Lebowitz Lab

We are interested in understanding the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of childhood anxiety disorders, and in developing and testing new therapies based on this understanding. A special emphasis is on the family systems of anxious children and on parental involvement in their children’s anxiety symptoms.

We develop and use questionnaire, behavioral, and biological tools to learn about child anxiety and to assess its various components. We are interested in the neurohypophyseal hormones (e.g., oxytocin) that modulate children’s attachment behavior and their dependence on parents, and in parent-based treatments to identify effective strategies to reduce child anxiety by modifying parent behavior.

We use motion-tracking technology to study behavioral avoidance and the impact of anxiety on behavior and performance. We also use functional magnetic resonance imaging, fMRI, to study brain circuitry implicated in child anxiety, and changes in brain circuitry following psychotherapy.

The Lebowitz Lab is led by Eli Lebowitz, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Child Study Center

• Children and adolescents with anxiety disorders – Clinical trial for anxiety (no-cost treatment)
• Healthy children and adolescents – Paid study

Neurobiology and treatment of childhood anxiety and related disorders

• CBT and Parent Training for Childhood Anxiety
• Measures of Anxiety Related Variables in the General Population
• Efficacy of Rapid-Acting NMDA Antagonist for Treatment of Adolescent Depression
• Mobile Application for Attention Research