NEWS RELEASE

Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax; 713/743-8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 5, 2004

Contact: Angie Joe
713/743-8153 (office)
713/617-7138 (pager)
ajoe@uh.edu

NEW ANXIETY, MOOD DISORDER CLINIC OFFERS HELP FOR THE TROUBLED
UH Psychology Program Offers Free Assessment, Affordable Treatment

HOUSTON, Feb. 5, 2004 – One in four people suffers from an anxiety or mood disorder at least once in his or her life, and psychologists at the University of Houston are providing help to people who suffer from those troubles. The UH Anxiety and Mood Disorder Clinic has recently opened and is offering free evaluations and affordable treatment.

Substance abuse, relationship problems, and work or school difficulties often stem from an anxiety or mood disorder, said UH assistant professors of psychology Peter Norton and Jeremy Pettit. Early detection and treatment can help erase these threats.

Norton and Pettit are co-directors of the UH Anxiety and Mood Disorder Clinic. Together with other researchers, they offer comprehensive evaluation and treatment for anyone who suffers from an anxiety or mood disorder, including clinical depression.

The clinic applies cognitive-behavioral treatments, or the process of reinterpreting negative thoughts and changing behavior patterns that fuel the disorders, to reduce anxiety and mood disorder symptoms and improve a participant’s quality of life.

“People who suffer from clinical depression experience immense feelings of sadness, disproportionate to any external causes,” Pettit said. “Depression presents itself in different ways, such as ‘having the blues,’ feeling numb or empty, or the inability to feel pleasure about anything.”

Other common symptoms of depression include hopelessness, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, and changes in appetite and sleep patterns. Depressive disorders may range from short-term and mild to long-term and very severe, even life threatening.

Anxiety disorders involve excessive apprehension and fear of something, and the fears usually interfere with the person’s life, said Norton.

“People with anxiety disorder may fear such things as specific places, objects, or animals, disturbing thoughts, memories of past traumatic events, embarrassment or humiliation,” he said. “They will often try to control their anxiety by avoiding the things they fear, or by doing things to reduce their anxiety such as asking for reassurance, checking and re-checking, washing, or telephoning loved ones to make sure they are safe.”

Prior to joining the clinic, individuals must go through an initial assessment, for which there is no charge. Participants are placed in appropriate short-term therapy groups that typically meet for 8 to 12 sessions. While the assessment is free, the cost per session is $20.

Norton’s research interests are anxiety disorders and chronic pain, while Pettit’s area of expertise includes mood disorders and suicide.

The Anxiety and Mood Disorder Clinic is a part of the Psychology Research and Service Center, located at 4505 Cullen Blvd. on the UH campus. Day and evening appointments are available. For more information about the Anxiety and Mood Disorder Clinic, call 713-743-8600.

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.