Dr. Piacentini’s research focuses on the development, evaluation, and dissemination of empirically supported assessments and treatments for child mental disorders. He has led NIMH-funded treatment studies examining the efficacy of individual and family-focused CBT and/or pharmacotherapy for pediatric anxiety, OCD, Tourette’s disorder, and adolescent suicidality. His research program also employs translational methods, including neuroimaging and EEG, to investigate biological determinants and treatment mechanisms, for someof these disorders. Therapy manuals, which he has co-written based on his research, form the basis for the therapy component in the Child OCD, Anxiety and Tic Disorders clinic rotation. UCLA CARES (carescenter@ucla.edu) seeks to enhance public awarenessof child anxiety and promote evidence-based best-practice prevention and intervention methods to parents, teachers, and the broader public.
University of Oregon, B.S.
University of Georgia, Ph.D.
UCLA, Internship in Clinical Child Psychology
Columbia University/NYSPI, T32 Research Post-Doctoral Fellowship
Development and testing of evidence-based treatments for childhood OCD, anxiety and tic disorders (TD)
Cognitive, neurocognitive, and biological underpiningsof child psychopathology and response to treatment
Community-focused education and prevention of child anxiety and stress-related problems
Director, Center for Child Anxiety Resilience Education and Support (CARES)
Director, Child OCD, Anxiety, and Tic Disorders Program and Clinic
Director, Tourette Association Center of Excellence at UCLA
Co-Director, NIMH Postdoctoral Research Training (T32) Program in the Science of Child Mental Health Treatment
Chief Child Psychologist, Medical Psychology Program
Coordinator, Anxiety and related disorders lectures in the Child Psychopathology and Psychopharmacology Seminar
Provides elective research opportunities and mentorship to interested fellows through the CARES Center and Child OCD, Anxiety, and Tic Disorders Program
