The Storch Lab is involved in the following research studies areas. Learn more about each study area below.
Baylor College of Medicine is conducting a research study that seeks to understand how adolescents respond to different emotions and social situations and to develop better diagnostic tools for autism, anxiety and depression by analyzing language use and facial affect among adolescents. During a single, in-person study visit, participants will complete a series of psychological assessments and interact with research staff on a variety of conversational and behavioral tasks. All study tasks will be recorded using standing video cameras as well as three-dimensional cameras that can record facial affect, language use and movement. Compensation and volunteer hours will be offered to all participants.
This study is currently recruiting participants ages 12-17 with autism, anxiety, depression or no current mental health concerns.
For more information, contact Rachel Lee at ACES-study@bcm.edu or visit the clinical trial website page.
ASTRO is a treatment study led by Dr. Storch at the Baylor College of Medicine that provides families with 12 weeks of family-based therapy for kids with anxiety or OCD. We are looking for youth between the ages of 7-17, inclusive, who experience symptoms of anxiety or OCD. No formal diagnosis is required. All eligible participants will receive multiple assessments and 12 weeks of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at no cost. All appointments are remote, and this study is open to residents of Texas. Please feel free to contact the study coordinator at astroanxietystudy@bcm.edu or call 832-206-4034.
Dr. Eric Storch is conducting a study providing a free therapy intervention to parents and children 7-13 years of age with anxiety and/or OCD symptoms. This program is delivered completely virtually to Texas residents and involves a 12-14 week course of therapy for children with anxiety and/or OCD plus several assessments.
If you are interested or unsure if you meet the requirements, please contact COSMOSprogram@bcm.edu, call 832-206-4034, or complete a short contact survey. Visit the Clinical Trials page for more information.
Are you the parent of an autistic child ages 11-17 with anxiety?
Baylor College of Medicine is conducting a virtual research study that provides treatment for anxiety designed to fit the needs of autistic children between the ages of 11-17 years old. This is an internet-based, parent-led cognitive behavioral therapy program that both child and parents participate in. During the program you will receive 12 weeks of internet-based CBT with additional therapist support via videoconferencing. You will also be asked to participate in 3 virtual assessment visits, each of which is compensated with $100. No costs will be incurred for participation.
You may be eligible for this study if:
- Your child is between the ages of 11 and 17 and is diagnosed with autism.
- Your child experiences fears, worries, or phobia that are upsetting and cause problems in their life.
- Your child can communicate verbally.
- Your child can read and comprehend written material on their own.
- You and your child speak English.
- You and your child currently reside in the state of Texas.
For more information, please contact us at anxietyandasd@bcm.edu or fill out our eligibility survey. Visit the Clinical Trial page for more information.
The OCD research programs at the Baylor College of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in the Department of Psychiatry, and UNC-Chapel Hill are looking for research participants for a study on genetics/neurogenomics and OCD in African American populations.
The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of the clinical and genetic aspects of OCD in individuals with Black or African ancestry. This will help us to learn about genes that are associated with the disorder across diverse populations.
To participate, you must fulfill the listed characteristics: Identify as Black/African American, mixed race including Black, or have at least one grandparent who identifies as Black/African American; age 5-70 years old; been diagnosed with OCD at some point in your life or currently experiencing symptoms you think might be OCD.
If interested in participating in our study, please contact: BELONGStudy@bcm.edu.
Baylor College of Medicine is conducting this OI Wellbeing Study as a part of the Brittle Bone Disease Consortium which aims to improve the lives of people with Osteogenesis Imperfecta.
This study addresses an under-researched aspect of health critical to the wellbeing of the OI community, namely psychological health. Participants will meet with a researcher over a secure teleconference platform for about 1 hour and complete a series of questionnaires about mental health, physical health, quality of life, social wellbeing, and experience with health care professionals. Participants are compensated $50.
This information may help develop psychological interventions personalized for people with OI. Please share information about this study with any adult with OI that you believe may be interested in participating.
If you have any questions about the study or are considering participating, please email OIWellbeing@bcm.edu or call 713-798-0117.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in collaboration with the University of North Carolina and various collaborators across North and South America are conducting an international study looking at obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in individuals of Latin American, Hispanic, and Brazilian decent ages 7-89. OCD is a complex disorder involving intrusive thoughts which leads to unwanted, repetitive behaviors that can cause distress for the person experiencing the symptoms. The Latin American Trans-Ancestry Initiative for OCD genomics (LATINO) aims to better understand OCD in Latino, Hispanic, and Brazilian people as well as to increase the diversity of OCD genetic databases. The increased knowledge will further advance our ability to detect, diagnose, and treat individuals of Latino ancestry.
Eligible participants will complete a set of questionnaires, participate in a session to assess OCD symptoms, and provide a spit (saliva) sample to gather genetic information. Participants will be provided with a saliva collection kit (with instructions).
Please choose your country and language from the menu below.
Elija su país e idioma en el menú a continuación.
The purpose of this study is to examine whether cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be helpful for children (7 to 17 years) with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) to eventually discontinue their medication without relapse over 24 weeks. This study includes CBT sessions across 14-20 weeks with a trained study therapist in addition to medication management. Eligible participants will also complete a total of four assessments. Participants will incur no cost throughout their time in the study.
Eligibility criteria include:
Youth between the ages of 7-17
Youth who have a diagnosis of OCD
Youth who are currently taking medications for OCD
If you are interested, would like to learn more about POWER, or would like to see if you are eligible for the study, contact PowerOcdStudy@bcm.edu or complete a short eligibility survey.
Senate Bill 11 established the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium (TCMHCC). The purpose of the TCMHCC is to improve the evaluation of and response to the increasing problems of youth depression, suicide, and trauma in children and adolescents across Texas by coordinating a research network of Heath-Related Institutions across the state. Baylor College of Medicine is one of the 12 funded institutions in the TCMHCC.
As part of the Texas Childhood Trauma Research Network (TX-CTRN) and Texas Youth Depression and Suicide Research Network (TX-YDSRN), our lab is investigating mental health outcomes for children and young adults who have experienced trauma, depression, and/or suicidal thoughts. Through these efforts, we will be able to develop predictive models for short-and long-term outcomes while establishing a research network of academic medical centers across the state of Texas that is comprehensively trained and ready to implement further research projects.
Visit the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium website or contact us at child.research@bcm.edu for more information.
Do you experience depression symptoms?
Are you between the age 18-65?
Researchers at Deliberate AI and Baylor College of Medicine are conducting a study to validate a new technology for assessing depression and anxiety. Participation involves four virtual appointments that include questionnaires, clinical interviews, and conversational tasks.
Participants will be compensated up to $365.
For more information, please contact us at sequoiastudy@bcm.edu or 713-798-2151, or complete the eligibility survey.






