Anxiety Disorders Research Program

Graduate Research Assistant
Anxiety Disorders Research Program
University at Albany - SUNY
Social Sciences 399
1400 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12222
E-mail: ar683339@albany.edu

Amanda's interests span the range of cognitive-behavioral therapies for anxiety disorders, with a particular emphasis on mindfulness and acceptance processes. She also enjoys researching alternative treatment delivery systems such as self-directed and internet-based treatments. Amanda utilizes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to focus her research on alleviating human suffering in relation to anxiety disorders and to study processes such as emotion regulation. She takes pleasure in teaching compassion skills to her clients. Prior to joining the University at Albany, Amanda attended Skidmore College, worked at the West Haven, CT Veterans Administration Hospital and at a facility offering therapeutic groups for anxiety to children. In her spare time, Amanda enjoys volunteering, dance, and travel.

Amanda is currently analyzing the data gathered in the ACT & CBT Self-Help Workbook Study and writing modules and assisting with video production for the Modular Online Acceptance & Commitment Therapy Intervention for OIF/OEF Veterans.

Pietrzak, R. H., Russo, A. R., Ling, Q., & Southwick, S. M. (2011). Suicidal ideation in treatment-seeking Veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom: The role of coping strategies, resilience, and social support. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 45, 720-726.

Russo, A.R., Forsyth, J.P., Sheppard, S.C., Berghoff, C.R., Clark, P., & Posey, J. (June, 2010). The utility of ACT sans a therapist: An RCT evaluating ACT and traditional CBT self- help workbooks in an international sample of persons with anxiety disorders. Paper presented at the 8th annual world meeting of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS), Reno, Nevada.

Russo, A.R., Forsyth, J.P., Sheppard, S.C., Berghoff, C.R., Orayfig, A., & Raffaele, C. (June, 2010). Attending to process variables matters, even within a self-help context: A fresh look at the role of ACT and CBT processes in the alleviation of anxious suffering. Paper presented at the 8th annual world meeting of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS), Reno, Nevada

Sabsevitz, J., Sheppard, S.C., Russo, A.R., & Forsyth, J.P. (March, 2010). One-session treatment for snake-fearful individuals: An open trial evaluating short-term outcomes. the Behavior Therapist, 33(3), 48-53.

Gershuny, B.S., Keuthen, N.J., Gentes, E.L., Russo, A.R., Emmott, E.C., Jameson, M., Dougherty, D.D., Loh, R., & Jenike, M.A. (2006). Current posttraumatic stress disorder and history of trauma in trichotillomania. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62(12), 1521-1529.