Research Interests
Cognitive Biases in Anxious Populations
Cognitive models of anxiety propose that anxious individuals attend to, interpret, and recollect threatening information differently than non-anxious individuals. Moreover, these biases in cognitive processing are thought to be related to the onset, maintenance, and treatment of anxiety. I am interested in examining these biases, and creating new paradigms to explore how cognitive biases differ between anxious and non-anxious individuals.
Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM)
Recently, a series of studies have demonstrated that it is possible to shift interpretation and attention biases through brief computerized interventions, termed cognitive bias modification (CBM). I am thrilled to be a part of this exciting new research field, and hope to further this line of work by testing CBM paradigms with new populations, and by evaluating the clinical utility of CBM through comparing it to more traditional forms of therapy (e.g., exposure). From a theoretical perspective, this research tests the predicted causal relationship between cognitive bias change and fear reduction. Moreover, this research has high potential clinical value because, given the centrality of changing cognitive processing in current anxiety treatments. Additionally, CBM may be more palatable than traditional exposure-based procedures. Finally, CBM paradigms can be rapidly disseminated via the computer and are inexpensive given that they do not require direct therapist contact.
Postpartum Anxiety and OCD
Postpartum anxiety disorders are the most prevalent postpartum psychiatric conditions. Up to 16% of mothers experience postpartum anxiety or related disorders, such as OCD. Left untreated, perinatal anxiety and OCD are associated with numerous adverse outcomes, such as maternal depression, preterm birth, impaired fetal development, low birthweight, difficulty breastfeeding, anxiety in children, and interference with parent-infant bonding. We are developing effective and scalable prevention programs to address postpartum anxiety and OCD. Currently, we are developing and testing the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of an Internet-delivered postpartum anxiety and OCD prevention program, called “Preventing Postpartum Onset Distress”, or P-POD.
We also have fun tools, like Biopac for recording skin conductance, and Oculus Rift for virtual reality!
Recent Publications:
Shari Steinman's Google Scholar Page
*=graduate student
Journal Articles:
Chapters
Cognitive models of anxiety propose that anxious individuals attend to, interpret, and recollect threatening information differently than non-anxious individuals. Moreover, these biases in cognitive processing are thought to be related to the onset, maintenance, and treatment of anxiety. I am interested in examining these biases, and creating new paradigms to explore how cognitive biases differ between anxious and non-anxious individuals.
Cognitive Bias Modification (CBM)
Recently, a series of studies have demonstrated that it is possible to shift interpretation and attention biases through brief computerized interventions, termed cognitive bias modification (CBM). I am thrilled to be a part of this exciting new research field, and hope to further this line of work by testing CBM paradigms with new populations, and by evaluating the clinical utility of CBM through comparing it to more traditional forms of therapy (e.g., exposure). From a theoretical perspective, this research tests the predicted causal relationship between cognitive bias change and fear reduction. Moreover, this research has high potential clinical value because, given the centrality of changing cognitive processing in current anxiety treatments. Additionally, CBM may be more palatable than traditional exposure-based procedures. Finally, CBM paradigms can be rapidly disseminated via the computer and are inexpensive given that they do not require direct therapist contact.
Postpartum Anxiety and OCD
Postpartum anxiety disorders are the most prevalent postpartum psychiatric conditions. Up to 16% of mothers experience postpartum anxiety or related disorders, such as OCD. Left untreated, perinatal anxiety and OCD are associated with numerous adverse outcomes, such as maternal depression, preterm birth, impaired fetal development, low birthweight, difficulty breastfeeding, anxiety in children, and interference with parent-infant bonding. We are developing effective and scalable prevention programs to address postpartum anxiety and OCD. Currently, we are developing and testing the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of an Internet-delivered postpartum anxiety and OCD prevention program, called “Preventing Postpartum Onset Distress”, or P-POD.
We also have fun tools, like Biopac for recording skin conductance, and Oculus Rift for virtual reality!
Recent Publications:
Shari Steinman's Google Scholar Page
*=graduate student
Journal Articles:
- Steinman, S. A., Edwards, C. E.*, Snider, M. D. H.*, Billingsley, A. B.*, Ponzini, G. T.*, Evey, K. J.*, Doss, B. D., & Timpano, K. R. (in press). Preventing postpartum anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder over the Internet: A pilot study. Behavior Therapy.
- Morriss, J., Rodriguez-Sobstel, C., & Steinman, S. A. (accepted). Intolerance of uncertainty is associated with heightened arousal during extinction learning and retention: Preliminary evidence from a clinical sample with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Cognitive Therapy and Research.
- Ponzini, G. P.*, Signorelli, M.^, Claydon, E., Lilly, C., & Steinman, S. A. (accepted). A mixed methods evaluation of stereotypes towards obsessive compulsive disorder symptom subtypes. Clinical Psychological Science.
- Würtz, F. Steinman, S. A., Blackwell, S. E., Wilhelm, F. H., Reinecke, A., Adolph, D. Margraf, J., Woud, M. L. (accepted). Effects of training body-related interpretations on panic-related cognitions and symptoms. Cognitive Therapy and Research.
- Rodriguez-Seijas, C., McClendon, J., Wendt, D., Novacek, D., Ebalu, T., Hallion, L., Hassan, N., Huson, K., Spielmans, G., Folk, J., Khazem, L., Neblett, E., Cunningham, T., Hampton, J., Steinman, S. A., Hamilton, J., & Mekawi, Y. (accepted). The next generation of clinical science: Moving toward antiracism. Clinical Psychological Science.
Chapters
- Restivo Haney, J. R.*, Ponzini, G. T.*, Snider, M. D. H.*, Potter, K. N.*, Wheeler, G. L.*, & Steinman, S. A. (2024). Postpartum anxiety. In A. Wenzel (Ed.), The International Handbook of Perinatal Mental Health Disorders.
- Steinman, S. A., Billingsley, A. L.*, Edwards, C. B.*, Snider, M. H.*, & Hallion, L. S. (2019). Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders. In J. Maddux and B. Winstead (Eds.), Psychopathology: Foundations for a Contemporary Understanding (Fifth Edition). Routledge/Taylor & Francis
|
|
|
|
|
|
