Dr. Foa is a Professor of Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and Personality from the University of Missouri, Columbia, in 1970. Dr. Foa devoted her academic career to study the psychopathology and treatment of anxiety disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and social phobia, and is currently one of the world’s leading experts in these areas. Her research has been funded by private and government institutes. Recently, Dr. Foa has focused on disseminating evidence-based treatment for PTSD to community clinics in the U.S. and around the world.
Dr. Foa was the chair of the DSM-IV Subcommittee for OCD and cochairs of the DSM-IV Subcommittee for PTSD. She has also been the chair for the Treatment Guidelines Task Force of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Disorders. Dr. Foa has published several books and over 350 research articles and book chapters and has lectured extensively around the world. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards and honors.
Awards and Credentials
- First Annual Outstanding Research Contribution Award, presented by the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy
- Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Clinical Psychology Award from the American Psychological Association
- Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
- Senior Scholar Fulbright Award, 2006
Related Links
Recommended Reading List
- “Emotional Processing of Fear: Exposure to Corrective Information.” Foa, E. B., et al. (1986). Psychological Bulletin, 99.
- “Psychosocial Treatments for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Critical Review.” Foa, E. B. et al. (1997). Annual Review of Psychology, Vol. 48.
- Pathological Anxiety: Emotional Processing in Etiology and Treatment. Foa, E.B., et al. (2006). Guilford.
