We have previously studied such topics as (1) mood and memory in anxiety and depression, (2). attributional styles as vulnerabilities for depression. Currently the Cognitive Vulnerability to Anxiety (CVA) lab has several projects that focus predominantly on cognition and negative cognitive styles in anxiety syndromes and disorders. Doctoral students are also encouraged to develop their own line of research, particularly if it ties in to the general focus of the lab on cognitive aspects of anxiety. Below is a list of some of our current projects and areas of interest.

I.                   Cognitive Vulnerability to anxiety.  What makes one person vulnerable to developing anxiety disorders while other people are not vulnerable?  What makes some people worry inordinately (e.g., about relationships, health, finances), while other people don’t worry?  Why do some people exhibit a greater vulnerability to depression than other people, while some individuals may have a greater specific vulnerability to anxiety.  We have developed the model of looming vulnerability to address these questions, and to apply the model to a range of anxiety syndromes such as generalized anxiety and worry, OCD, panic disorder, social anxiety, phobias, and PTSD.   Briefly, the theory extends the usual idea that anxiety is a response to the perception and appraisal of threat (e.g., Aaron Beck, Richard Lazarus). The theory extends those frameworks by suggesting that there is a qualitative difference between threats that are perceived as dynamic, intensifying at a speed boat pace, and approaching a dreaded end, as opposed to static.  Anxiety is generated by mental scenarios in which individuals picture dynamic threats, as opposed to motionless scenarios of final end states.  We have investigated this formulation of anxiety with respect to specific anxiety syndromes, information processing tasks, stress generation (individuals generate their own stressful life events), and a broad vulnerability to anxiety states. One measure we have developed is a self-report measure of the “looming cognitive style (LCS),” which reflects a tendency across both social and physical threat realms to spontaneously generate mental images and scenarios or rapidly increasing threats.   We have found evidence that supports that the LCS puts people at risk for anxiety disorders, and differentiates anxiety disorders and anxiety symptoms from depression.

II.                 Studies of the mechanisms in Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).  OCD is another recent focus for multiple reasons.   Aside from the looming vulnerability construct, we are doing studies on other cognitive mechanisms as well.   It was once thought that OCD symptoms were only observed in clinical patients, but it is now known that the majority of the population reports intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors resembling those of clinical patients with OCD.  Recent cognitive theories suggest factors that play a role in creating this increased vulnerability.  These recent cognitive models assume that individuals develop OCD because of the distorted meanings that they attach to intrusive thoughts.  In our lab, we are also examining the role of a number of factors and mechanisms that might contribute to the prediction of OCD symptoms and understanding how the bona fide clinical disorder can develop.