Patricia Gruner

Dr. Patricia Gruner is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine, specializing in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related disorders. Her work integrates clinical practice, neuroimaging, and cognitive science to understand OCD pathophysiology. She completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at Fordham University and postdoctoral training in Clinical Neuroscience at the Feinstein Institute. Her research focuses on cognitive processes like causal reasoning and cognitive flexibility in OCD, with a goal to develop adaptive computerized cognitive remediation therapies. Key collaborations include the ENIGMA OCD Working Group, emphasizing large-scale neuroimaging studies.

Education:

• PhD in Clinical Psychology, Fordham University (2009)
• Postdoctoral Training: Clinical Neuroscience, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research

Research Interests:

• Cognitive neuroscience of OCD
• Neuroimaging biomarkers
• Development of interventions targeting cognitive deficits
• Structural and functional brain abnormalities in OCD

Publications: Dr. Gruner's work spans structural brain asymmetries, polygenic risk scores in OCD, and cortical abnormalities. Recent studies highlight age-related neurodevelopmental trends and sex differences in pediatric populations.

Awards:

• Inaugural Bowers Prize (2021) for TMS research in OCD
• Brain & Behavior Research Foundation Grant (2015)

Her lab focuses on translational research, aiming to bridge clinical practice and neurobiological insights to improve OCD treatments.