Binghamton Mood Disorders Institute Research:

At the Binghamton Mood Disorders Institute, we are devoted to better understanding mood disorders, such as major depression, through scientific research. Currently our laboratory has a number of ongoing research projects aimed at better understanding factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of depression as well as factors contributing to suicide. Our research broadly falls into three domains:
1. Research examining the role of cognitive factors in predicting the development and maintenance of depression as well as suicidal ideation and attempts
2. Research examining the development of these cognitive vulnerabilities
3. Research examining potential interactions between genetic and environmental variables that may contribute risk to depression and suicide

Cognitive Vulnerability to Depression
The primary focus of our research is testing cognitive vulnerability-stress theories of depression. According to these theories, individuals’ characteristic ways of attending to and interpreting negative events contribute vulnerability to the development of depression in the presence of negative events. We conduct studies examining the role of these cognitive factors in the development of depressive symptoms and diagnoses in children and adults. We also examine the role of these cognitive factors in predicting the presence and development of suicidal ideation and attempts in adults.

Development of Cognitive Vulnerabilities
Given evidence that these cognitive factors do contribute vulnerability to the development of depression, we also examine factors that may contribute to the development of the cognitive vulnerabilities (attention and interpretation biases). This research focuses primarily on the role of childhood emotional abuse and verbal victimization from peers. We are interested in understanding not only whether experiences such as teasing and rejection contribute to the development of a cognitive vulnerability to depression, but also whether there may be some specificity in the type of cognitive vulnerability that develops based on the specific aspects of the negative events experienced.

Gene-Environment Interactions
Recently, we have begun to investigate the role of genetic factors in contributing risk to depression and suicide. Thus far, our research has focused on variations (polymorphisms) in one specific gene, the serotonin transporter gene (SERT). We are testing the hypothesis that a history of negative events in childhood may be more strongly linked to depression and suicide attempts later in life among individuals with a certain variation in this gene than among other individuals.

The facilities of the Binghamton Mood Disorders Institute are located in Clearview Hall on the campus of Binghamton University, in Binghamton, NY. The BMDI contains over 1100 square feet of research and clinical space, including three individual testing/clinical rooms, a larger interview room, a workroom, and offices for BMDI staff.