The psychophysiology of anxiety and worry:

A symposium in honor of the contributions of Thomas D. Borkovec

Bruce H. Friedman, ChairDepartment of Psychology, Virginia Tech

Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Psychophysiological Research,

Austin, TX October 3, 2008

Symposium originSymposium origin Call for symposia to recognize Tom Call for symposia to recognize Tom

Borkovec’s contributions to clinical Borkovec’s contributions to clinical psychological sciencepsychological science Major Themes: Major Themes: Etiology & treatment of Etiology & treatment of

GAD, Research methodology, Effectiveness GAD, Research methodology, Effectiveness research, Insomniaresearch, Insomnia

Specific themes: Specific themes: Worry, Psychophysiology, Worry, Psychophysiology, PMR, Integration of basic and applied PMR, Integration of basic and applied researchresearch

ConferencesConferences: ABCT, EABCT, BABCP, SPR : ABCT, EABCT, BABCP, SPR (Psychotherapy), NASPR, APA, SEPI (Psychotherapy), NASPR, APA, SEPI

9 symposia in 2008; five planned for 20099 symposia in 2008; five planned for 2009

CareerCareer Distinguished Professor of Psychology, Distinguished Professor of Psychology,

Emeritus Department of Psychology, Penn Emeritus Department of Psychology, Penn State UniversityState University

19701970: Ph. D., University of Illinois at Urbana-: Ph. D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign,

1970-741970-74: Assistant Professor, Department of : Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of IowaPsychology, University of Iowa

1974-781974-78: Associate Professor, Department of : Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of IowaPsychology, University of Iowa

1978-present1978-present: Professor, Department of : Professor, Department of Psychology, Penn State UniversityPsychology, Penn State University

Visiting ProfessorshipsVisiting Professorships 19781978: Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, : Institute of Psychiatry, University of London,

England England 19901990: Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium : Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium

Awards & AchievementsAwards & Achievements 191 refereed journal articles & book 191 refereed journal articles & book

chapterschapters PI, 7 NIMH grants & renewals for > $4 PI, 7 NIMH grants & renewals for > $4

millionmillion Supervised 46 Ph.D.sSupervised 46 Ph.D.s Fellow, APS & APAFellow, APS & APA Distinguished Scientist Award, APA Division Distinguished Scientist Award, APA Division

12, 199812, 1998 Honorary Doctor of Philosophy, Stockholm Honorary Doctor of Philosophy, Stockholm

University, 2003University, 2003 Editorial Boards of 11 scientific journalsEditorial Boards of 11 scientific journals

Research themesResearch themes Role of expectancy and physiological Role of expectancy and physiological

feedback in anxiety maintenance feedback in anxiety maintenance Anxiety & insomnia Anxiety & insomnia Nature and treatment of worry and Nature and treatment of worry and

generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) Combining therapy outcome and basic Combining therapy outcome and basic

laboratory research to understand the laboratory research to understand the mechanisms:mechanisms:

of human anxiety of human anxiety by which therapy can produce clinical by which therapy can produce clinical

improvementimprovement Basic research focusBasic research focus: cognitive and : cognitive and

psychophysiological factors in GADpsychophysiological factors in GAD

PanelPanel Deane E. Aikins (National Center for PTSD Deane E. Aikins (National Center for PTSD

& Yale University School of Medicine)& Yale University School of Medicine) DON’T CLOSE YOUR EYES! WORRY, VAGAL DON’T CLOSE YOUR EYES! WORRY, VAGAL

TONE, AND AVOIDANCE IN VIETNAM-ERA TONE, AND AVOIDANCE IN VIETNAM-ERA POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDERPOSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER

TDB: co-chair of dissertation at PSU; worked with TDB: co-chair of dissertation at PSU; worked with GAD patients in TDB’s lab, circa 1993-1999GAD patients in TDB’s lab, circa 1993-1999

Desmond J. Oathes (University of Desmond J. Oathes (University of Wisconsin – Madison) Wisconsin – Madison) PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE FOR PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE FOR

VIGILANCE AND AVOIDANCE IN WORRY AND VIGILANCE AND AVOIDANCE IN WORRY AND GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDERGENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER

TDB: Committee member for MS, comprehensive TDB: Committee member for MS, comprehensive exam, & dissertation, circa 1999 -2006 exam, & dissertation, circa 1999 -2006

PanelPanel Michael M. Knepp (Michael M. Knepp (Virginia Tech)Virginia Tech)

CARDIOVASCULAR REACTIVITY IN HIGH CARDIOVASCULAR REACTIVITY IN HIGH AND LOW TRAIT WORRY WOMENAND LOW TRAIT WORRY WOMEN

Current Ph.D. candidate (Mentor: Bruce Current Ph.D. candidate (Mentor: Bruce Friedman)Friedman)

Julian F. Thayer (The Ohio State Julian F. Thayer (The Ohio State University)University) THE PERSEVERATIVE COGNITION THE PERSEVERATIVE COGNITION

HYPOTHESIS: WHAT WERE WE THINKING?HYPOTHESIS: WHAT WERE WE THINKING? Assistant Professor, PSU, 1985-1993Assistant Professor, PSU, 1985-1993

Peter J. Lang (University of Florida)Peter J. Lang (University of Florida) DiscussantDiscussant