Alexander H. Leighton
Encyclopedia
Alexander "Alec" H. Leighton (July 17, 1908 – August 11, 2007) was a sociologist and psychiatrist
of dual citizenship (United States
, by birth, and Canada
, from 1975). He is best known for his work on the Stirling County (Canada) Study and his contributions to the field of psychiatric epidemiology
. He died at the age of 99 at his home in Digby
, Nova Scotia
, surrounded by his devoted wife and partner, Dr. Jane Murphy, and their family.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, he received a B.A. degree from Princeton University
in 1932, an M.S. from Cambridge University in England
in 1934, and an M.D. from Johns Hopkins Medical School in 1936. In 1945 and 1947 he was awarded Guggenheim Fellowships. From 1946 to 1966 he was full professor in the Cornell University
Department of Sociology and Anthropology. During this time he also taught at the School of Labor and Industrial Relations and at the Cornell Medical School in New York. He left Cornell to work at the Harvard School of Public Health
, where he was Professor of Social Psychiatry and Head of the Department of Behavioral Sciences until 1975. He left Harvard to become the Canadian National Health Scientist in the Department of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University
in Halifax, Nova Scotia
, where he stayed for 10 years. As of 1999, he has been Professor Emeritus, Harvard University
, and Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and of Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University
.
In 1948, he initiated and carried out (later joined by his wife, Jane Murphy) the Stirling County Study (still in effect today), which studies the distribution of clinical depression
and anxiety
disorders in a general population in several areas over the world. In 2003 a day long conference, the Leighton Symposium, was held by the Canadian Anthropology Society in honor of Leighton and his wife's scientific contributions to the field of psychiatric epidemiology.
He has served on advisory committees for the governments of Canada and the United States and for the World Health Organization
. In 1975 he was honored with the National Health Scientist Award from Health and Welfare Canada
. He is also a recipient of a Rema Lapouse Award
from the American Public Health Association
's Mental Health, Epidemiology, and Statistics Sections, a McAlpin Mental Health Research Achievement Award from the National Mental Health Association, and a Joseph Zubin Award
from the American Psychopathological Association
.
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
of dual citizenship (United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, by birth, and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, from 1975). He is best known for his work on the Stirling County (Canada) Study and his contributions to the field of psychiatric epidemiology
Psychiatric epidemiology
Psychiatric epidemiology is a field which seeks to study the conceptualization, etiology, and prevalence of mental illness in society. It is a subfield of the more general epidemiology. It is very difficult to accurately study mental illness conceptualization, etiology, and prevalence, and current...
. He died at the age of 99 at his home in Digby
Digby
- Canada :* Digby County, Nova Scotia** Digby, Nova Scotia, town** Digby, Nova Scotia , eastern half of Digby County*** Digby/Annapolis Regional Airport** Digby Neck, peninsula in Digby County...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, surrounded by his devoted wife and partner, Dr. Jane Murphy, and their family.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, he received a B.A. degree from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1932, an M.S. from Cambridge University in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1934, and an M.D. from Johns Hopkins Medical School in 1936. In 1945 and 1947 he was awarded Guggenheim Fellowships. From 1946 to 1966 he was full professor in the Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
Department of Sociology and Anthropology. During this time he also taught at the School of Labor and Industrial Relations and at the Cornell Medical School in New York. He left Cornell to work at the Harvard School of Public Health
Harvard School of Public Health
The Harvard School of Public Health is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University, located in the Longwood Area of the Boston, Massachusetts neighborhood of Mission Hill, which is next to Harvard Medical School. HSPH is considered a significant school focusing on health in the...
, where he was Professor of Social Psychiatry and Head of the Department of Behavioral Sciences until 1975. He left Harvard to become the Canadian National Health Scientist in the Department of Psychiatry at Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
in Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, where he stayed for 10 years. As of 1999, he has been Professor Emeritus, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, and Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and of Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
.
In 1948, he initiated and carried out (later joined by his wife, Jane Murphy) the Stirling County Study (still in effect today), which studies the distribution of clinical depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
and anxiety
Anxiety
Anxiety is a psychological and physiological state characterized by somatic, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components. The root meaning of the word anxiety is 'to vex or trouble'; in either presence or absence of psychological stress, anxiety can create feelings of fear, worry, uneasiness,...
disorders in a general population in several areas over the world. In 2003 a day long conference, the Leighton Symposium, was held by the Canadian Anthropology Society in honor of Leighton and his wife's scientific contributions to the field of psychiatric epidemiology.
He has served on advisory committees for the governments of Canada and the United States and for the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
. In 1975 he was honored with the National Health Scientist Award from Health and Welfare Canada
Health and Welfare Canada
Health and Welfare Canada is a former Canadian federal department established in 1944 and split into two separate departments, Health Canada and Human Resources and Labour Canada, in June 1993 by Prime Minister Kim Campbell...
. He is also a recipient of a Rema Lapouse Award
Rema Lapouse Award
This award is granted to an outstanding scientist in the area of psychiatric epidemiology in recognition of "significant contributions to the scientific understanding of the epidemiology and control of mental disorders. It is sponsored by the Mental Health, Epidemiology, and Statistics Sections of...
from the American Public Health Association
American Public Health Association
The American Public Health Association is Washington, D.C.-based professional organization for public health professionals in the United States. Founded in 1872 by Dr. Stephen Smith, APHA has more than 30,000 members worldwide...
's Mental Health, Epidemiology, and Statistics Sections, a McAlpin Mental Health Research Achievement Award from the National Mental Health Association, and a Joseph Zubin Award
Joseph Zubin Award
The Joseph Zubin Award may refer to three different psychology awards named in honor of the psychologist Joseph Zubin.The Joseph Zubin Memorial Fund Award is granted by the Joseph Zubin Memorial Fund at the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene at the New York State Psychiatric Institute...
from the American Psychopathological Association
American Psychopathological Association
The American Psychopathological Association is an organization, "devoted to the scientific investigation of disordered human behavior, and its biological and psychosocial substrates."The association was founded in 1910...
.