Understanding and Reducing Risk for Depression: The Role of Stress Reactivity

Events

Understanding and Reducing Risk for Depression: The Role of Stress Reactivity

Ian H. Gotlib, PhD Chair, Department of Psychology, David Starr Jordan Professor, and Director, Stanford Mood and Anxiety Disorders Laboratory Stanford University

In his research, Dr. Ian Gotlib examines psychological and biological factors that place individuals at increased risk for depression, as well as processes that are involved in recovery from this disorder. Dr. Gotlib is conducting research examining neural, cognitive, social, and endocrinological factors and genetics in depressed individuals, and applying findings from these investigations to the study of predictors of depression in children at familial risk for developing this disorder. He is also examining the impact of innovative procedures to reduce young children’s risk for depression, including Interpretation Bias Training, Attention Bias Training, and neurofeedback training. Dr. Gotlib is also examining the differential effects of early life stress on the trajectories of neurodevelopment in boys and girls over the course of puberty in an effort to explain the increased risk for depression and for suicidal behaviors at this developmental stage. Dr. Gotlib has received the Distinguished Investigator Award from the National Alliance for Research in Schizophrenia and Affective Disorders, the Joseph Zubin Award for lifetime research contributions to the understanding of psychopathology, the APA Award for Distinguished Scientific Contribution, and the APS Distinguished Scientist Award. He has published over 500 scientific articles and has written or edited several books in the areas of depression and stress, including the Handbook of Depression with Constance Hammen. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science, and the American Psychopathological Association, and is Past President of the Society for Research in Psychopathology. 

Location: Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic Auditorium

For More Information: Please contact Frances Patrick (patrickfm@upmc.edu).

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this lecture, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe the psychological and biological factors that place individuals at increased risk for depression.

  2. Describe the role of stress reactivity in increasing risk for depression.

  3. Describe the effects of programs designed to reduce risk for depression. 

Continuing Education Credit:  The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM.  Each physician should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Other health care professionals are awarded .15 continuing education units (CEUs), which are equal to 1.5 contact hours. In accordance with Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education requirements on disclosure, information about relationships of presenters with commercial interests (if any) will be included in materials which will be distributed at the time of the conference. WPIC is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. WPIC maintains responsibility for this program and its contents. This program is being offered for 1.5 continuing education credits.