Center for OCD and Related Disorders

09/22/2025

Hi everyone,

We wanted to let you know that Massachusetts General Hospital is running a 4-week intro-level online course on CBT for OCD beginning October 6th. Even though ERP is the gold-standard treatment for OCD, too few clinicians are trained in it. This course aims to close that gap and is geared towards providers early in their career, those who want to expand their practice to include OCD, and those who want a refresher.

Faculty include:
• Sabine Wilhelm, PhD (Chief of Psychology, Director of the Center for OCD and Related Disorders, MGH)
• Ryan Jacoby, PhD (Assistant Director of the Center for OCD and Related Disorders, MGH)

The course format includes on-demand video modules, a faculty-moderated discussion board, plus live Q&A.

Details: https://lms.mghcme.org/CBTocdOct2025

We hope that you will join us!

This online course helps you understand and identify clinical features of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). It is led by renowned OCD expert and Harvard Medical School Professor Sabine Wilhelm, PhD. This course focuses on how to use effective assessment and treatment strategies for OCD in your pr...

12/15/2023

Congratulations Dr. Sabine Wilhelm!

Sabine Wilhem, PhD has served as the Vice-Chair of the Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board (SCB) and has been instrumental in the success of the organization. She has generously accepted the position of Chair of the SCB and will serve in this role for the next two years.

Dr. Wilhelm is passionate about providing opportunities for additional young researchers, funding for high-level research, and involvement of the international research community. We are so grateful for her commitment to lead the SCB as we move into a new phase of organizational growth and commitment to care for all!

Center for OCD and Related Disorders

10/18/2023

Message from CORD's Director, Dr. Sabine Wilhelm:

It is with great sadness that we share with you that Michael Jenike, MD passed away yesterday after a long battle with cancer.

10/12/2023

Congratulations Sabine Wilhelm, PhD on receiving the NAMI 2023 Scientific Research Award for recognizing your work on .

This evening, we proudly commemorated our 19th annual Inspiring Hope Through Research event, where we had the privilege of celebrating the remarkable contributions of Dr. Sabine Wilhelm.

Dr. Wilhelm has been a pioneering force in her research and innovative approaches to treating OCD.

04/21/2023

CORD's director, Dr. Sabine Wilhelm, discusses the causes of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)? Learn about OCD symptoms, how OCD is treated, and OCD triggers from Sabine Wilhelm, PhD.

03/23/2023

Now enrolling: A research study for children, adolescents, and adults with Tourette’s Disorder.

Tourette’s Disorder affects millions of children, adolescents, and adults around the world. More research is needed. Consider participating in research for Tourette’s Disorder. Contact us at 617-726-5527 or [email protected]!

https://rally.massgeneralbrigham.org/study/tourette_syndrome
See study requirements

10/31/2022

Happy Halloween 🎃👻

06/08/2022

Unwanted, intrusive thoughts, images, or urges can make people with OCD feel hopeless.

If you are currently taking an SSRI or clomipramine for your OCD and are dissatisfied with the results, you may be eligible for a study of a new investigational medication for OCD. You will be compensated up to $350 for your participation which includes study visits at the Massachusetts General Hospital main campus and evaluations of your OCD-related symptoms and overall health.

If you are interested in learning more about this study, you may visit our study website: https://rally.partners.org/study/adult_ocd

Or the sponsor website: ocdtrial.org

04/20/2022

Do you have unwanted thoughts that are difficult to control and that get in the way of your daily life?

Do you have worries or doubts about the future that won’t go away?

Do you get stuck thinking about negative things that have happened?

Do you have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder? Generalized Anxiety Disorder? Depression?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, are ages 18-60, live within the state of Massachusetts, are right-handed, and meet further study qualifications, you may be eligible to participate in a research study at Massachusetts General Hospital about repetitive, intrusive thoughts.

Many people struggle with unwanted intrusive thoughts that are difficult to control and cause them distress. We are conducting a research study to learn whether psychological treatment can help people with three types of repetitive negative thinking who have trouble stopping unwanted thoughts and shifting their attention: obsessions (as seen in obsessive compulsive disorder, OCD), worries (as seen in generalized anxiety disorder, GAD), and ruminations (as seen in major depressive disorder, MDD).

You may be compensated up to $200 for your participation which includes the following:
• A virtual screening/baseline visit, including a diagnostic clinical interview.
• Study treatment, including eight 60 min therapy sessions, which will be conducted virtually. Participants will be randomized (like the flip of a coin) to one of two treatment groups – Supportive Psychotherapy (SPT) or Attention Regulation Therapy (AR-ERT).
• 3 virtual assessment visits, including clinician interviews and online self-report measures
• 3 in-person visits, including:
o Electroencephalogram (EEG) procedures, in which we will record your brain activity using a non-invasive technique while you complete a computer task (occurring at the Charlestown Navy Yard campus)
o Eye tracking procedures, in which you view a series of images, and we will measure where on the screen you are looking and the sweatiness of your palms (occurring at the Simches Research Building, main campus)

Parking costs will also be reimbursed.

To register your interest, please fill out the following form: https://redcap.link/attentionregulationstudy_prescreen

For more information: https://mghocd.org/attentionregulationstudy/

To contact the study staff: 617-643-4387 or email [email protected]

Institution: Massachusetts General Hospital
Principal Investigator: Ryan Jane Jacoby, Ph.D.

03/25/2022

When do people typically develop obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)? What other conditions could someone with OCD have? Learn more about OCD, how to treat it, and what resources are available.

When do people develop obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)? What other conditions could someone with OCD have? What should you do if you have an OCD relapse?...

10/20/2021

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder? What are the most common obsessions and compulsions? What are the triggers or symptoms for OCD? Dr. Sabine Wilhelm, Ph...