Mood and anxiety disorders that GEB researches include
Major depression
Bipolar disorder (manic depression)
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Social anxiety disorder/social phobia
Panic disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
The major research goals of GEB are
To conduct studies of families to identify aspects of mental disorders that are inherited;
To determine the reasons why mood and anxiety disorders may exist in association with other mental disorders (e.g., alcoholism, substance abuse) and medical disorders (migraine);
To identify the early expression of mental disorders in the population by following children of parents with these disorders, paying close attention to gender differences;
To conduct pilot studies of programs aimed at preventing mood and anxiety disorders in youth;
To develop and apply study designs and statistical methods to identify how an interaction of genes and the environment contribute to mental disorders. Studies include half-siblings, step-siblings, children of twins, and migrant studies (i.e., people who have moved from one geographic area to another).
