Research Interests

We are interested in the developmental psychopathology of anxiety among children and adolescents (i.e., ages 8 to 17 years). To date, we have been most interested in panic disorder, but we are in the process of expanding our research to include other types of anxiety pathology such as post-traumatic stress disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Overall, we examine how individual difference factors (e.g., substance use, emotion regulatory strategies) change across the period of adolescence and interact with contextual factors (e.g., life stressors; puberty) to promote the development of anxiety problems. ArKIDS is an experimental psychopathology laboratory designed to study “real-time” anxious responding produced by analogue procedures such as voluntary hyperventilation. In addition, we typically gather self-report, multi-informant, and interview data. Annual Conference for the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, 2007, Baltimore MD

Recently Completed Projects

Stress and Health Behaviors We are currently wrapping up year two of a two-year National Institutes of Health training and research grant (Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Fellowship). Participants completed a structured clinical interview, a laboratory task, and a battery of questionnaires; parents also completed a brief interview and a short battery of questionnaires. The primary goal of this project is to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the linkage between emotional vulnerability and health-related behaviors (e.g., alcohol use) among adolescents. Smoking and Panic We recently completed a two-year National Institute of Mental Health research grant. Onehundred and eighty male and female adolescents (ages 12-17 years) and their parents were recruited from the local community. Participants underwent a structured clinical interview, completed a biological challenge procedure, and filled out a battery of questionnaires; parents also completed a brief clinical interview and filled out a short battery of questionnaires. The primary goal of this project is to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the linkage between adolescent tobacco use and panic vulnerability. Adolescent Emotions and Hormones We recently completed a pilot study concerning the association between cortisol activity and adolescent emotional vulnerability. Forty-six female adolescents (ages 8-17 years) were recruited from the general community. This short-term prospective design consisted of 1) a laboratory visit, during which participants provided salivary samples, underwent a structured clinical interview, completed a biological challenge procedure, and filled out a short battery of questionnaires, 2) a larger questionnaire battery and materials for salivary sampling to be completed at home, and 3) a brief, one-week follow-up interview. The primary goal of this project is to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the linkage among multiple facets of pubertal maturation (e.g., hormones, developmental timing) and emotional vulnerability.   Annual Conference for the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, 2006, Chicago, IL