Lea Dougherty, Ph.D.

Background Information:

Research Interests:

Dr. Dougherty's research interests lie broadly in the examination of the etiology and course of depression from a developmental, life-span perspective. Within this domain, her research focuses on two areas: (1) an examination of the developmental origins of neuroendocrine dysfunction in depression; and (2) understanding the phenomenology of depression in preschoolers and establishing empirically-based assessment approaches for depression, and other mood disorders, in very young children. Recent projects include: (1) examining temperamental, familial, and environmental factors as likely determinants of a neuroendocrine pathway to depression, with a particular emphasis on the relation between temperamental vulnerability to depression and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis functioning; and (2) investigating mental health problems in preschool-aged children.

Courses Taught:

• Seminar in Child and Adolescent Psychopathology (Graduate)
• Seminar in Clinical Supervision/Laboratory (Graduate)
• Seminar in Child and Adolescent Psychopathology (Undergraduate)

Representative Publications:

Dougherty, L. R., Bufferd, S. J., Carlson, G. A., Dyson, M. W., Olino, T. M., & Klein, D. N. (in press). Preschoolers' Observed Temperament and Psychiatric Disorders Assessed with a Parent Diagnostic Interview. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology .

Bufferd, S. J., Dougherty, L. R., Carlson, G. A., & Klein, D. N., (in press). Parent-reported mental health in preschoolers: Findings using a diagnostic interview. Comprehensive Psychiatry.

Pachankis, J. E., Westmaas, J. L., & Dougherty, L. R. (in press). The influence of sexual orientation and masculinity on young men's tobacco smoking. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.

Hayden, E. P., Klein, D. N., Dougherty, L. R., Olino, T. M., Dyson, M. W., Durbin, C. E., Sheikh, H. I., Singh, S. M. (in press). The role of BDNF genotype, parental depression, and relationship discord in predicting early-emerging negative emotionality. Psychological Science. 

Dougherty, L. R., Klein, D. N., Congdon, E., Canli, T., & Hayden, E. P. (2010). Interaction between 5-HTTLPR and BDNF Val66Met polymorphisms on HPA axis reactivity in preschoolers. Biological Psychology, 83, 93-100. doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2009.10.009

Dougherty, L. R., Klein, D. N., Durbin, C. E., Hayden, E. P., & Olino, T. M. (2010). Temperamental positive and negative emotionality and children's depressive symptoms: A longitudinal prospective study from age three to age ten. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 29, 464-490.

Dougherty, L. R., Klein, D. N., Olino, T. M., Dyson, M., & Rose, S. (2009). Increased waking salivary cortisol and depression risk in preschoolers: The role of maternal history of melancholic depression and early child temperament. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 50, 1495-1503. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2009.02116.x

Dougherty, L. R., Klein, D. N., Olino, T. M., & Laptook, R. S. (2008). Depression in children and adolescents. In J. Hunsely, & E. Mash (Eds.), A Guide to assessments that work (pp. 69-95). New York: Oxford University Press.

Dougherty, L. R., Klein, D. N., & Davila, J. (2004). A growth curve analysis of the course of dysthymic disorder: The effects of chronic stress and moderation by adverse parent-child relationships and family history. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology , 72 , 1012-1021.