Center for Compulsive Behavior and Addiction

Division for Addictions Recovery and Mental Health

Mission Statement

The coexistence of major mental disorders and drug addiction or other compulsive behaviors occurs at an alarmingly high rate. These concurrent diagnoses correlate with diminished treatment compliance and a dramatic reduction in life expectancy. The Center for Compulsive Behavior and Addiction (CCBA) at Rush University is committed to understanding the neurobiology of this co-morbidity, and to developing and implementing effective treatments for these illnesses.

In accord with this commitment, the CCBA Division for Addictions Recovery and Mental Health brings together clinical and basic scientists to carry out cutting-edge research relating to chemical dependency and its overlap with other compulsive behaviors and mental illnesses. The goal of this research is to provide evidence-based approaches to expedite the translation of novel therapeutic targets into efficacious treatment for these underserved populations.

Message from the Director, Dr. Celeste Napier.

Faculty and Staff

• T. Celeste Napier, PhD, CCBA Director, Professor of Pharmacology, Rush University.
  Dr. Napier is a NIDA-funded expert in animal models of human addiction. She has extensive published research on molecular, biochemical and electrophysiological approaches to studying neuronal adaptations in these models.

• Philip G. Janicak, MD, CCBA Division Director
  Medical Director, Psychiatric Clinical Research Center; Professor of Psychiatry, Rush University
  Dr. Janicak has a long history of funded clinical trials in medication development for schizophrenia and mood disorders. His research interests include the co-morbidity of these disorders with addiction. He is an internationally recognized expert in TMS technology and its use for depression.

• Sheila M. Dowd, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology, Rush University
  Dr. Dowd is a licensed clinical psychologist. Her clinical and research expertise lie in schizophrenia, mood disorders, obesity/food craving and TMS approaches for the treatment of depression.

• Amy Herrold, BA, Graduate student in neuroscience
  Ms. Herrold is a NIDA-funded fellow whose thesis research is focused on brain adaptations (using molecular biological and electrophysiological evaluations) in rat models of schizophrenia/addiction comorbidity.

• Xiu-Ti Hu, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, Rush University
  Dr. Hu is a NIDA-funded expert in electrophysiological and neuro-pharmacological approaches to study ion channel function of neurons in the brain of rodent models of human addiction.

• Bonita Hughes, CCBA staff director and grants manager

• Diana Marta, BS, RN, CCBA Research Coordinator
  Ms. Marta has been a psychiatric nurse for more than 15 years, with extensive clinical research experience, including NIH-funded studies on the genetics of mood disorders.

• Jeffrey T. Rado, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Internal Medicine, Rush University
  Dr. Rado is involved in several clinical research projects on pharmacotherapy of schizophrenia and depression, and the role of BDNF in mood disorders. He is a published expert in TMS for depression therapy.

• Roueen Rafeyan, MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Rush University; Medical Director, Resurrection Behavioral Health
  Dr. Rafeyan has an active clinical practice in downtown Chicago that focuses on professionals presenting with substance abuse. His clinical research interests lie in medication development for addiction.

• Jennifer A. Strong, BS, Research Coordinator, Psychiatric Clinical Research Center.
  Ms. Strong has an extensive background in assertive community social services, case management and harm reduction for the homeless, mentally ill and substance abusers. Her current position involves TMS and clinical trials for novel pharmaceutics for treatment of mental illness.