Welcome to the CTSA

The CTSA is currently offering telehealth options for our evaluation and treatment services. Additionally, we are offering services to cope with anxiety and stress related to COVID-19.

The Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety at the University of Pennsylvania is…
  • An internationally renowned treatment research center dedicated to developing, refining, and testing state-of-the-art therapies for anxiety and traumatic stress disorders.
  • A world recognized clinic, which provides evidence-based cognitive-behavioral therapy to children, adolescents, and adults with anxiety disorders.
  • A well-established resource for professionals, offering specialized training in the treatment of anxiety disorders to health professionals around the world.

We welcome referrals from professionals and inquiries directly from patients. 

 



CTSA in the News

October 12, 2022: Dr Lily Brown in Newsweek Magazine: Forget Weed, Wine and Xanax: Science Has Better Ways to Treat Anxiety

"Getting access to treatment was bad enough before the pandemic, and it's only gotten worse," says the [CTSA]'s director, Dr. Lily Brown. "We keep adding staff but demand just keeps growing."

September 20, 2022: Dr. Sandy Capaldi on The fear of public places in the age of COVID

"The diagnosis [of agoraphobia] is given to people who are afraid of specific places or situations that might cause them to panic or feel trapped or embarrassed", said Sandy Capaldi, associate director for the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety. "What distinguishes agoraphobia from other anxiety disorders is the cause of the fear. Those living with this disorder are often worried they…

April 17, 2022: Dr. Danielle Cooper with tips on how to cope if the pandemic’s ups and downs are affecting your mental health

While for some the return of masks alleviates anxiety, others see it as “a little defeating,” said Danielle Cooper, assistant professor of clinical psychiatry and director of an intensive outpatient program for OCD at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine.

March 28, 2022: Dr. Hillary Ammon on How to Cope with Loneliness

"Loneliness is different from social isolation," said Hillary Ammon, PsyD, an assistant professor of clinical psychiatry in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. "Loneliness is a feeling of being alone, while social isolation is a lack of social connection to others."

March 25, 2022: Dr. Hillary Ammon on Anxiety About Returning to the Office

Dr. Hillary Ammon, assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, said a change in routine, like where you work, can be a stressor, but there are ways to manage those feelings. "What I would recommend is for people to start to try to get into some of those routines that might look similar to the workplace," Ammon advised. "So if that really is,…