Research Interests
The research in our group focuses on the nature and treatment of worry and generalized anxiety disorder. We combine therapy outcome research with basic laboratory research in order to understand the mechanisms of human anxiety and the mechanisms by which therapy can produce clinical improvement. Our most recent therapy trial contrasted two cognitive behavioral conditions, one of which received an added element of interpersonal and experiential therapy, to assess whether addressing interpersonal and emotional issues can increment the benefits already demonstrated for the cognitive behavioral treatment. Much of our basic research has focused on cognitive and psychophysiological factors involved in the disorder.
Recent Publications
Borkovec, T. D. (2002). Life in the future versus life in the present. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 9, 76-80.
Stöber, J., & Borkovec, T. D. (2002). Reduced concreteness of worry in generalized anxiety disorder: Findings from a therapy study. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 26, 89-96.
Borkovec, T. D., Newman, M. G., Pincus, A., & Lytle, R. (2002). A component analysis of cognitive behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder and the role of interpersonal problems. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70, 288-298.
Lytle, R., Hazlett-Stevens, H., & Borkovec, T. D. (2002). Efficacy of eye-movement desensitization in the treatment of cognitive intrusions related to a past stressful event. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 16, 273-288.
Newman, M. G., & Borkovec, T. D. (2002). Cognitive behavioral therapy for worry and generalized anxiety disorder. In G. Simos (Ed.), Cognitive behavior therapy : A guide for the practicing clinician (pp. 150-172). East Sussex: Brunner-Routledge.
Borkovec, T. D., & Onken, L. (2002). Recommendations for the use of placebos in clinical trials to test behavioral interventions. In A. Kleinman, H. Guess, L. Engel, & J. Kusek (Eds.), The science of placebo: Toward an interdisciplinary research agenda (pp. 306-310). London: British Medical Journal Publishing Group.
Borkovec, T. D. (2002). Psychological aspects and treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. In D. J. Nutt, K. Rickels, & D. J. Stein (Eds.), Generalized anxiety disorder: Symptomotology, pathogenesis, and management. London: Martin Dunitz Ltd.
Behar, E., Alcaine, O., Zuellig, A.R., & Borkovec, T.D. (2003). Screening for generalized anxiety disorder using the Penn State Worry Questionnaire: A receiver operating characteristics analysis. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 34, 25-43.
Borkovec, T. D., Newman, M. G., & Castonguay, L. G. (2003). Psychotherapy for generalized anxiety disorder. CNS Spectrum, 8, 382-389.
Behar, E., & Borkovec, T. D. (2003). Between-group therapy outcome research. In J. A. Schinka & W. Velicer (Ed.), Comprehensive handbook of Psychology: Research Methods (Vol. 2, pp. 213-241):. New York: Wiley.
Hazlett-Stevens, H., & Borkovec, T. D. (2004). Interpretive cues and ambiguity in generalized anxiety disorder. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 42, 881-892.
Ruiz, M., Pincus, A., Borkovec, T. D., Echemendia, R., Castonguay, L. G., & Ragusea, S. (2004). Validity of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems for Predicting Treatment Outcome: An Investigation with The Pennsylvania Practice Research Network. Journal of Personality Assessment, 83, 213-222.
Borkovec, T. D. (2004). Research in training clinics and practice research networks: A route to the integration of science and practice. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 11, 212-216.
Nuevo, R., Montorio, I., & Borkovec, T. D. (2004). A test of the role of meta-worry in the prediction of worry severity in an elderly sample. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 35, 209-219.
Borkovec, T.D., & Sharpless, B. (2004). Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Bringing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy into the Valued Present. In S. Hayes, V. Follette, & M. Linehan (Eds.), New directions in behavior therapy ( pp. 209-242). New York: Guilford Press.
Borkovec, T. D. (2004). Andrew Mathews: A brief partially true history of a clinical scientist. In J. Yiend (Ed.), Cognition, Emotion, and Psychopathology. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Borkovec, T. D., & Sibrava, N. (in press). The use of placebo conditions in therapy outcome research and the pursuit of placebo mechanisms. Journal of Clinical Psychology (Special Issue).
Ruscio, A., & Borkovec, T. D. (in press). Experience and appraisal of worry among high worriers with and without generalized anxiety disorder. Behavioural Research and Therapy.
Behar, E., Zuellig, A.R., & Borkovec, T.D. (in press). Thought and imaginal activity during worry and trauma recall. Behavior Therapy.
Grosse Holtforth, M., Castonguay, L. G., & Borkovec, T. D. (in press). Advancing process research by integrating new methodological developments. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice.
Behar, E., Vescio, T.K., & Borkovec, T.D. (in press). The effects of suppressing thoughts and images about worrisome and neutral stimuli. Behavior Therapy.
Borkovec, T. D., Alcaine, O., & Behar, E. (2004). Avoidance theory of worry and generalized anxiety disorder. In R. G. Heimberg, C. L. Turk, & D. S. Mennin (Eds.), Generalized anxiety disorder: Advances in research and practice (pp. 77-108). New York: Guilford Press.
Newman, M. G., Castonguay, L. G., Borkovec, T. D., & Molnar, C. (2004). Integrative therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. In R. G. Heimberg, C. L. Turk, & D. S. Mennin (Eds.), Generalized anxiety disorder: Advances in research and practice (pp. 320-350). New York: Guilford Press.
Alcaine, O., & Borkovec, T. D. (in press). Cognitive behavioral therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. In P. Chorot (Ed.). El trastorno de Ansiedad Generalizada:Aspectos Conceptuales, Evaluación y Tratamiento (Generalized Anxiety Disorder: General Issues, Assessment and Treatment). Madrid: Klinik.
Castonguay, L. G., Newman, M. G., Borkovec, T. D., Holtforth, M. G., & Maramba, G. G. (in press). Cognitive-behavioral assimilative integration. In M. Goldfried & J. Norcross (Eds). Handbook of psychotherapy integration. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Borkovec, T. D. (in press). Treatment of generalized anxiety disorder and its central worry process. In S. Sassaroli & G. Ruggerio (Eds.), Worry, need of control, and other core cognitive constructs in anxiety and eating disorders.
McLaughlin, K., Sibrava, N., Behar, E., & Borkovec, T. D. (in press). Recurrent negative thinking in emotional disorders: Worry, depressive rumination, and trauma recall. In S. Sassaroli & G. Ruggerio (Eds.), Worry, need of control, and other core cognitive constructs in anxiety and eating disorders.
Borkovec, T. D., & Castonguay, L. G. (in press). Effectiveness research. In J. C. Norcross, L. E. Beutler, & R. F. Levant (Eds.), Evidence-based practices in mental health: Debate and dialogue on the fundamental questions. Washington, D. C,. American Psychological Association.
Behar, E., & Borkovec, T. D. (in press). The theory and treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. In B. O. Rothbaum (Ed.), The nature and treatment of pathological anxiety: Essays in honor of Edna B. Foa. New York: Guilford Press.
