EDUCATION

Ph.D.
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

M.A. School  
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio

B.A.  School
Binghamton University- State University of New York

 

RESEARCH INTERESTS

My research interests are in the area of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. My funded research (with Bill Kurtines) has focused on designing and evaluating psychosocial interventions to help reduce youth who suffer from these problems. Recently, we have shifted from asking not only “does the treatment work” to asking “why does the treatment work?” To help answer this question we have been studying potential mediators of therapeutic change using randomized controlled clinical trial designs. I am also interested in designing and evaluating evidence based assessments approaches and I have developed such instruments as the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for Children/Parents (with Anne Marie Albano), the Child Anxiety Sensitivity Index, and the School Refusal Behavior Scale (with Chris Kearney). In addition, with colleagues and students, I have conducted research in the area of the effects of natural disasters (hurricanes) on children, as well as on investigating factors that may be associated with the development and/or maintenance of internalizing problems in young people.

COURSES TAUGHT

 

GRANTS AND AWARDS

Parent Mediation of Child Anxiety CBT Outcome (2008-2013; R01MH079943, PI), National Institute of Mental Health

Psychosocial Mediation Trials and Minority Trainees (2005-2010; K24MH073696, PI), National Institute of Mental Health - Midcareer Development Award

Therapy Specificity and Mediational Effects (2002 – 2007; R01MH63997, PI), National Institute of Mental Health

Parent-Child Dyadic Therapy for Anxious Children (1997 – 2000; R21MH54690, PI), National Institute of Mental Health

Group Psychosocial Therapy for Phobic/Anxious Children (1992 – 1995; RO1MH4968, PI), National Institute of Mental Health

Psychosocial Treatment of Childhood Phobias (1989 – 1994; First Independent Research Support and Transition (FIRST) Award R29MH4478l, PI), National Institute of Mental Health

University Excellence in Graduate Mentorship Award (2006)
Florida International University

University Excellence in Research Award (2006)
Florida International University

Associate Editor Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (2006 – 2010) Editor Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (1996-2001)

Associate Editor Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (1996-2001)

Past President - President Division 53 (Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, American Psychological Association) (2005 - 2007)

Chair 2007-2010, Member 2004 – 2006 Interventions for Disorders Involving Children and Families, National Institute of Mental Health Grant Review Panel.

 

SELECT PUBLICATIONS (from over 150; majority of my articles are coauthored with graduate students)

Books

La Greca, A. M., Silverman, W. K., Vernberg, E. M., & Roberts, M.C. (Eds.), (2002). Helping children cope with disaster and terrorism. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.

Silverman, W. K., & Treffers, P. D. A. (Eds.), (2001). Anxiety disorders in children and adolescents: Research, assessment and intervention. Cambridge, U. K.: Cambridge University Press.

Silverman, W. K., & Ollendick, T. H. (Eds.), (1999). Developmental issues in the clinical treatment of children. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Silverman, W. K. & Kurtines, W. M. (1996). Anxiety and phobic disorders: A pragmatic approach. New York: Plenum Press.

Recent Journal Articles

Silverman, W. K., Kurtines, W. M., Jaccard, J., & Pina, A. A. (2009). Directionality of change in youth anxiety treatment involving parents: An Initial Examination. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77, 474-485.

La Greca, A. M., Silverman, W. K., & Lochman, J. E. (2009). Moving beyond efficacy and effectiveness in child and adolescent intervention research. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77, 373-382.

Pina, A. A., Little, M., & Knight, G. P., & Silverman, W. K. (2009). Cross-ethnic measurement equivalence of the RCMAS in Hispanic/Latino and European American youth with anxiety disorders. Journal of Personality Assessment, 91, 58 – 61.

Carter, R., Jaccard, J., Silverman, W. K., & Pina, A. A. (2009). Pubertal timing and its link to behavioral and emotional problems among 'at-risk' African American adolescent girls. Journal of Adolescence, 32, 467-481.

Silverman, W. K., & Hinshaw, S. P. (2008). The second Special Issue on evidenc based psychosocial treatments for children and adolescents: A ten-year update. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 37, 1-7

Silverman, W. K., Ortiz, C. D., Viswesvaran, C., Burns, B. J., Kolko, D. J., Putnam, F. W., & Amaya-Jackson, L. (2008). Evidence-based psychosocial treatments for children and adolescents exposed to traumatic events. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 37, 156-183

Silverman, W. K., Pina, A. A., & Viswesvaran, C. (2008). Evidence-based psychosocial treatments for phobic and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 37, 105-130