Dr Daniel Freeman wins clinical psychology award
MAY 28, 2008
Dr Daniel Freeman from the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, is to receive the 2008 May Davidson Award from the British Psychological Society’s Division of Clinical Psychology. Dr Freeman is a Wellcome Trust Research Fellow at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London, and a consultant clinical psychologist in the South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
Dr Freeman, 37, has been a pioneer in the development of the psychological understanding and treatment of paranoia. He has published over fifty peer-reviewed academic articles and four books. His innovative research has concerned questions such as: What is paranoia? What causes it? Are we more paranoid now than we used to be? How should we deal with our paranoid thoughts? How can we reduce the amount of paranoia in our society?
He is the lead author of the first self-help book for paranoia, Overcoming Paranoid and Suspicious Thoughts. This autumn he explains the new science of suspiciousness in Paranoia: The 21st Century Fear, which Professor Aaron Beck describes as ‘An absorbing, entertaining, and illuminating examination of one of the defining topics of our time.’
Dr Freeman says: ‘I'm absolutely delighted to be awarded the May Davidson Award, which has had many distinguished winners. It's further recognition of the contribution of UK clinical psychology to advancing the understanding and treatment of psychosis. It is now increasingly recognised that paranoid experiences are not confined to those with a severe mental illness but that there is a spectrum of severity in the general population. But even more importantly inroads have been made into understanding the psychological causes of paranoia and into developing effective cognitive behavioural treatments. It is an exciting time to be working in the area as a clinical psychologist.’
As part of his award Dr Freeman will give a lecture at the Division’s Annual Conference. This will take place at the Congress Centre, 28 Great Russell Street, London WC1, on 10-12 December 2008. Further details of the event can be found on the conference website:
www.dcpconference.co.uk.
The May Davidson Award is made by the Division of Clinical Psychology each year to a clinical psychologist who has made a significant contribution to the profession within 10 years of qualifying. May Davidson was a pioneer of clinical psychology in the early days of the National Health Service and died in 1982.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan Calder at The British Psychological Society, Tel: 016 252 9502