Anxiety Disorders Program Research
Our Anxiety Disorders Program has a long history of research productivity, examining the biology, psychology, nosology, pathophysiology, and treatment of many of the anxiety disorders. Recent work has focused on treatment (cognitive-behavioral therapy), classification, relationships between alcoholism and anxiety disorders, psychophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder, and biological aspects of panic disorder (adrenergic function, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and respiratory control). A current project is examining the role of cholecystokinin in panic anxiety and in modulating the neuroendocrine stress system. We are conducting a collaborative project to examine the relationships between panic disorder and depression and their shared and disparate biologies. We are beginning a study of cognitive-behavioral treatment for OCD patients who have obsessions without compulsions. We are also beginning to do work in the area of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder. We have a general interest in studying biological stress systems.
We always have active projects and are usually seeking patients who are struggling with anxiety disorders (particularly panic disorder) and are not currently taking medication. We are not engaged in any pharmacological clinical trials.