Laura Dixon
Associate Professor of Psychology
Phone Number: (662)915-2535
Email: ljdixon@olemiss.edu
http://psychology.olemiss.edu/laura-j-dixon/

Key Words: Anxiety disorders, Development and maintenance of anxiety pathology, exposure, psychopathology, Anxiety in dermatology patients, psychosomatics, misophonia, emotion dysregulation, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), prenatal anxiety, coping

Research Description: Research interests broadly focus on the development, maintenance, and treatment of anxiety disorders, OCD, misophonia, PTSD. In addition, research examines anxiety disorders and related health conditions in adults. Research activities emphasize: (1) the use of experimental psychopathology approaches to study transdiagnostic mechanisms underlying anxiety pathology; (2) the systematic identification and evaluation of anxiety and emotional vulnerability factors (e.g., anxiety sensitivity, emotion regulation) that may exacerbate related health conditions, such as dermatological disorders, in adults; and (3) the development, evaluation, and dissemination of brief, targeted anxiety interventions to optimize treatment outcomes and increase access to care. Specifically, recent studies have examined anxiety processes within specific disorders (i.e., panic disorder, social anxiety disorder), as well as within specific populations, such as dermatology patients and prenatal women. In addition to the ongoing areas of emphasis above, in Fall 2020, Dr. Dixon was awarded a grant examining the characterization and assessment of misophonia. Misophonia is a sound sensitivity with links to emotional distress and impairment. Working on this project would provide excellent opportunity for those interested in interdisciplinary experience relevant to medicine, audiology, neuroscience, psychiatry, and clinical psychology. Contact Dr. Dixon for more information and to learn about ongoing projects. Keywords: Anxiety, panic, stress, misophonia, emotion regulation, clinical psychology, exposure therapy, interoceptive cues, physiology, health anxiety, social anxiety, phobias

Honors Theses:

Holman, Ryann MaKenna (2022) The Role of Prenatal Anxiety Sensitivity on Postpartum Anxiety and Depression (full text)

Shepherd, Whitney Scott (2022) The Relationship Between the Contrast Avoidance Model and Dysfunctions of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (full text)

Elmore, Lauren Emily (2022) Anxiety at the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Associations between Health Anxiety, COVID-19 Anxiety, and Preventative Behaviors (full text)

Barnett, Kristin Diana (2022) The Relationship Between PTSD-Related Symptoms and Skin Disease Symptom Severity in a Dermatological Sample (full text)

Schmitz, Carson (2021) Examining Race and Anxiety Sensitivity as Predictors of Electronic Cigarette Use and Dependence (full text)

Berry, Sarah (2020) An Assessment of Acne, Stress, and Psychological Symptoms in College Students: A Daily Diary Study (full text)

Grace, Dasha (2020) Examination of sleep disturbance, anxiety sensitivity, and depression in an undergraduate sample (full text)

Sappington, Lindsay (2020) Through the Screen: Examining Peer Relationships, Social Anxiety, Loneliness, and Social Media in Undergraduates (full text)

Ellison, Lauren E. (2019) It's Not Just "Skin Deep": Social Anxiety and Anxiety Sensitivity in Adults with Psychodermatological Disorders (full text)

Young, Greyson K. (2019) Examination of Communication and Social Media Usage among Socially Anxious Individuals (full text)

Olson, Sydney (2018) Examination of Dental Distress and Anxiety-Related Vulnerability Factors (full text)