BU Study Looks to Curb Childhood Anxiety

1/14/2013 (Updated 10:59:06 PM)

(Source: Jason Weinstein)

"It doesn't take a whole lot working with a kid to intervene and change their whole trajectory. It's certainly a lot easier than working with somebody who has already had a lifetime of either anxiety or depression," said Dr. Brandon Gibb.

How Dr. Brandon Gibb and his clinical training staff at Binghamton University plan to intervene is with a 1,000-family study to explore risk and resilience factors in kids when it comes to anxiety and depression

"We're interested in environmental influences, we're interested in congnitive influences, we're interested in genetic influences," said Gibb.

Gibb believes all these factors can play a role in anxiety.

"If you walk into a room of new people are you the type of person that tends to immediately scan the room for someone who may not like you. Or are you the type of person who once your attention gets stuck on something is it tough to pull your attention away from that," said Gibb.

The purpose of the study isn't to diagnose subject families...
"Kids are supposed to have mood swings, particularly once they age into adolescence, it's almost the defining criteria," said Dr. Gibb.

But Gibb says parents should be aware if a child's mood starts to interfere with school and social lives.

"Ask them how they're feeling. And if you notice a sudden shift in their behavior or mood then that may be a sign that something is going on in their lives," said Gibb.

The Study, which will focus on 7- to 11-year-old children, is a four-year project funded by a $2.9 million grant from the National Institute of Health.

"You can just see potential, beautiful potential. They're really excited about things and what we want to do is to help catch the kids who may be at risk, catch them early before they start going down the path of either anxiety or depression so they can really reach their potential," said Gibb.

Dr. Gibb's group is looking for 1,000 families to take part in the study. If you are interested in participating you should call 777-3304 and ask for the Binghamton Idea Project. A parent will be paid $50 while the child will have his or her choice of a toy or $10 gift card.

****In Vestal, Jason Weinstein, Fox 40 HD News.****