We are deeply saddened by the passing of Edna Foa, a pioneering scientist-clinician whose work transformed the understanding and treatment of anxiety and trauma-related disorders.
Dr. Foa’s development and validation of exposure-based therapies represent one of the most impactful examples of translational research in behavioral health—bridging rigorous scientific discovery with real-world clinical application. Her work established the gold standard for treating conditions such as PTSD and obsessive-compulsive disorder, improving outcomes for patients across the globe.
As a distinguished member of the University of Pennsylvania community, she was also an extraordinary mentor and educator, shaping generations of clinicians and researchers committed to evidence-based care.
At CTSA, we recognize Dr. Foa’s legacy as foundational to our mission: advancing science that meaningfully improves patient lives. Her work continues to inform how we translate research into practice, scale effective interventions, and train the next generation of innovators.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, colleagues, and all those whose lives were touched by her work.
We welcome referrals from professionals and inquiries directly from patients.
May 28, 2025: Can Medical Marijuana Safely Treat Anxiety Disorders?
Anxiety-related disorders are among the most common behavioral health conditions, and more people are turning to medical marijuana as a treatment option. Sandy Capaldi, PsyD, an associate professor of Clinical Psychiatry, noted that research is mixed. “The research done has been a bit equivocal. Some show potential benefits, while some show potential risks. There are different nuances,” she explained.
May 15, 2025: APA names Prolonged Exposure Therapy a first-line treatment for PTSD
The American Psychological Association's 2025 Clinical Practice Guidelines reaffirm what the scientific community has long known - Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE) remains a first-line treatment for PTSD. The most rigorously tested psychotherapy available for PTSD, PE's status, unchanged since 2017, speaks to the decades of research supporting its effectiveness.
April 23, 2025: Dr. Elizabeth Turk-Karan on Mind on Mental Health Podcast - Part 3
In this final episode with Elizabeth Turk-Karan, PhD, she and host Andy Dean sit down to discuss how to go about finding effective treatment for anxiety disorders and what strategies tend to be the most helpful.
April 16, 2025: Dr. Elizabeth Turk-Karan on Mind on Mental Health Podcast - Part 2
Overcoming anxiety often requires spending time purposefully being uncomfortable. Host Andy Dean and Elizabeth Turk-Karan, PhD explain exposure therapy and how it works for many who experience anxiety disorders.
April 8, 2025: Dr. Elizabeth Turk-Karan on Mind on Mental Health Podcast - Part 1
The first of a 3 part series on anxiety disorders with CTSA's Elizabeth Turk-Karan, Ph.D. Starting with the basics of defining the difference between the anxiety we all experience and debilitating anxiety disorder, host Andy Dean and Dr. Turk-Karan share their experiences working with patients whose disorder interferes with everyday life in many ways.
The Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety offers a number of professional workshops for mental health practitioners who are looking to extend their training in empirically-supported treatments for anxiety disorders. Our current workshop offerings include Prolonged Exposure (PE) for PTSD, PE Supervisor Workshops, and Exposure and Response Prevention (EX/RP) for OCD, among others. Please visit our Training Opportunities page to learn more.
