Background
Our research focuses on factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of depression across the lifespan. Much of this research focuses on how information-processing biases (biases in attention, interpretation and memory) develop and how these biases then increase the risk for depression, either on their own or when interacting with other risk factors.
Our work incorporates experimental and developmental psychopathology approaches to examine a number of potential influences including genetic, molecular, neural, physiological, behavioral, environmental and developmental factors. Much of our research seeks to integrate markers of risk across multiple units of analysis. Consistent with the NIMH Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) initiative, we also seek to examine core processes that, although relevant for depression, may be more homogeneous and/or cut across current diagnostic boundaries (e.g., anhedonia and reward processing). Our overall goal is to develop a more fine-grained understanding of the risk for depression and related outcomes such as suicide and nonsuicidal self-injury so that more targeted prevention and intervention efforts can be developed.
Most recently, we have started examining mechanisms of risk early in development. Specifically, we are interested in transactional relations between mothers’ and their infants’ affect, attention, behavior and physiology and how this may be disrupted in women with postpartum depression.
Dr. Gibb anticipates accepting a new student for the Fall of 2025 and is particularly interested in any applicants with research interests focused on postpartum depression, mother-infant interactions, and/or psychophysiological mechanisms of risk.
Education
- PhD, MA, Temple University
- BA, University of Georgia
Research Interests
- The development and expression of information-processing biases that increase the risk for depression in infants, children, adolescents and adults
- Understanding the risk for depression and related outcomes (e.g., suicidal and nonsuicidal self-injury) across multiple units of analysis
Teaching Interests
- Behavior therapy approaches
- Statistical analysis and design
- Behavior disorders
- Depression: etiology and treatment
- Human Development
Awards
- Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities
More Info
Binghamton Mood Disorders Institute
