Faculty

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Christine Conelea

, PhD

Get link to this bio

Associate Professor

Email:

cconelea@umn.edu

Office Phone:

(612) 261-3127

Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

Child & Adolescent Mental Health Division

Child & Adolescent Anxiety Research

Experts@Minnesota

CAN Lab

Non-Invasive Neuromodulation Lab

YouTube

Biography

Bio

I received my BA in psychology from the University of Nevada, Reno, and went on to earn a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2010. I completed a pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship in child mental health at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University. My training and career development have been supported by T32, F32, and K23 awards from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Prior to joining the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences faculty, I was an Assistant Professor (Research) at Brown Medical School and a Psychologist at Rhode Island Hospital and Bradley Hospital.

I am a clinical psychologist with research and clinical expertise in the area of neurodevelopmental disorders, with an emphasis on Tourette Syndrome/tic disorders, obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders, and anxiety disorders. I am the Co-Director of the Converging Approaches to Neurodevelopment (CAN) Lab, a research group that focuses on studying the causes and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders. Our research integrates behavioral and neuroscience methods, including neuromodulation, brain imaging, and video-based symptom quantification. My current major projects include clinical trials to identify mechanisms of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) response and to test augmentation of CBT with non-invasive neuromodulation. I also collaborate with faculty in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering to use computer vision approaches to quantify atypical movements associated with neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.

Within the university, I am the Director of the Novel Interventions & Neuromodulation Core at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain (MIDB). In this role, I oversee the MIDB Non-Invasive Neuromodulation Lab and support MIDB investigators conducting cutting-edge interventions research focused on critical neurodevelopmental periods.

Expertise

Neurodevelopmental disorders
Tourette syndrome
Obsessive-compulsive disorders
Anxiety disorders

Administrative Assistant

(for academic support only)
Shelly Slominski
slomi001@umn.edu

In the Media

2023: Featured in this article titled, “NIH grant supporting U of M research that could result in a quantifiable way to diagnose Tourette syndrome.”
2023: Quoted in this article posted by Fatherly titled, “If You’re Trying To Raise A ‘Happy Child,’ You’re Missing The Point.”
2023: Featured in this article in the U’s Discovery magazine titled, “Heads Together,” about their collaboration to help kids with neurodevelopmental disorders
2022: Featured in video titled "Tackling Psychiatric Illness Using Translational Models and Computations", shot as part of the American Psychiatric Association's Conference TV with funding from NeuroPRSMH (NeuroPlasticity Research in Support of Mental Health), the U’s multidisciplinary neuroscience research group
2021: Featured in this interview titled, "Tik Tok may be influencing tic disorders in children".
2020: One of many physicians featured in the Minneapolis StarTribune who participated in protests against police killing Black men on April 17 (seen holding the “Policing is a Public Health Crisis" sign)

Research Summary

Dr. Conelea's research focuses on the etiology and treatment of Tourette Syndrome and other tic disorders, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and anxiety disorders. She is particularly interested in understanding how the brain, environment, and psychosocial factors interact to impact symptoms and treatment outcome. Dr. Conelea's research integrates behavioral and neuroscience methods, including neuromodulation and brain imaging. Additional interests include therapeutic process and mechanism of change in cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Teaching Summary

Dr. Conelea provides training and supervision for clinical psychology and psychiatry students, residents, and fellows in the University of Minnesota Medical School.

Clinical Summary

Dr. Conelea's clinical interests include Tourette Syndrome; tic disorders; Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; anxiety disorders; and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Education

MS, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Major: Clinical Psychology

PhD, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Major: Clinical Psychology

BA, University of Nevada

Major: Psychology

Fellowships, Residencies, and Visiting Engagements

Child Mental Health, Fellowship

Alpert Medical School of Brown University

Child Clinical Psychology, Internship,

Alpert Medical School of Brown University

Honors and Recognition

Fellow, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Child Intervention, Prevention, & Services

Certificate of Reviewing Excellence, Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

Graduate School Student Travel Award, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Dissertation Fellowship, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Fellowship, University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee Graduate School

Excellence Award for Teaching, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Student Accessibility Center

Student Presenter Grant, Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis

Phi Beta Kappa

Presidential Scholar, University of Nevada, Reno

Millennium Scholar, University of Nevada, Reno

Dean's List, University of Nevada

Professional Memberships

Society of Biological Psychiatry

Selected Publications

Tseng, A., Camchong, J., Francis, S. M., Mueller, B. A., Lim, K. O., Conelea, C. A., Jacob, S., 2023. Differential extrinsic brain network connectivity and social cognitive task-specific demands in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Journal of Psychiatric Research, 148 230-239.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.01.066 PubMed ID: 35149435.

Firestone, M. J., Holzbauer, S., Conelea, C., Danila, R., Smith, K., Bitsko, R. H., Klammer, S. M., Gingerich, S., Lynfield, R., 2023. Rapid onset of functional tic-like behaviors among adolescent girls—Minnesota, September–November 2021. FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY, 13

doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2022.1063261

Conelea, C. A., Morris, S., McLaughlin, N., Mamaril, E., Benito, K., Case, B., Garcia, A., 2023. Response inhibition in youth undergoing intensive treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder.. JOURNAL OF OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE AND RELATED DISORDERS, 36

doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocrd.2022.100764

Conelea, C. A., Bervoets, J., Davies, E. B., Varner, K., Malli, M., Jones, D. P., Beljaars, D., Nash, B., Capriotti, M. R., 2022. A call for caution: 'stop that' sentiments threaten tic research, healthcare and advocacy. Brain: A Journal of Neurology, 145 (4): e18-e20.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awac028 PubMed ID: 35213691.

Conelea, C., Jacob, S., Redish, A. D., Ramsey, I., 2021. Considerations for pairing Cognitive Behavioral Therapies and Noninvasive Brain Stimulation: Ignore at your own risk. Frontiers in Psychology, 12

doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.660180

Harris, E., Conelea, C. A., Shyne, M. T., Bernstein, G. A., 2021. Predictors and Prospective Course of PANS: A Pilot Study Using Electronic Platforms for Data Collection. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 31 (2):

doi: https://doi.org/10.1089/cap.2020.0124 PubMed ID: 33395354.

Martin, R., Leppink-Shands, P., Tlachac, M., DuBois, M., Conelea, C., Jacob, S., Morellas, V., Morris, T., Papanikolopoulos, N., 2021. The Use of Immersive Environments for the Early Detection and Treatment of Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Frontiers in Digital Health, 2

doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2020.576076

Tseng, A., Biagianti, B., Francis, S., Conelea, C. A., Jacob, S., 2020. Social Cognitive Interventions for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review. Journal of Affective Disorders, 274 199-204.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.05.134 PubMed ID: 32469804.

Wilton, E. P., Flessner, C. A., Brennan, E., Murphy, Y., Walther, M., Garcia, A., Conelea, C., Dickstein, D. P., Stewart, E., Benito, K., Freeman, J. B., 2020. A Neurocognitive Comparison of Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling Disorder). Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 48 (5): 733-744.

doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-020-00627-6

Garnaat, S. L., Conelea, C. A., McLaughlin, N. R., Benito, K., 2019. Pediatric OCD in the era of RDoC. Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 23

doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocrd.2018.03.002 PubMed ID: 32042574.

Selected Presentations

Wellen, B., (Author), Houlihan, K., (Author), Capriotti, M., (Author), Greene, D., (Author), Black, K., (Author), Himle, M., (Author), Hayes, L., Ramanujam, K., Woods, D., Specht, M., Lee, H., Jacob, S., Conelea, C. A. "Developmental Sex/Gender Differences in Tourette Syndrome Phenomenology", Society of Biological Psychiatry, San Diego, April 29, 2023.

Conelea, C. A., (Author), Hendrickson, T., (Author), Mueller, B., (Author), Chen, M., (Author), Tseng, A., (Author), Opitz, A., (Author), Fiecas, M., (Author), Lim, K. O., (Author), Jacob, S., (Author), Greene, D., (Author) "Individual Differences in Functional Brain Network Organization Within SMA in Youth With Tourette Syndrome: Implications for RTMS Interventions", Society of Biological Psychiatry, San Diego, California, April 27, 2023.

Beljaars, D., (Speaker), Bervoets, J., (Speaker), Conelea, C. A., (Speaker), Cooke, K., (Speaker), Jones, D., (Speaker), Jenkins, J., (Speaker) "The critical medical humanities and science-society rift on tics, compulsions, and Tourette’s", CRITICAL: Northern Network for Medical Humanities Research Congress 2023,, NNHMR and Durham University, Virtual, United Kingdom, April 19, 2023.

Conelea, C. A., Hodapp, S., Houlihan, K., Kellman, M., Alexander, J., DuBois, M., Jacob, S. "If you build it, will they come? Acceptability, feasibility, and uptake of TMS-based treatment for pediatric Tourette Syndrome", 5th International Brain Stimulation Conference, February 22, 2023.

Lieske, A., Kellman, M., Hodapp, S., Chen, M., Jacob, S., Lim, K., Conelea, C. A. "NIBS and Kids: A program development project to establish a pediatric-dedicated non-invasive brain stimulation facility", 5th International Brain Stimulation Conference, Lisbon, Portugal, February 21, 2023.

Hendrickson, T. J., Chen, M., Francis, S., Houlihan, K., Opitz, A., Tseng, A., Greene, D., Jacob, S., Conelea, C. A. "An individualized non-invasive brain stimulation targeting pipeline using functional imaging data and SimNIBS", 5th International Brain Stimulation Conference, Lisbon, Portugal, February 20, 2023.

Conelea, C. A. "Tourette’s, Teenagers, and TMS: Using Neuromodulation to Treat the Developing Brain", Minnesota Neuromodulation Symposium, Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 01, 2022.

Conelea, C. A. "What do we Know About the Tourette Brain?", Tourette Conference, Tourette Association of America--Wisconsin Chapter, Madison, Wisconsin, February 01, 2022.

Conelea, C. A., Francis, S. *., Tseng, A., Greenberg, B., Lim, K. O., Jacob, S. ""Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Target Tics." In S. van Rooij (Chair), "Mechanisms of Neurostimulation in Psychiatry: Applications Beyond Depression."", Annual Meeting of the Society of Biological Psychiatry, Society of Biological Psychiatry, San Diego, California, May 01, 2021.

Conelea, C. A., (Author & Presenter) "Tackling Tics: How to Use Behavioral Strategies to Manage Symptoms of Tourette Syndrome", Minnesota Psychological Association 85th Annual Conference, Minnesota Psychological Association, April 09, 2021.

Contact

Address

Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain, 2025 E River Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55414