptoms and improving the quality of relationships, followed by 3 monthly appointments

• Some therapy sessions are conducted with the adolescent individually, some are with the parent(s) individually, and some are conducted with the adolescent and parent(s) together

• There is no cost to participating in the study

• Treatment will be provided by clinicians at the New York State Psychiatric Institute

Who is Eligible?

• Male and female adolescents (ages 12-18) and their parents

• Adolescents and parents must feel comfortable speaking English

• Interested adolescents and parents will participate in a full diagnostic evaluation of the adolescent to see if the adolescent is eligible to participate in the study

For further information, please contact:

Meredith Gunlicks, Ph.D.
(212) 543-5812
GunlickM@childpsych.columbia.edu

Columbia University & New York State Psychiatric Institute
Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 74
New York, NY 10032