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Campus political groups engage the student vote ahead of midterms
The UNC Young Democrats, UNC College Republicans and You Can Vote UNC are encouraging voter engagement across campus.
The week in politics (Oct. 21, 2026)
On Wednesday's show: We preview this week's debate between candidates for Harris County Judge. And we discuss the latest developments in politics.
Giants Part Ways With Najee Harris After Sunday's Comments
The New York Giants are releasing running back Najee Harris.
New York Giants release running back Najee Harris
The New York Giants released veteran running back Najee Harris, a league source told UPI on Tuesday. Harris had signed with the Giants in August.
Giants are releasing running back Najee Harris, AP source says
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Giants are releasing running back Najee Harris, according to a person with knowledge of the decision.The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the move, which was first reported by NFL Network, had not been announced.
Giants Cut Ties with Former Steelers RB Najee Harris
The New York Giants are releasing former Pittsburgh Steelers running back and first-round pick Najee Harris, per Ian Rapoport of […]
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College students use AI to solve business problems
Students at the Harrison County campus are learning ways to solve real-world problems using artificial intelligence.
Police trying to identify man in connection with UTV stolen from business
Harrisburg Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man in connection with a theft investigation.
Texas Health Fort Worth Earns Commitment to Quality Award for Second Consecutive Year
FORT WORTH, TEXAS, Oct. 16, 2026 – Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth has once again earned the American Heart Association’s Commitment to Qu
Bears Receive New Trade Take on Colts DT DeForest Buckner
Harrison Graham of Chat Sports believe the Bears should look to make a trade for Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner. The post Bears Receive New Trade Take on Colts DT DeForest Buckner appeared first on HEAVY.
Reid Defends Kicker Who’s Still Taking Away Points
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker missed two kicks on Sunday, but Andy Reid doesn't sound concerned.
President Trump in Macon Saturday, as political heavyweights flood Georgia before Nov. 3
Obama to stump Oct. 28 for Ossoff, Bottoms; Harris to keynote Fulton fundraiser Oct. 30 with Ossoff.
'Other Desert Cities' review: Julia Louis-Dreyfus debuts Broadway
A revival of Jon Robin Baitz's 'Other Desert Cities,' directed by John Benjamin Hickey, opens at Broadway's Hudson Theatre with a cast that includes Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Ed Harris and Allison Janney.
Paul Harris elected to National Academy of Medicine
Paul Harris, PhD, Professor of Biomedical Informatics at Vanderbilt Health, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine (NAM).
Finding Hope and Peace Amid Political Division
By Dr. Michelle Connor HarrisExecutive DirectorSt. Raphael CounselingLast night I was talking with my 23-year-old son about this article on “hope and peace amid political burnout.” His response was, “If you want to talk about hope and peace, look at Zohran Mamdani.” I sighed internally and tried, probably unsuccessfully, to control my tendency to roll my eyes at the mention of the mayor of New York. Not because of the mayor or his policies, but more because of the way these discussions go with m
‘Other Desert Cities’ Broadway review: A-listers take family dysfunction to another level
Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Ed Harris star in the ‘Other Desert Cities’ revival on Broadway, with the ‘Seinfeld’ star making a triumphant debut. Read EW’s review.
Calvin Harris 2027 North American Tour: Dates, where to find tickets and more
Here's how to get tickets to the 2027 Calvin Harris arena tourtour.
Reed Harris added to ASU's Tillman Leadership Council
Reed Harris leads the Big 12 in receiving yards and touchdowns. He is second in catches behind Baylor's Gavin Freeman.
Tre' Harris to miss Week 6 because of injury
Chargers WR Tre' Harris set to miss at least one game because of his hamstring issue
Great bake: Cheyenne entrepreneur finds sweet success after a cupcake business reboot
CHEYENNE, Wyo. –– Munching on product is usually frowned upon in most food service environments. For Brian Harris, sampling the food is actually
Josh Van Kirk
Josh Van Kirk, experienced in capital markets and securities work, has joined Harris Beach Murtha as senior counsel. He’s practiced corporate and
J. Harrison Ghee Exits Oh, Mary! Tour to Focus on Health Recovery
Alaska Thunderf*ck and John-Andrew Morrison will continue to lead the tour through early 2027, with further casting to be announced.
Two of California's most powerful politicians still haven't weighed in on Prop 40
Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi have yet to weigh in on the most divisive ballot measure before California voters: Prop 40, likely for the same reason that Gavin Newsom opposes the measure.
Big Dom, Elon Musk and George Santos. The Pa. campaign cameos are getting weird.| PA 2026 Newsletter
The rematch between Scott Perry and Janelle Stelson heats up in Harrisburg. Philly Dems celebrate Bob Brady's 40 years with Big Dom and Joe Biden.
Harris, Pelosi still haven't weighed in on California's Prop 40
Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi have yet to weigh in on the most divisive ballot measure before California voters: Prop 40, likely for the same reason that Gavin Newsom opposes the measure.
Executive Profile: Cactus Sam Harris
Cactus Sam Harris House Organist, Board Member Warnors Theatre What we do: Warnors Theatre is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving one of Fresno's great historic landmarks while providing a place for entertainment, the
U.S. Rep. Andy Harris declines to apologize to student reporter in TV interview
“If she called me and asked I would tell her what bothered me,” Harris said in the interview.
In response to Harris visit, Rebecca Cooke says she can campaign ‘on my own’
The former Vice President is stumping for Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Crowley on Oct. 26.
AUGUSTA HEALTH EXPANDS PRIMARY CARE IN HARRISONBURG WITH THE ACQUISITION OF HARRISONBURG FAMILY PRACTICE
FISHERSVILLE, VIRGINIA — Augusta Health has finalized its acquisition of Harrisonburg Family Practice, an established seven-physician primary care practice that has served the Harrisonburg community for 50 years. The acquisition strengthens Augusta Health’s primary care presence in Harrisonburg and builds on its commitment to serving patients throughout the region. Founded under the leadership of Drs. […]
Braden Smith’s Return Could Be Just as Important as Marvin Harrison Jr. for Texans in London
Marvin Harrison Jr. will make Texans debut
C.J. Stroud will have a new wide receiver in Week 6.
Calvin Harris announces first North American headlining tour
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Calvin Harris is bringing his first headlining tour to Southern California next spring, with a stop at Inglewood’s Kia Forum. The Scottish DJ and producer will perform
Giants fill open roster spot with veteran linebacker
Giants add Malik Harrison to 53-man roster.
Why being from California is no longer a presidential asset
California was a springboard for the White House ambitions of Nixon and Reagan. Now it's an anchor on the aspirations of Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris and others.
Kamala Harris’ political future in question amid report on husband’s concerns
A panel discusses a report claiming Kamala Harris’ husband privately expressed that he does not want her to run for president again and more on ‘Hannity.’
Rams Make Drastic Kicker Change After Crushing Loss to Bills
The Los Angeles Rams waived kicker Harrison Mevis and claimed kicker Blake Grupe off waivers from the Jets. The post Rams Make Drastic Kicker Change After Crushing Loss to Bills appeared first on LA Sports Report.
Deanna Harris Joins Alloy Entertainment As VP, Television
Harris joins the company, which is owned by Skydance’s Warner Bros. Television Group, from DiVide Pictures, Milo Ventimiglia’s production company.
GLP-1 Users Face a Health-or-Wealth Choice
51% of GLP-1 users worry they may have to choose between medication and retirement savings. See what The Harris Poll found for Nationwide.
Iowa Basketball: Why Washington Native Ethan Harris Chose Iowa
Harris had an offer from in-state powerhouse Gonzaga, but Ben McCollum's track record and involvement with Harris' recruitment was all Harris needed to see.
Early Reports on Anton Harrison Hopeful, Jaguars Awaiting MRI Results
Anton Harrison’s injury against the Eagles on Sunday, but head coach Liam Coen offered a glimpse of hope regarding the Jaguars left tackle.
Kayla Harrison trashes Ronda Rousey's MMA resume
UFC women's bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison isn't impressed with Ronda Rousey's MMA resume.
Sean McVay: Field goal unit "cost us the game tonight"
The Rams fell to 2-3 on Monday night, due in part to a couple of missed field goals from kicker Harrison Mevis — including a blocked field goal in overtime that, if good, would have won the game.
Anton Harrison undergoes MRI on knee
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Anton Harrison left the Week 5 game against the Philadelphia Eagles in London due to a knee injury
Kayla Harrison Shares Health Update Ahead of Return at UFC 334
UFC women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison shared a health update ahead of her return to the Octagon at UFC 334.Harrison puts the UFC women’s bantamweight title on the line for the first time when she battles former champion and long-time rival Amanda Nunes in the co-main event of UFC 334.For Harrison, it’s her first fight […] The post Kayla Harrison Shares Health Update Ahead of Return at UFC 334 appeared first on HEAVY.
Texans land Marvin Harrison Jr. after first win, aiming for a quick impact
Stroud ranks third in the NFL with 1,402 yards passing.
NCWV Business Summit to highlight economic trends, growth in West Virginia
FAIRMONT, W.Va. — The Chambers of Commerce of Marion, Monongalia, Harrison and Preston counties will host their 12th annual NCWV Business Summit at High Tech Foundation in Fairmont next week,
Marvin Harrison Jr. Traded to Texans Shortly After Titans Loss
Houston lands a massive offensive weapon, acquiring the former top-five pick from Arizona to bolster C.J. Stroud’s arsenal and continue their dominance over a struggling AFC South.
AsiaOne
Holly Madison has thrown her support behind the controversial Playmates movie.The 46-year-old beauty — who was the late Hugh Hefner's 'number one girlfriend' when they were together for seven years in the early 2000s — has shared her support for the film and its writer, Lorraine Nicholson, after the Playboy founder's third wife Crystal Harris recently called on Jessica Biel...
CJ Stroud reveals how he helped Marvin Harrison Jr. get traded to Texans
The Ohio State connection is as strong as ever.
Winners and losers as Cardinals trade Marvin Harrison Jr. to Texans: ‘I was praying something happened’
Marvin Harrison Jr. officially heads to the Houston Texans
GLENDALE — It’s official: Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is headed to the Houston Texans.
Arizona Cardinals inactives: Marvin Harrison sits in Week 5
As reported, Marvin Harrison Jr. is inactive against the Lions pending a trade.
Maria Lekkakos and Marc Harris Build Beyond the Beauty Business
Maria Lekkakos and Marc Harris expand from salons and skincare into Wenham real estate, wine, and their next shared ventures.
Jaguars OT Anton Harrison exits game v. Eagles with injury
Jacksonville Jaguars OT Anton Harrison exited Sunday's game vs. the Eagles with an injury.
Finally, a helpful intervention in the ‘overdiagnosis’ wars. But where’s the money to answer this tragedy?
There is much to agree with in the Fonagy review into mental health support. Without serious public funding, however, its approach won’t work, says Guardian columnist John Harris
Harrison: Shad White blames Bennie Thompson for Delta’s problems. Is he right?
White, who is expected to run for governor in 2027, has been particularly vocal in the call to unseat Thompson.
Can the midterm campaign trail point to 2028 presidential viability for Democrats?
After Clinton and Harris's losses, cautious voters might worry that for Democratic female presidential candidates the third time may not be a charm.
New statewide data shows youth mental health is improving and students feel safer in Pa. schools
HARRISBURG — A statewide survey of more than 267,000 Pennsylvania students shows that investments under the Shapiro-Davis administration in youth...
Should the NY Giants trade for Marvin Harrison Jr.?
How badly do the NY Giants need a wide receiver?
Marvin Harrison Jr. may be on move soon
Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. to be held out of Week 5 because of potential trade
Marvin Harrison Jr. to mystery team? Cardinals reportedly make trade
The Cardinals are reportedly moving on from Marvin Harrison Jr. dealing the WR to a new team. Here's what we know:
Marvin Harrison trade: Houston Texas reportedly involved
The Houston Texans are apparently in the mix for a trade for WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
STEMsters gives younger learners hands-on science experience
This school year, seniors Mohashin Tasfiya, Raisa Kamal, Amber Liu, and Saniha Jasrah, brought a new chapter of the STEMsters, a non-profit organization originally created in California, to Townsend Harris High School. The association aims to expose STEM topics to younger students through hands-on-projects, inspiring them for their future careers. STEMsters meets after school with...
Hugh Hefner’s widow asks Jessica Biel to rethink playing Playboy founder’s wife in new movie
Hugh Hefner’s widow, Crystal Harris, has asked actress Jessica Biel to rethink playing the Playboy founder’s wife in the upcoming movie ‘Playmates.’
Skill game crackdown: Lawmakers try again, business group joins push for more time
Harrisburg, Pa. — The fight to keep skill games plugged in past next week isn't over yet.
Skill game crackdown: Lawmakers try again, business group joins push for more time
Harrisburg, Pa. — The fight to keep skill games plugged in past next week isn't over yet.
Taylor Swift to perform at 2026 Academy Museum Gala
Taylor Swift arrives for the MTV Video Music Awards, Sept. 27, 2026, in Los Angeles. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Alabama health officials warn of storm cleanup dangers ahead of Isaias
Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris is urging residents to follow health and safety warnings as Hurricane Isaias brings the possibility of significant
Harris County Health Leaders Unite to Transform Care for the Region's Most Vulnerable Residents
The Harris Collaborative brings healthcare, public health and community partners together to improve outcomes for Harris County's most vulnerable residents
Harris County Health Leaders Unite to Transform Care for the Region's Most Vulnerable Residents
/PRNewswire/ -- Too many Harris County residents fall through the cracks between the very systems meant to care for them. A bold new partnership aims to change...
WATCH LIVE: Shapiro, Garrity to engage in Pa. governor\'s debate
The two major-party candidates for governor of Pennsylvania will meet in Harrisburg tonight for the only scheduled debate in this year's general election.
Science on Target: Q3 Publications from our Innovation Ecosystem
Antisense Oligonucleotide Tofersen Distribution in the Central Nervous System of SOD1-ALS Autopsy Tissue Donors. Guise AJ, Sellon MT, Roemer SF, Monine M, Comfort Harris NT, […] Plowey ED. JAMA Neurol. 2026 Jul 6:e262195. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2026.2195. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42406382; PMCID: PMC13338845. Using human 3D organoid models to gain mechanistic insight in motor neuron […]
Baptist Health, Seale Harris Clinic Named Lead Tenants at Riverwalk Health Center
Baptist Health and Seale Harris Clinic have signed leases to become lead tenants at the planned Riverwalk Health & Wellness Center in Hoover, with the facility
Folsom Lake Symphony opens season with Berlioz
FOLSOM — The Folsom Lake Symphony launches its 2026-27 season with a passionate and dramatic opening night program, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at Harris Center for the Arts.
Julian Champagnie Breaks Silence on Losing Starting Role With Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs signed Tobias Harris this offseason, slotting Julian Champagnie to the bench. As the Spurs figure out their starting lineup, the team has to navigate egos. Luckily, Champagnie is putting winning over everything.
Lawmakers withdraw request to delay skill game crackdown
Harrisburg, Pa. — Four state lawmakers, including Sen. Gene Yaw, have withdrawn their request asking the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to delay enforcement against skill game machines until February.
Lawmakers withdraw request to delay skill game crackdown
Harrisburg, Pa. — Four state lawmakers, including Sen. Gene Yaw, have withdrawn their request asking the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to delay enforcement against skill game machines until February.
Senator Yaw leads push to stay skill games seizure into 2027
Harrisburg, Pa. — Skill game machines in bars, clubs, and shops across the state could stay safe from police seizure until February if four state lawmakers, primarily Sen. Gene Yaw,
Giants' Marvin Harrison Jr. Rumors Make Sense Under One Condition
Could the New York Giants actually trade for wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.?
Don’t Let the Flu Sideline Your Season. It’s Time for your Flu Shot!
As autumn sets in, the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) is urging residents to get their annual flu shot now to stay healthy and active through the months ahead. “We recommend a seasonal flu shot for everyone six months of age and older,” said Dr. Alexia Harrist, State Health Officer with WDH. “These vaccines carry […]
Three sheriff’s offices sign up for jail mental health hold reimbursements under new Wyoming law
by Maya Shimizu Harris, WyoFile Three sheriff’s offices will be the first under a new law to receive reimbursements from the Wyoming Department of Health
Three sheriff’s offices sign up for jail mental health hold reimbursements under new Wyoming law
by Maya Shimizu Harris, WyoFile Three sheriff’s offices will be the first under a new law to receive reimbursements from the Wyoming Department of Health
BROWARD HEALTH : An Emergency Physician Discusses Dengue - Florida Hospital News and Healthcare Report
Dr. Craig Harrison, an emergency physician at Broward Health Medical Center, discusses how to prevent and treat dengue, who is most at risk, and when it is time to go […]
Ousting a Republican from a Kamala Harris district may not be as easy as it sounds
Mike Lawler is one of the most vulnerable Republicans in Congress this election cycle, one of only three representing a district that Kamala Harris won in 2024.
Spurs get worrying Tobias Harris injury update
San Antonio's lone free-agent signing is reportedly dealing with an injury during preseason.
Analysis | With Kamala Harris, Democrats face a conundrum
There is considerable admiration for the former vice president, but also some reservations if she runs again.
Kamala Harris has a 2028 opening
The former Democratic standard bearer retains considerable respect in the party, but there’s an undercurrent of anxiety about her return to the political conversation.
Harris County judge candidates find common ground on flooding, Houston Health, at Sunday forum
Democratic candidate Letitia Plummer and Republican candidate Orlando Sanchez shared the stage at a forum organized by The Metropolitan Organization on Sunday, October 4.
Politics on Stage. Wonderful Life on Broadway. Jeremy O Harris to Mamdani: Call me. Stageworthy News of the Week.
On stage during the first week of October: Plays about the Epstein Files. Gun violence. Black women silenced. Complicity. Sexism. Homophobia. This seems an unusual burst of political theater even f…
Spurs' Harris questionable for regular-season opener after straining left calf
The 6-foot-8 power forward will be reevaluated following the team’s five-game preseason schedule.
Yale School of Medicine On the Science of Childhood Anxiety, Say, Anxiety Disorders Are the Most Common Mental Health Challenges In Youth
Credit: Matt Bradbury October 5, 2026 - By Isabella Backman - Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health challenges in youth. Left untreated, they can disrupt the lives of both children and their families. The good news is that with intervention, most children will overcome these conditions. Across Yale School of Medicine, scientists are working to understand anxiety at every level, from common anxious behaviors to molecular biomarkers in the brain. They are using their findings to develop and disseminate new evidence-based treatments for childhood anxiety. Today, the go-to treatment for childhood anxiety disorders is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This is a form of psychotherapy that teaches children skills for confronting anxious thoughts and helps them practice managing situations that cause anxiety. While it is the gold-standard treatment backed by considerable scientific evidence, up to 50% of children will not see sufficient benefit from CBT alone. Wendy Silverman, PhD, Alfred A. Messer Professor in the Child Study Center, co-directs the Anxiety and Mood Disorders Program alongside Eli Lebowitz, PhD, associate professor in the Child Study Center. One of their main interests is learning how to improve outcomes beyond CBT. “We’re developing cutting-edge, research-based knowledge that can reduce the suffering that anxiety causes children and their families,” says Silverman. Changing parent behavior YSM experts are investigating how to improve CBT outcomes for children by involving the parents. Silverman’s research has uncovered two main components of parent intervention that improve childhood anxiety: not enabling children to completely avoid the things that make them anxious and taking steps to enhance their autonomy. Parents may unintentionally reinforce their child’s anxiety by allowing them to avoid what makes them anxious. They also may unintentionally limit the children’s sense of autonomy by being overly intrusive. “One of the things that we take pride in is that we’ve focused on trying to understand what parents need to do, and to test our ideas and see if changing the parents’ behaviors is enhancing the effects of CBT,” Silverman says. “Our findings thus far suggest that they do." As much as CBT can be helpful, it can also be challenging to get one’s child to do the necessary steps for CBT to work. This is one important reason why Lebowitz created a novel intervention program for parents named Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE). Existing intervention programs often teach parents to act as therapists for their child, such as training them on how to practice breathing exercises. “It makes sense, but this doesn’t work very well in practice,” says Lebowitz. “And part of the reason, I think, is that it’s not easy to get your kid to do things, especially if they’re not excited about doing it.” SPACE is unique because it focuses entirely on parent involvement and changing parental behavior—children are not involved in the sessions. For example, parents learn how to use supportive messages that convey confidence that their child can tolerate and manage distress. “It might sound like a parent saying to a child, ‘I get that this is really hard for you, but I know that you can handle it,’” Lebowitz says. The program also works with parents to identify the ways in which they are accommodating anxious behaviors. “We’ll pick one thing that parents are doing that is an accommodation and help them make a detailed plan for how they’re going to change that,” Lebowitz explains. Treating Anxiety in Children and Adolescents Much of the existing research on SPACE has focused on parents of children under age 14. Ongoing studies are now exploring its use with parents of older teens. “Both anxiety and accommodation can interfere with normative developmental shifts during the teen years, including increased autonomy and individuation from parents,” says Rebecca Etkin, PhD, associate research scientist in the Child Study Center. “In this sense, SPACE may be particularly well-suited for anxious teens and their parents. We want to see whether it is effective during this distinct developmental window.” Unfortunately, many families in need of CBT face barriers, including limited availability of services and geographic constraints. One way to improve access is digital interventions. Silverman and her team are developing an evidence-based digitized intervention program for parents that they can access directly from their computer or smart phone. “The work we’re doing will be one of the very few parent interventions that is digitized and importantly tested for effectiveness,” she says. Creating interventions for anxiety-related challenges Silverman and Lebowitz recently received a generous gift to develop and test other interventions that help parents reduce other child anxiety-related behavioral and emotional difficulties, such as restrictive eating and unexplained somatic symptoms. One of these projects in particular focuses on understanding the risks of social media and its potential benefits, including offering a sense of connection. “A lot of research has focused on the idea that social media is harmful and the less of it the better,” says Lebowitz. “But we actually see is that this is not quite right—there are negatives, but there are also positives. So, we’re trying to get a little bit more nuanced of a picture.” The team is working with teens with social anxiety and their parents over an extended period to better understand their social media habits and how their anxiety levels affect engagement with different platforms. The teens will answer questions sent to an app on their phones about mood and social media usage in an effort to capture emotional responses as they unfold. “We hope to develop interventions that can help make the best of social media while protecting against the more problematic effects,” Lebowitz says. The brain’s role in anxiety Researchers are also testing therapies to address anxiety at the neurological and molecular levels. In collaboration with Dylan Gee, PhD, professor of psychology in Yale's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and Hilary Blumberg, MD, John and Hope Furth Professor of Psychiatric Neuroscience at Yale School of Medicine, Lebowitz and Silverman are using brain imaging to identify changes in a child’s brain before and after parents enroll in SPACE. In one study, children viewed anxiety-inducing images while undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); the researchers conducted scans with and without the children’s parents nearby. Before SPACE, children’s brains were better able to activate the regulatory circuitry needed to turn off an anxious response when their parents were nearby. But after SPACE, children could activate this circuitry even without the parent around. “As parents work on gradually reducing some of their accommodations, you can see a child get better at regulating their own fear system in the brain,” Lebowitz says. “It’s remarkable.” Research into the molecular underpinnings of anxiety can also inform new childhood anxiety treatments. In a recent study, Lebowitz, Silverman, and Flora Vaccarino, MD, Harris Professor in the Child Study Center, discovered that a protein known as fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) could be protective from the toxic effects of stress. FGF2 levels in children and their parents were linked to the children’s risk of developing anxiety and depression, the study showed. The findings could help explain why some children who are exposed to early life trauma such as poverty or abuse are more prone to developing mental health disorders. And FGF2 could be a target for treatment. “This is very novel because it starts to give a clue to what is the molecular chain that connects those lived experiences to the actual psychological outcomes,” Lebowitz says. New ways to study and treat childhood anxiety Michael Crowley, PhD, associate professor in the Child Study Center, collaborates with Silverman and Lebowitz to study the role that attention plays in development and maintenance of childhood anxiety. There is a large body of research that shows that anxious children, like anxious adults, are prone to focus on threatening stimuli such as angry faces compared with neutral faces. This has led to innovative interventions that involve attention retraining. The idea is that if experts train children to look away from threatening stimuli, it may reduce their anxiety—especially children with social anxiety who are most prone to attend to threats. The researchers have just completed a clinical trial for attention retraining with 10- to 14-year-olds with social anxiety disorders and are currently analyzing the findings. Besides this innovative attention retraining research, as Crowly notes, “I like to design tasks that are engaging to kids,” Crowley says. “My goal is to assess something without the kids knowing what we are assessing.” With this goal in mind, Crowley has created a virtual game, named Boom, to study threat processing in children with anxiety disorders. The game is similar to that of hot potato—the child and three digital players take turns virtually passing a ball to each other’s gloves. At some point, the ball turns into a bomb, and as the bomb lands in each player’s glove, the outline of the glove turns yellow. The goal is to avoid having the bomb go off in your glove. What isn’t obvious is that the game is designed to measure different types of threatening stimuli, both ambiguous and direct. In the game, the direct threat occurs as the bomb is traveling towards your glove. The ambiguous threat is the yellow outlined glove as it is unknown where the bomb will travel next. While children play the game, Crowley’s team measures their brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG). The researchers have discovered that in kids with anxiety, the brain reacts more strongly to ambiguous threats than it does in their peers, but less strongly to direct threats. They believe that the initial abnormally large brain response to not knowing where the bomb is going impairs the brain's ability to properly respond when the threat is actually traveling the child’s way. “The brains of children with anxiety are unable to differentiate between threats you need to do something about and those that are not your problem.” Michael Crowley, PhD, develops innovative games for studying anxiety in children and adolescents.Credit: Matt Bradbury Based on these insights, Crowley hopes to study whether interventions like attention training could restore appropriate threat processing. Crowley’s team is also working on a test called the Balloon Risk Avoidance Task, which evaluates risk-taking and avoidance behaviors. It features a digital balloon that is full of air and about to burst. Kids have six seconds to let air out of the balloon. The more air they let out, the less risk they face that the balloon will pop. But at the same time, the balloon becomes less valuable as it deflates. “The more air you keep in the balloon, the more points you get,” Crowley explains. So far, the researchers have found that when the balloons pop unexpectedly, teens with social anxiety show distinct brain responses. Studying these responses can help psychologists understand the underlying pathways driving the various manifestations of anxiety. The genetics of anxiety When Thomas Fernandez, MD, associate professor in the Child Study Center and of psychiatry, was still in training, there was a lot of excitement about understanding the genetics associated with autism spectrum disorder. Since then, scientists have identified around 250 genes associated with autism. The genetic contribution to anxiety disorders, on the other hand, has historically received less attention. Anxiety is less heritable than autism, but the genetic contribution for anxiety disorders that emerge in childhood may be higher than for anxiety disorders overall. While scientists estimate the heritability of anxiety disorders in general to be around 30% to 50%, some studies suggest higher heritability for certain childhood-onset anxiety presentations. “I saw firsthand how researchers in the field went about finding vulnerability genes for autism,” Fernandez says. “So, we’re using a very similar playbook for childhood anxiety.” “I saw firsthand how researchers in the field went about finding vulnerability genes for autism. So, we’re using a very similar playbook for childhood anxiety.” Thomas Fernandez, MD Associate Professor In the Child Study Center and in Psychiatry Now, Fernandez and Emily Olfson, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Child Study Center, are studying children and their parents to identify genetic changes that are present in the child but not the parents, known as “de novo mutations.” “All of us have some de novo mutations—maybe about 50 to 100 sprinkled throughout the genome,” Olfson says. “But when they occur within the coding regions of genes, they can be really disruptive.” Previous research shows that people with autism have higher rates of damaging de novo mutations than the general population. In 2022, Olfson, Lebowitz, Silverman, and Fernandez published a study on 68 children and their families that found that children with anxiety had similarly high levels of these mutations. Studying de novo mutations can help point the researchers to where they should be looking for genes associated with anxiety. “The end game is using the genes to steer us toward the right part of biology that we can then target to come up with better treatments,” Fernandez says. Building on those findings, the team is now studying more families to better understand how these de novo mutations, along with other genetic and environmental factors, shape pediatric anxiety disorders. They recently received a National Institutes of Health grant to enroll 750 new families over the next five years. Olfson is the principal investigator, with co-investigators Lebowitz, Fernandez, Silverman, and Shuangge Steven Ma, PhD, department chair and professor of biostatistics at Yale School of Public Health. Neurodevelopment, Risk Genes, and Mental Health Conditions - The Olfson Lab Joel Gelernter, MD, Foundations Fund Professor of Psychiatry, is interested in how different anxiety disorders differ genomically. “We are studying social phobia, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, working to understand why people differ in their risk to these specific anxiety disorders and evaluating various risk factors,” he says. Gelernter was recently involved in one of the largest studies to date of the genomics underlying anxiety disorder. The study included around 122,000 people with anxiety disorders and around 730,000 without. It found that some genetic differences associated with anxiety were linked to signaling that helps reduce overactivity in the nervous system. Many anxiety medications available today work by targeting this process. “It’s nice when the biology that you get out of a large genome-wide study ratifies things that we already know because that can help increase confidence in further findings from the study,” Gelernter says. Uncovering the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders John Krystal, MD, Robert L. McNeil, Jr. Professor of Translational Research and chair of the Department of Psychiatry, is interested in the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), of which anxiety is a major symptom. In the late 1980s, Krystal’s team discovered that the drug yohimbine activated symptoms in patients with PTSD. “This was the first time we could link a specific biological mechanism to the symptoms of PTSD,” Krystal says. At the time, he adds, this finding was highly controversial. “A lot of people felt that PTSD was a purely psychological syndrome that didn’t have an underlying biology.” Since then, Krystal has dived deep into understanding the neurobiology of PTSD to learn how to better treat it. His team is evaluating the use of ketamine and psychedelics. These would be among the first treatments to be developed specifically for PTSD. They may also be applicable for other disorders including anxiety disorders, Krystal adds. An important gap in PTSD treatment is the absence of biological tests that inform how to best help patients manage their PTSD symptoms. A doctor doesn’t diagnose cancer based on how they feel. Rather, they use tests of the biology of the cancer to determine the best course of treatment. “And we can’t do that in any psychiatric disorder other than Alzheimer’s disease,” Krystal says. “But now we are building a foundation for this approach to the treatment of anxiety disorders for the first time.” Source: Yale School of Medicine