Edna B Foa
Encyclopedia
Edna Foa is an Israel
i professor of clinical psychology at the University of Pennsylvania
, where she serves as the Director of the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety. Foa is an internationally renowned authority on the psychopathology and treatment of anxiety. She approaches the understanding and treatment of mental disorders from a cognitive-behavioral perspective.
.
Her research, aimed at determining causes and treatments of anxiety disorders, has been highly influential. Foa is an expert in post-traumatic stress disorder
s (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD). The program she has developed for rape victims is considered to be one of the most effective therapies for PTSD. She has published several books and over 200 articles and book chapters, has lectured extensively around the world, and was the chair of the PTSD work group of the DSM-IV.
Foa's research interests are development and evaluation of cognitive-behavioral treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD), and social anxiety disorder
(SAD); experimental psychopathology of anxiety disorders, especially post-traumatic stress disorder
, social phobia
, and obsessive-compulsive disorder
; and dissemination of evidence-based treatment to mental health professionals.
Foa's methodology has been highly success in both the US and Israel, and she divides her time between the two countries.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i professor of clinical psychology at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, where she serves as the Director of the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety. Foa is an internationally renowned authority on the psychopathology and treatment of anxiety. She approaches the understanding and treatment of mental disorders from a cognitive-behavioral perspective.
Academic career
Foa earned her B.A. in Psychology and Literature from Bar Ilan University in 1962, and her M.A. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Illinois in 1970. In that same year she completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology and Personality at the University of MissouriUniversity of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
.
Her research, aimed at determining causes and treatments of anxiety disorders, has been highly influential. Foa is an expert in post-traumatic stress disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Posttraumaticstress disorder is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma. This event may involve the threat of death to oneself or to someone else, or to one's own or someone else's physical, sexual, or psychological integrity,...
s (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive–compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear, or worry, by repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing the associated anxiety, or by a combination of such obsessions and compulsions...
(OCD). The program she has developed for rape victims is considered to be one of the most effective therapies for PTSD. She has published several books and over 200 articles and book chapters, has lectured extensively around the world, and was the chair of the PTSD work group of the DSM-IV.
Foa's research interests are development and evaluation of cognitive-behavioral treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Posttraumaticstress disorder is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma. This event may involve the threat of death to oneself or to someone else, or to one's own or someone else's physical, sexual, or psychological integrity,...
(PTSD), and social anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder , also known as social phobia, is an anxiety disorder characterized by intense fear in social situations causing considerable distress and impaired ability to function in at least some parts of daily life...
(SAD); experimental psychopathology of anxiety disorders, especially post-traumatic stress disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Posttraumaticstress disorder is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma. This event may involve the threat of death to oneself or to someone else, or to one's own or someone else's physical, sexual, or psychological integrity,...
, social phobia
Social anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder , also known as social phobia, is an anxiety disorder characterized by intense fear in social situations causing considerable distress and impaired ability to function in at least some parts of daily life...
, and obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive–compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear, or worry, by repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing the associated anxiety, or by a combination of such obsessions and compulsions...
; and dissemination of evidence-based treatment to mental health professionals.
Foa's methodology has been highly success in both the US and Israel, and she divides her time between the two countries.
Awards and honors
Foa is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including:- TIME Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the World for 2010 Thinkers: Edna Foa
- The Distinguished Scientist Award from the Scientific section of the American Psychological AssociationAmerican Psychological AssociationThe American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
- The First Annual Outstanding Research Contribution Award from the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy (ABCT)
- The Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Clinical Psychology Award from the American Psychological AssociationAmerican Psychological AssociationThe American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
- Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society for Traumatic Stress StudiesInternational Society for Traumatic Stress StudiesInternational Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, , was established on March 2, 1985 in Washington, D.C. for professionals to share information about the effects of trauma...
- Exemplary Contribution to the Field of Psychology and Humanity Philadelphia Society of Clinical Psychologists
- Exemplary Substance Abuse Prevention Program Award from SAMHSA/CSAP, CADCA, and NASADAD
- Annual Signature Service Award from Women Organized Against Rape
- Honorary Doctorate Degree of Philosophy by University of BaselUniversity of BaselThe University of Basel is located in Basel, Switzerland, and is considered to be one of leading universities in the country...
External links
- Interview with Prof. Edna Foa on treating PTSD, HaaretzHaaretzHaaretz is Israel's oldest daily newspaper. It was founded in 1918 and is now published in both Hebrew and English in Berliner format. The English edition is published and sold together with the International Herald Tribune. Both Hebrew and English editions can be read on the Internet...
English edition (08.2010)