Beatrice L. Wood PhD, ABPP
Beatrice L. Wood
PhD, ABPP
Professor of Psychiatry, Pediatrics & Psychology
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Psychiatry
Professional Summary:
Dr. Wood is co-director of the Child and Family Asthma Studies Center. She is also a faculty member in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, teaching and supervising family and child psychiatric assessment and intervention. Dr. Wood is an internationally recognized, and federally funded, leader in family systems research, focusing on the impact of family relations on child emotional and physical well-being. She is active in the Committee on Inclusion and Diversity, and has a special interest in mentoring medical students, residents, fellows and junior faculty in research.
Education and Training:
- PhD, Experimental Psychopathology, University of Pennsylvania (1981)
- MA, Experimental Psychopathology, University of Pennsylvania (1976)
- BA, Psychology, University of Pennsylvania (1969)
Employment:
- Professor, Psychiatry, State University of New York at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2008-present)
- Adjunct Professor, Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo (1997-present)
- Adjunct Associate Professor, Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo (1999–2008)
- Associate Professor, Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo (1999–2008)
- Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Rochester Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1995–1999)
- Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, State University of New York at Buffalo (1995–1999)
- Clinical Associate Professor, Psychology, University of Pennsylvania Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1993–1996)
- Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, University of Rochester (1993–1995)
- Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (1985–1993)
- Lecturer, Human Development, Bryn Mawr College (1988–1992)
- Clinical Associate, University of Pennsylvania (1986–1988)
- Visiting Lecturer, Swarthmore College (1984)
- Trainer, University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia (1981–1982)
- Instructor, Psychology, University of Pennsylvania (1977–1980)
Awards and Honors:
- Visiting Professor, Translating Family Science Program (2019)
- Sixth Annual Stokes Endowment Lecture (2016)
- Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy (2016)
- Outstanding Contributions to Research in Psychiatry - University at Buffalo (2012)
- Award for Distinguished Contributions to Family Systems Theory and Research (2011)
- Award for Outstanding Achievements in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (2008)
- NIMH African American Mental Health Research Scientist (AAMHRS) Mentor (2006)
- UB Presidential Recognition Award for Success as Top 100 Federal Grantee (2005)
- Department of Psychiatry Award for Outstanding Research (2005)
- UB Presidential Recognition Award for Success as Top 100 Federal Grantee (2004)
- Diplomate, American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP, Family Psycholo (2002)
- APA Award for Distinguished Research Contributions to Family Psychology (2000)
Research Expertise:
- Family relational patterns: My current research focuses on childhood physical and emotional illness as influenced by specifically modeled family relational patterns. To study this question, I have theoretically and empirically analyzed specific patterns of family interaction into measurable component dimensions and demonstrated their reliability, validity and clinical relevance to pediatric stress-related illness. A confluent area of research is the investigation of psychophysiological mechanisms and pathways by which psychosocial factors and family patterns may impact on childhood illness. Gender, ethnic and SES factors are being explored to address socio-cultural influences on pediatric stress-related illness. My long term goal is to develop an empirically substantiated heuristic model of pathways by which socio-cultural, family, and individual emotional factors interact to influence psychophysiologic aspects of childhood physical and emotional illness. This model will inform translational research and intervention studies.
Grants and Sponsored Research:
- August 2015–July 2022
Treating Caregiver Depression to Improve Childhood Asthma: Impact and Mediators
NIH/NHLBI
Role: Principal Investigator
$3,987,363 - January 2017–December 2019
“Differential Response to Short-Acting Anticholinergics in Depressed vs Nondepressed Child Asthmatics”,
UB CTSA Pilot Study Award
Role: Contributor - July 2016–June 2017
Defining and Treating a New Pediatric Asthma Endotype: Depression-Related Asthma Mediated by the Cholinergic Pathway
University at Buffalo
Role: Co-Investigator
$47,000 - January 2002–June 2010
Depression and Child Asthma: Effects of Family Relations
NIH
Role: Principal Investigator
$3,761,650 - January 2000–June 2005
Effect of Depressive Emotions on Airways in Asthma
NIH
Role: Co-Principal Investigator
$1,438,029 - January 1996–January 2001
Career Development K Award: Psychophysiologic and Family Factors in Childhood Asthma
NIMH
Role: Principal Investigator
$698,000 - January 1995–January 1996
Treatable Individual & Family Factors Associated with Psychosocial Outcome after Epilepsy Surgery
Epilepsy Foundation of America
Role: Co-Principal Investigator - January 1984–January 1986
A Child's Adaptation to Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Role of Family and Severity of Disease
National Foundation of Ileitis and Colitis
Role: Principal Investigator - National Committee for Asthma and Toxic Stress
San Francisco Foundation.
Role: Contributor
$350,000
Journal Articles:
- Miller BD, Wood BL, Lim J, Ballow M, Hsu C. (2009) Depressed children with asthma evidence increased airway resistance: "vagal bias" as a mechanism?. J Allergy Clin Immunol (Jul), 124(1): 66-73.
- Wood BL, Miller BD, Lim J, Lillis K, Ballow M, Stern T, Simmens S. (2006) Family relational factors in pediatric depression and asthma: pathways of effect. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry (Dec), 45(12): 1494-1502.
- E. SherwoodBrownMD, PhDaJayme M.PalkaPhDaHeather K.LehmanMDbAlexandraKulikovaMSaDavid A.KhanMDcJosselineLopezBSaAnnaAntonyMAaDonnaPersaudMDdJasmineTiroPhDeElena I.IvlevaMD, PhDaAlysonNakamuraMDaZenaPatelPA-CaTraciHolmesBSaQuratulainHumayunMBBS, MS, MDfTressaLloydMSfKarenAllenMSfSavitojKaurBS, BAfM. SethOwitzBSfRay J.PakBSfKevin G.ZablonskiBSf…Bruce D.MillerMDf*. (2022) The Impact of Caregiver Depression on Child Asthma Outcomes: Pathways and Mechanisms. Journal of Asthma and Clinical Immunology, In practice (Nov) doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2022.09.016
- JungHa Lim, Bruce D. Miller, Beatrice L. Wood. (2022) An application of the Biobehavioral Family Model: Examining the impact of maternal depression on child asthma mediated by insecure attachment and child depression. Family Process (Jan)(e12755) doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12755
- A. Kulikova, J. Lopez, A. Antony, D. A. Khan, D. Persaud, J. Tiro, et al. (2021) Multivariate Association of Child Depression and Anxiety with Asthma Outcomes. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (Nov), 6(9): 2399-2405. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2021.02.043
- B. L. Wood, S. B. Woods, S. Sengupta and T. L. Nair. (2021) The Biobehavioral Family Model: An Evidence-Based Approach to Biopsychosocial Research, Residency Training, and Patient Care. Frontiers in Psychiatry (Oct)1714.
- Hsu CY, Lehman HK, Wood BL, Benipal J, Humayun Q, Miller BD. (2020) Comorbid Obesity and Depressive Symptoms in Childhood Asthma: A Harmful Synergy. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract (Sep), 8(8): 2689-2697.
- Wood BL, Brown ES, Lehman HK, Khan DA, Lee MJ, Miller BD. (2018) The effects of caregiver depression on childhood asthma: Pathways and mechanisms. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol (Oct), 121(4): 421-427.
- Wood BL, Miller BD, Lehman HK. (2015) Review of family relational stress and pediatric asthma: the value of biopsychosocial systemic models. Fam Process (Jun), 54(2): 376-389.
- Lim J, Wood BL, Miller BD, Simmens SJ. (2011) Effects of paternal and maternal depressive symptoms on child internalizing symptoms and asthma disease activity: mediation by interparental negativity and parenting. J Fam Psychol (Feb), 25(1): 137-146.
- Smith BA, Modi AC, Quittner AL, Wood BL. (2010) Depressive symptoms in children with cystic fibrosis and parents and its effects on adherence to airway clearance. Pediatr Pulmonol (Aug), 45(8): 756-763.
- Brown ES, Gan V, Jeffress J, Wood BL, Miller BD, Khan DA. (2008) Antidepressant treatment of caregivers of children with asthma. Psychosomatics (Sep), 49(5): 420-425.
- Lim J, Wood BL, Miller BD. (2008) Maternal depression and parenting in relation to child internalizing symptoms and asthma disease activity. J Fam Psychol (Apr), 22(2): 264-273.
- Wood BL, Lim J, Miller BD, Cheah P, Zwetsch T, Ramesh S, Simmens S. (2008) Testing the Biobehavioral Family Model in pediatric asthma: pathways of effect. Fam Process (Mar), 47(1): 21-40.
- Smith BA, Wood BL. (2007) Psychological factors affecting disease activity in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis: medical adherence as a mediator. Curr Opin Pediatr (Oct), 19(5): 553-558.
- Wood BL, Cheah PA, Lim J, Ritz T, Miller BD, Stern T, Ballow M. (2007) Reliability and validity of the Asthma Trigger Inventory applied to a pediatric population. J Pediatr Psychol (Jun), 32(5): 552-560.
- Wood BL, Lim J, Miller BD, Cheah PA, Simmens S, Stern T, Waxmonsky J, Ballow M. (2007) Family emotional climate, depression, emotional triggering of asthma, and disease severity in pediatric asthma: examination of pathways of effect. J Pediatr Psychol (Jun), 32(5): 542-551.
- Lozano DL, Norman G, Knox D, Wood BL, Miller BD, Emery CF, Berntson GG. (2007) Where to B in dZ/dt. Psychophysiology (Jan), 44(1): 113-119.
- Brown ES, Gan V, Jeffress J, Mullen-Gingrich K, Khan DA, Wood BL, Miller BD, Gruchalla R, Rush AJ. (2006) Psychiatric symptomatology and disorders in caregivers of children with asthma. Pediatrics (Dec), 118(6): 1715-1720.
- Wood BL. (2005) Commentary: Is it time for family-based interventions in pediatric psychology?. J Pediatr Psychol (Dec), 30(8): 694-697.
- Wood BL, Haque S, Weinstock A, Miller BD. (2004) Pediatric stress-related seizures: conceptualization, evaluation, and treatment of nonepileptic seizures in children and adolescents. Curr Opin Pediatr (Oct), 16(5): 523-531.
- Wood BL, Klebba K, Gbadebo O, Lichter D, Kurlan R, Miller B. (2003) Pilot study of effect of emotional stimuli on tic severity in children with Tourette's syndrome. Mov Disord (Nov), 18(11): 1392-1395.
- Wood BL. (2001) Physically manifested illness in children and adolescents. A biobehavioral family approach. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am (Jul), 10(3): 543-562.
- Bleil ME, Ramesh S, Miller BD, Wood BL. (2000) The influence of parent-child relatedness on depressive symptoms in children with asthma: tests of moderator and mediator models. J Pediatr Psychol (Oct), 25(7): 481-491.
- Bleil ME, Ramesh S, Miller BD, Wood BL. (2000) The influence of parent-child relatedness on depressive symptoms in children with asthma: tests of moderator and mediator models. J Pediatr Psychol (Jan), 25(7): 481-491.
- Wood BL, Klebba KB, Miller BD. (2000) Evolving the biobehavioral family model: the fit of attachment. Fam Process (Jan), 39(3): 319-344.
- Langfitt JT, Wood BL, Brand KL, Brand J, Erba G. (1999) Family interactions as targets for intervention to improve social adjustment after epilepsy surgery. Epilepsia (Jun), 40(6): 735-744.
- Wood BL, McDaniel S, Burchfiel K, Erba G. (1998) Factors distinguishing families of patients with psychogenic seizures from families of patients with epilepsy. Epilepsia (Apr), 39(4): 432-437.
- Miller BD, Wood BL. (1997) Influence of specific emotional states on autonomic reactivity and pulmonary function in asthmatic children. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry (May), 36(5): 669-677.
- Miller BD, Wood BL. (1994) Psychophysiologic reactivity in asthmatic children: a cholinergically mediated confluence of pathways. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry (Nov), 33(9): 1236-1245.
- Miller BD, Wood BL. (1994) Psychophysiologic reactivity in asthmatic children: a cholinergically mediated confluence of pathways. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry (Jan), 33(9): 1236-1245.
- Wood BL. (1993) Beyond the "psychosomatic family": a biobehavioral family model of pediatric illness. Fam Process (Sep), 32(3): 261-278.
- Miller BD, Wood BL. (1991) Childhood asthma in interaction with family, school, and peer systems: a developmental model for primary care. J Asthma (Jan), 28(6): 405-414.
- Miller BD, Wood BL. (1991) Childhood asthma in interaction with family, school, and peer systems: a developmental model for primary care. J Asthma (Jan), 28(6): 405-414.
Books and Book Chapters:
- Wood BL. (2012) Paradigms in theory construction. In: Biopsychosocial: in Paradigms in theory construction. Springer-Science
- Miller BD, Wood BL, Smith BA. (2010) Textbook of Pediatric Psychosomatic Medicine: Consultation on Physically Ill Children. In: Psychosomatic Considerations in Childhood Respiratory Ilness: Textbook of Pediatric Psychosomatic Medicine: Consultation on Physically Ill Children. American Psychiatric Publishing
- Miller BD, Wood BL. (2003) Advances in Psychosomatic Medicine. In: Emotions and family factors in childhood asthma: psychobiologic mechanisms and pathways of effect: Advances in Psychosomatic Medicine. , 131-160.
Professional Memberships:
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (2008–present)
- American Psychological Society (1995–present)
- American Psychosomatic Society (1992–present)
- International Family Therapy Association (1990–present)
- Society for Psychophysiological Research (1989–present)
- American Family Therapy Academy (Research Committee) (1989–present)
- American Psychological Association; VP for Science, Division 43, 2011-2014 (1981–present)
Presentations:
- "The Biobehavioral Family Model: An Intentionally Translational Framework, The Science of Flourishing Families, Florida State University, College of Health and Human Sciences, February 23, 2019" Human Development & Family Science Research Speaker Series, Human Development & Family Science Research Speaker Series (2019)
- "Acute effects of maternal hostility versus warmth on airway function in children with asthma" International Society for the Advancement of Respiratory Psychophysiology (2015)
- "Family Warmth Buffers the Effect of Stressful Family Interaction on Pulmonary Function in Children with Asthma" 7th Europaediatrics Congress (2015)
- "Chair, Interest Group on Innovative Family Systems Modeling" American Family Therapy Academy (2014)
- "The Biobehavioral Family Model (BBFM): Evolution of a Family Systems Model" Colloquium, Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania (2013)
- "Biopsychosocial Effects of Stress and Depression on Pediatric Asthma: Family Relational Processes and Pathways" Distinguished Speakers Forum, Florida International University (2012)
- "Psychobiologic Effects of Family Warmth on Laboratory Stress Induced Pulmonary Compromise in Asthmatic Children" International Congress of Psychosomatic Medicine (2011)
- "The Biobehavioral Family Model: Effects of Family Emotional Climate on Child Depression and Stress Related Illness" Distinguished Visiting Lecture, Department of Stress Science, Tokushima University School of Medicine (2011)
- "The Biobehavioral Family Model: Effects of Family Emotional Climate on Child Depression and Stress Related Illness." Distinguished Visiting Lecture, Korea University (2011)
- "Pediatric Asthma: Evidence for Family Relational and Psychobiological Pathways of Influence" Colloquium, Department of Psychology, Universite Louvain-la-Neuve (2011)
- "The Biobehavioral Family Model (BBFM): Application to Pediatric Stress-Related Illness" 57th Annual Meeting; American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Presentation in Institute: “Update on Pediatric Psychosomatic Medicine: Exploring the Interface Between Mental Health and Physical Illness in Children and Adolescents” (2010)
- "A Biobehavioral Family Model (BBFM) of Stress" 32th Annual Meeting; The American Family Therapy Academy (2010)
- "A Biobehavioral Model of psychosomatic illness:conceptualization and application across the life span" 20th World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine (2009)
- "Strengthening Adolescents, Young Adults, and their Families: Discoveries and Conundrums" 28th Annual Meeting; The American Family Therapy Academy (2006)
- "Pediatric stress-related seizures: Family Contextual Intervention" Symposium; University at Buffalo; Department of Neurology (2005)
- "The Effects of Relational Process on Psychiatric Disorder: Family Matters" Grand Rounds; University at Buffalo; Department of Psychiatry (2004)
- "A Biobehavioral Family Approach to The Treatment of Somatic Disorders in Children and Adolescents" Master Practitioner Series; St. John’s University; Child, Family And Marital Therapy (2002)
- "A Biobehavioral Family Model Of Psyche And Soma" Grand Rounds; University at Buffalo; Department of Psychiatry (1998)
- "The Impact Of Stressful Family Relations On Pediatric Illness" Pediatric Grand Rounds; Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo; Department of Pediatrics (1997)
Service Activities:
- Committee on Inclusion and Diversity, University at Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; Committee Member (2015–present)
- Ad Hoc Committee on Appointments, Promotions and Tenure, University at Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; Chair, 2015 (2015)
- • ad hoc Committee on Promotions to Tenure Ranks; Committee Member (2014–2017), Chair, 2015-2016; Committee Member (2014–2017)
- Committee for Appointments, Promotions, Tenure and Privileges; Chair (2006–2013)
- Academic Affairs Committee Department of Psychiatry; Committee Member (2006–2012)
- Faculty Senate Faculty Senate: Research and Creative Activity Committee; Committee Member (2001–2002)
- Ad Hoc Committee on Promotions to Clinical Ranks ad hoc Committee on Promotions to Clinical Ranks, University at Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; Committee Member (2000–2007)
- Executive Committee, Department of Psychiatry Provide consultation to chair regarding academic and administrative matters relevant to the department.; Committee Member (1999–2017)
- Children and Youth Institutional Review Board Children and Youth Institutional Review Board, Women and Children’s Hospital, SUNY at Buffalo; Member (1999–2006)
- Committee for Appointments, Promotions, Tenure and Privileges Department of Psychiatry, Chair, August 2006 to 2013; Committee Member (1998–2006)
- IFR Research Advisory Committee IFR Research Advisory Committee, Department of Psychiatry; Committee Member (1998–2000)
- Research Committee Research, Division Child & Adolescent Psychiatry; Chair (1996–2012)
- Continuing Medical Education Continuing Medical Education, Department of Psychiatry; Committee Member (1996–present)
- Curriculum Committee Curriculum, Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry; Committee Member (1996–present)