Dr. Ileana Berman

Throughout her 30+ year career in Cognitive Science, Ileana Berman’s work has largely focused on drawing connections between Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Schizophrenia. Her work has earned her great recognition, including the Young Investigator Award.

Dr. Ileana Berman is a Romanian-born Cognitive Science Researcher.  She currently conducts research in the northeastern United States, in collaboration with Brockton VA.  Her findings have earned her the Young Investigator Award from the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia & Depression (NARSAD).  Throughout her career, Berman’s research has focused primarily on drawing connections between Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Schizophrenia.  Specifically, her work and findings suggest that there are numerous connections between the two cognitive disorders. Through different trials and investigations, Dr. Berman hopes to establish a subtype of Schizophrenia that entails Obsessive Compulsive symptoms.  By establishing said subtype, she believes that patients suffering from such a condition will have better opportunities for cognitive care. 

Publications

In collaboration with her colleagues, Dr. Berman has contributed to various publications regarding her research in cognitive science.  Educationally relevant publications include:

• Treating Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms in Schizophrenia (1989)
• Sertraline:  A New Serotonergic Antidepressant (1992)
• Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms in Schizophrenia:  Are They Manifestations of a Distinct Subclass of Schizophrenia? (1997)
• Cognitive Effects of Psychopharmacological Agents in Schizophrenia (1999)
• Cognitive Effect of Risperidone and Haloperidol in Elderly Schizophrenic Patients (1995)
• Obsessions and Compulsions in Schizophrenia (1990)

Current Research Activities

Currently, Dr. Berman is conducting NARSAD-sponsored research on the use of Ginkgo Biloba Extract (GBE) and Naltrexone in Schizophrenic patients.  Dr. Berman’s findings are in the data analysis stage. She looks forward to preparing manuscripts for publication so that she can go public with her findings and results.  Ultimately, Berman hopes to establish a subtype of Schizophrenia that takes into account various Obsessive Compulsive symptoms experienced by patients. She also hopes to contribute to discussion on new and improved medications for these individuals.

Overlapping Symptoms

Obsessive Compulsive Schizophrenia Subtype

Over the course of her career in Cognitive Science Research, Ileana Berman has heightened her focus on two particular conditions:  Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Schizophrenia.  The plethora of peer-reviewed publications she has contributed to demonstrate her decades of research on these two unique cognitive conditions.  But, as Berman’s deep diving research aims to suggest, the two aren’t so unique afterall.  At least, not always — and not in contrast to each other.

According to her own research, Dr. Ileana Berman has formulated a hypothesis on the direct connection between OCD and Schizophrenia.  This research, presently, is largely symptom based.  In the future, Berman hopes to magnify that focus tenfold.  Through direct observation and focused research studies, she has already established convincing connections between the conditions.  With more focused attention to the connection, there’s much to be explored by Berman and her fellow cognitive science researchers. 

The overall purpose of this research is to ultimately establish a unique subtype of schizophrenia wherein the individual experiences a high volume of symptoms most commonly faced by those with OCD. Dr. Berman believes that heightened understanding in such an area could lead to truly revolutionary advancements in the way patients are treated for their cognitive conditions.