The Center for the Treatment and Study of Neuropsychiatric Disorders

In 2020, the Center for the Treatment and Study of Neuropsychiatric Disorders was founded with the goal and intent to extend the successful interdisciplinary clinical work occurring at Silver Hill’s Residential Lodge Program.

Directed by Rocco Marotta, MD, PhD, who developed the original Lodge Program model, the Center is dedicated to educational and training initiatives and family support, as well as the study of treatment interventions for psychotic illness. Educational initiatives include conferences, Grand Rounds presentations and lectures, community events, training for medical students, residents, and staff at various organizations, and the publication of a book, Lives Reimagined: Changing the Course of Psychotic Illness.

Center Hosts January 2026 Events 
January 2026: The Center is starting the year off strong with respective events at the Ridgefield Library (January 20, In-Person, ‘Just a Phase’ — Or Something More? Recognizing and Treating Serious Mental Illness) and The Dorm (January 29, Live/Virtual, Creating Identity Beyond Neuropsychiatric Brain Disease: The Individual Road to Transformation).  Both events feature Director Rocco Marotta, MD. PhD; Program Director, Lisa Mann, PhD; and Center Colleague, Katharine Cutts Dougherty, PhD.  See the Calendar >> 

Lisa Mann, PhD, Joins Center Team as Program Director 
November 3, 2025: Following several years of consultant work with Silver Hill — most specifically with The Lodge Program and The Center for the Treatment and Study of Neuropsychiatric Disorders — Dr. Lisa Mann has joined the team as Program Director.  Read more >> 

Center Team Featured on “Three Moms in the Trenches”
September, 2025: Rocco Marotta, MD, PhD, Lisa Mann, PhD, and Katharine Dougherty, PhD discuss the core elements of the Lodge Program approach that made the difference to their patients and families.  Read more >>  Go to Podcast >>

Center Team Publishes Book on Lodge Program Approach
September, 2025: Lives Reimagined, written by Lisa Mann, PhD, and Katharine Dougherty, PhD, colleagues of the Center for the Treatment and Study of Neuropsychiatric Disorders, offers a first-hand view of the life-changing approach developed at Silver Hill’s Neuropsychiatric Residential Program, The Lodge.  Read more >>

Unraveling Cannabis and Mental Health
January 31, 2025: Dr. Rocco Marotta, Director of the Center for the Treatment and Study of Neuropsychiatric Disorders, recently joined Todd Weatherly on the “Head Inside Mental Health” podcast for a thought-provoking conversation about cannabis and mental health. Read more >>

Blog Post: Unraveling Overdose and Psychosis Risks
This event recap synthesizes Dr. Marotta’s November 2024 presentation with The Dorm, a young adult mental health treatment program (IOP) based in New York City and Washington, DC. The focus of this educational event was the connection between cannabis, stimulants, psychosis, and overdose rates in young adults. Read more >>

Blog Post: Understanding Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia in Young Adults
This blog post summarizes a presentation by Dr. Marotta with The Dorm, a young adult mental health treatment program (IOP) based in New York City and Washington, DC.  The presentation covered how even “treatment-resistant” disorders can be improved with various interventions; explored why symptoms of schizophrenia may be increasing for young adults in recent years; and reviewed a multi-prong approach to treatment that includes medication, therapy, and support from family and community. Read more >>

Beyond the Double Blind, Rome, Italy, April 2024

The Long Course of Care, Grace Farms, New Canaan, CT, December 2024

Changing the Narrative of Neuropsychiatric Brain Disease, Charleston, SC, April 2025

Conference in Rome, Italy, April 2024

The Center for the Treatment and Study of Neuropsychiatric Disorders actively pursues scholarship in the field, authoring publications and articles, delivering presentations on relevant topics and themes, and participating in research collaborations. 

Following is a representation of recent activities.

Book (Available in both paperback and digital media on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and SDP Publishing)

Purchase on Amazon ››

Lives Reimagined: Changing the Course of Psychotic Illness, SDP Press, July 2025, is written for families struggling to navigate the world of neuropsychiatric illness and useful for providers looking for a different approach to the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. Filled with practical information interspersed with personal stories from patients, parents, and the treatment team, it inspires readers not to give up hope. It is an essential guidebook illustrating how sustained collaboration between clinicians, patients, and families can help individuals, once defined by their illness, change the narrative of their lives and develop hope for their future. Read more ››

Publications

Garakani, Amir, Frank D. Buono, and Rocco F. Marotta. “Sublingual Oxy- tocin With Clozapine in a Patient With Persisting Psychotic Symptoms, Suicidal Thinking With Self-Harm.” J Clin Psychopharmacology 40, no. 5 (2020): 507–509.

Marotta, Rocco F., Frank D. Buono, Amir Garakani, et al. “The Effects of Augmenting Clozapine with Oxytocin in Schizophrenia: An Initial Case Series.” Annals of Clinical Psychiatry 32, no. 2 (2020): 90–96.

Marotta, Rocco F., Frank Buono, Amir Garakani, et al. “T198. Can Augmented Sublingual Oxytocin Decrease Negative Symptoms Within Treatment Resistant Schizophrenic Populations: A Pilot Study.” Schizophrenia Bulletin 46, Suppl 1 (2020): S307.Marotta, Rocco F., David Rowe, Eric Collins, et al. “F108. Concurrent Usage of Sublingual Oxytocin And Clozapine To Treat The Positive And Negative Symptoms Within Individuals With Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia.” Schizophrenia Bulletin 45, Suppl 2, (2019): S294-S295.

Presentations

Marotta, Rocco F., “Onset of Illness: The Changing Face of Severe Psychiatric Illness in the Early 21st Century.” Oral presentation at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Silver Hill Hospital, Grace Farms Conference, The Long Course of Care: Interfaces of Multiple Systems and Stakeholders, December 2024.

Marotta, Rocco F., “Cannabis and Stimulants: Unraveling Psychosis and Novel Clinical Presentation.” Oral presentation at The Dorm Webinar, November 2024.

Marotta, Rocco F., Lisa Mann, Katharine Cutts Dougherty, et. al. “Expanding Directions in the Treatment of Serious Mental Illness: Beyond the Double Blind,” Paper presented at The Center for the Treatment and Study of Neuropsychiatric Disorders Colloquium, Rome, Italy, April 2024.

Marotta, Rocco F., Irene Bihl, Meriwether Brown, et al. “Building a Continuum of Care for Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders.” Poster presented at the Congress of the Schizophrenia International Research Society, April 2024.

Walker, Sophia, Katharine Cutts Dougherty, Howard Weiner, et al. “Complex Seizure Disorder Symptoms Manifesting in Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders in Young Adults with Prior Cannabis Use: A Clinical Overview.” Poster presented at the Congress of the Schizophrenia International Research Society, April 2024.

See more ››

Ongoing Research (Research Collaborations)

Mercedes Perez-Rodriguez, MD, PhD, Mount Sinai Hospital
The Center for the Treatment and Study of Neuropsychiatric Disorders has funded a collaboration with Dr. Perez-Rodriguez to study the absorption of sublingual oxytocin in the bloodstream. A

Michael McGee, MD, Atascadero State Hospital
Dr. Marotta and the CTSND collaborate regularly with Dr. McGee, a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. 

Sage Healthcare Clinic is an academically supported organization that strives to provide best practices in a holistic care environment, including family practice, behavioral and mental health, social work, and case management. This clinic is attached to Bridgeport Rescue Mission, in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Dr. Marotta serves as the Medical Director, Behavioral Health. Research program is in the process of being developed.

The Center staff also collects data and research to help clinicians anticipate the future needs of psychiatric care. A current focus is on how current state and federal policies regarding cannabis use may impact the future of psychiatric illness.

We hope you will contact us with questions and ideas. You may reach the Center for the Treatment and Study of Neuropsychiatric Disorders at SHARE@SilverHillHospital.org.

The Center for the Treatment and Study of Neuropsychiatric Disorders is funded through the generosity of donors who share our commitment to reducing suffering and delivering hope to individuals, families, and loved ones impacted by neuropsychiatric brain disorders.

To support our mission and work, please contact Sarah Shevchik, Senior Philanthropic Advisor, at sshevchik@silverhillhospital.org or 203-801-3129.