Autism & Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Program
About Our Program
The Autism and Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Program at the Psychiatry Research Institute at Montefiore Einstein (PRIME) team includes a project director, research fellows, a psychologist, a research associate, a research coordinator and research assistants who consider our patients as partners in growing the knowledge base for our field. Our work seeks to bridge and translate fundamental neuroscience discoveries into innovative experimental therapeutics and new clinical treatments.
Areas of Concentration
All Autism and Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Program team members have expertise in the fields of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related developmental and syndromal forms of ASD, including Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). Additionally, we are experts in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related conditions. Team members have multiple publications and training on gold-standard ASD diagnostic and neuropsychological measures. They are also experienced in completing federally funded foundation and industry clinical trials for children and adults with ASD, PWS, OCD and body dysmorphic disorder. The Program is fully integrated with other programs and researchers at Montefiore Einstein and the surrounding community.
Current Projects & Research
Our team is actively involved in clinical research, evaluations and collaborations. Program Director Dr. Eric Hollander’s areas of research include cannabidivarin (CBDV) in ASD; oxytocin in PWS; vasopressin 1a antagonists in ASD; alpha-1-chemotrypsin in ASD; intermittent explosive disorder; Tourette syndrome; and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in OCD and ASD.
Our current projects include:
- Cannabidivarin (CBDV) vs. Placebo in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- A Study of Pitolisant in Patients with PWS
- A Clinical Evaluation of Non-Invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Temper Outbursts in People with PWS
About Eric Hollander, MD
Eric Hollander, MD
Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Dr. Eric Hollander has served as the principal investigator for several federal grants, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Greater New York Autism Center of Excellence; the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Research Training Grant in psychopharmacology and outcomes research; the Department of Defense (DOD) CBDV in ASD treatment study; and multicenter treatment trials of pediatric body dysmorphic disorder, autism and Prader-Willi syndrome funded by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). He was the principal investigator of the Autism Clinical Trials Network and Chair of the eight centers’ NIH Studies to Advance Autism Research and Treatment (STAART) autism steering committee. He is involved in research on neuropharmacology, neuropsychiatry, functional imaging and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, impulsive-aggressive disorders, obsessive-compulsive-related disorders such as body dysmorphic disorder, pathological gambling, Prader-Willi syndrome and autism. Dr. Hollander served as Chair of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-V research planning agenda for obsessive-compulsive behavior spectrum disorders and served as a member of the DSM-V Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum, Post-Traumatic and Dissociative Disorders Work Group and the Behavioral and Substance Addictions Work Group.