David H. Barlow (born April 30, 1942) is an American psychologist and Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Psychiatry at Boston University.[1] He is board certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology. Barlow is known for his research and publications on the etiology, nature, and treatment of anxiety disorders. The models and treatment methods that he developed for anxiety and related disorders are widely used in clinical training and practice. Barlow is one of the most frequently cited psychologists in the world.[2]
Barlow has published over 650 articles and book chapters, as well as over 95 books and clinical manuals, some of which has been translated to more than 20 languages.[3] He is best known for his book titled, Anxiety and Its Disorders: The Nature and Treatment of Anxiety and Panic.[4]
Barlow is currently Founder of the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders and Professor of Psychology and Brain Sciences, and Psychiatry, Emeritus at Boston University.[1]
Background and early life
Barlow was born in Needham, Massachusetts, U.S., in 1942. His father left to fight in World War II shortly before he was born and was killed in action. Barlow grew up living with his mother and maternal grandparents.[11]
Influenced by his grandfather and uncle, Barlow cultivated a passion for sports at a young age. As a child, Barlow had even entertained the idea of a professional career in sports, especially after his baseball team made it to the Little League World Series when he was 12.[12] Yet, Barlow was also an avid reader and a scholar of classical languages, having studied six years of Latin and two years of Greek in high school. His early literary pursuits fueled his continued fascination with the written word.[11][12]
Education
Barlow attended the University of Notre Dame in 1960, for an undergraduate degree in sociology and English.[13] During intensive studies of literature, Barlow became intrigued by the often self-defeating actions of fictional characters, and he began analyzing the psychological motivations of such acts in his literary discourse.[14]
To pursue his interest in psychology, Barlow attended Boston College in 1964. He was a student of Joseph R. Cautela, one of the pioneers in behavior therapy who eventually became president of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), formerly known as the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy (AABT).[15] Barlow delved into the realm of experimental psychology in Cautela's research laboratories. He was convinced by Cautela that the practical applications of psychology can only advance through a scientific approach to the subject. In the summer of 1966, Barlow worked with Joseph Wolpe, widely known as the father of behavior therapy,[16] to gain clinical experience in Wolpe's emerging techniques of systematic desensitization, assertiveness training, and reciprocal inhibition.[14]
In the same fall, Barlow left Boston to attend the University of Vermont for his doctoral degree. He worked under Harold Leitenberg and Stewart Agras who were collaborating on a clinical research program at the time. Together, they developed a new experimental approach to clinical research, later known as single case experimental designs, for which Barlow eventually published a sourcebook.[17][18] Barlow received his Ph.D. in 1969.
Career
1969–1979
After completing his PhD, Barlow became an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in 1969.[11] He founded the clinical psychology internship program there, with the aim of training students on science-based clinical practices. In 1974, he was promoted to professor of psychiatry.[12]
In 1975, Barlow relocated to Brown University with a joint appointment as professor of psychiatry and psychology, and Director of Education and Training at Butler Hospital.[19] At Brown, Barlow was again in charge of creating a clinical psychology internship program, which had been successful at the UMMC. Barlow was to spend five years at Brown. In 1979, Barlow served as the president of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT).[15] Throughout this time, Barlow broadened and deepened his research on anxiety and related disorders, but also developed a research program on understanding sexual behaviors and gender expression. Some of this work included "treating" individuals with "sexual deviations" which at the time included homosexual men with behavioral techniques including covert sensitization,[20] fading,[21] biofeedback fading, and classical conditioning,[22] a practice that is now known as conversion therapy. One of the studies details changes in gender identity expression that were attributed to an exorcism.[23]
1979–1996
In 1979, Barlow accepted a position as professor (and later, distinguished professor) of psychology at the State University of New York at Albany. It was here where Barlow was able to focus more deeply on clinical research. Together with his colleague and friend, Edward B. Blanchard, Barlow founded the Center of Stress and Anxiety Disorders, which became a large federally funded research clinic.[11][12] In addition to continuing his early research on the relationship between anxiety and sexual dysfunction, Barlow also studied the nosology and treatment of anxiety and related disorders. Together with his colleagues, he started to develop new treatment methods for the anxiety disorders, most notably, the treatment of panic disorder developed with Michelle Craske, and Ron Rapee.[24][25][26] In addition to this work, several additional articles were published based on earlier work to characterize differences in gender identity expression as well as using behavioral treatments to change sexual orientation and gender expression.[27]
As Barlow's ideas of the nature and origins of anxiety started to become more elaborate, he published a series of books that delineated the results from his research and advocated for a more empirical scientific approach to clinical psychology. In 1985, he published the first edition of the Clinical handbook of psychological disorders: A step-by-step treatment manual,[28] explicating evidence based practices. Aggregating his ideas from this period of extensive research, Barlow published what the American Psychologist deemed as his "most influential book",[11]Anxiety and its disorders: The nature and treatment of anxiety and panic.
In 1996, Barlow returned to Boston to serve as a professor of psychology and psychiatry at Boston University. He also took on the roles of Director of Clinical Training Programs and Director of the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders.[12] At Boston University, he continued updating and deepening his theories of the origins and nature of anxiety disorders. With his team at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University, Barlow developed the Unified Protocol for transdiagnostic treatments of anxiety related disorders.[33][34] He continues to conduct research on the efficacy and treatment mechanisms of the protocol and is working to enhance dissemination.
In 2022, Barlow was interviewed about his research on changing sexual orientation and gender identity expression.[35] He expressed deep regret for this work, but stated that he does not believe these articles could be retracted, saying that "[t]he only reason you can really retract a journal article, based on my understanding, and I've been an editor myself, is if you have some evidence that the data was manipulated or fabricated or false, and the science is wrong." He added "I don't think you can retract an article because times have changed, or you have a different view of it now and you don't like the conclusion. (individuals calling for a retraction of his research simply "don't like the conclusion") but denied that his science was "faulty".[35] Barlow's response is consistent with publishing guidelines. The journal publisher subsequently refused retraction of these articles, for the same reasons that Barlow cited.
Selected awards and honors
Barlow has received over 40 awards and honors for his contributions to the understanding and treatment of anxiety and related disorders,[3] including, but not limited to:
"Awarded to investigators whose research competence and productivity are distinctly superior and who are likely to continue to perform in an outstanding manner"[37]
"Awarded for his contribution to our understanding of the nature of anxiety and anxiety disorders with the goal of developing reliable and effective psychological treatments, and as the principal psychologist in the work group on the anxiety disorders for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), he was instrumental in seeing that Psychology's contributions to the field were heeded."[11]
Barlow, D.H. (2002). Anxiety and its disorders: The nature and treatment of anxiety and panic (2nd ed.). New York: The Guilford Press. ISBN1-57230-430-8 [1st edition published in 1988, ISBN0-89862-720-6]
Barlow, D.H., Nock, M.K., & Hersen, M. (2009). Single case experimental designs: Strategies for studying behavior change (3rd ed.). Boston: Pearson Allyn & Bacon. ISBN0-205-47455-1
McHugh, R. K., & Barlow, D. H. (Eds.). (2012). Dissemination and implementation of evidence-based psychological interventions. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-538905-0
Barlow, D. H. (Ed.). (2014). The Oxford handbook of clinical psychology. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-932871-4
Barlow, D.H. (Ed.). (2014). Clinical handbook of psychological disorders: A step-by-step treatment manual. (5th ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press. ISBN1-4625-1326-3
Barlow, D. H. (2015). The neurotic paradox: Progress in understanding and treating anxiety and related disorders (Vols. 1–2). New York, NY: Routledge. ISBN1-138-85079-9, ISBN1-138-65981-9
Barlow, D. H., & Farchione, T. J. (Eds.). (2017). Applications of the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders. Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-025554-4
Barlow, D. H., & Durand, V. M. (2018). Abnormal psychology: An integrative approach (8th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. ISBN1-305-95044-5
Selected clinical manuals
Craske, M.G., & Barlow, D.H. (2007). Mastery of your anxiety and panic: Workbook for primary care settings. New York, New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-531134-5
Craske, M.G., & Barlow, D.H. (2006). Mastery of your anxiety and Worry. New York, New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-530001-7
Barlow, D.H., Rapee, R.M., & Perini, S. (2014). 10 Steps to Mastering Stress: A lifestyle approach, Updated edition. New York, New York, Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-991753-1
Barlow, D.H., Farchione, T.J., Sauer-Zavala, S., Latin, H., Ellard, K.K., Bullis, J.R., …Cassiello-Robbins, C. (2017). Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders: Therapist guide. (2nd ed.) New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-068597-2
Barlow, D. H. (1981). On the relation of clinical research to clinical practice: Current issues, new directions. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 49, 147–156. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.49.2.147
Barlow, D. H. (1986). The causes of sexual dysfunction: The role of anxiety and cognitive interference. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 54, 140–148. doi:10.1037/0022-006x.54.2.140
Barlow, D. H., Blanchard, E. B., Vermilyea, J. A., Vermilyea, B. B., & Di Nardo, P. A. (1986). Generalized anxiety and generalized anxiety disorder: Description and reconceptualization. American Journal of Psychiatry, 143, 40–44. doi:10.1176/ajp.143.1.40
Barlow, D. H. (1991b). Introduction to the special issue on diagnosis, dimensions, and DSM-IV: The science of classification. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 100, 243–244. doi:10.1037/h0092428
Barlow, D. H., Brown, T. A., & Craske, M. G. (1994). Definitions of panic attack and panic disorder in DSM-IV: Implications for research. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 103, 553–564. doi:10.1037/0021-843x.103.3.553
Barlow, D. H. (1996). Health care policy, psychotherapy research, and the future of psychotherapy. American Psychologist, 51, 1050–1058. doi:10.1037/0003-066x.51.10.1050
Chorpita, B. F., & Barlow, D. H. (1998). The development of anxiety: The role of control in the early environment. Psychological Bulletin, 124, 3–21. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.124.1.3
Barlow, D. H., Gorman, J. M., Shear, M. K., & Woods, S. W. (2000). Cognitive-behavioral therapy, imipramine or their combination for panic disorder: A randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 283, 2529–2536. doi:10.1001/jama.283.19.2529
Barlow, D.H. (2000). Unraveling the mysteries of anxiety and its disorders from the perspective of emotion theory. American Psychologist, 55(11), 1245–1263. doi:10.1037/0003-066x.55.11.1247
Bouton, M.E., Mineka, S., & Barlow, D.H. (2001). A modern learning-theory perspective on the etiology of panic disorder. Psychological Review, 108, 4–32. doi:10.1037/0033-295x.108.1.4
Barlow, D.H. (2004). Psychological treatments. American Psychologist, 59(9), 869–878. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.59.9.869
Barlow, D.H., Allen, L.B., & Choate, M.L. (2004). Toward a unified treatment for emotional disorders. Behavior Therapy, 35, 205–230. doi:10.1016/s0005-7894(04)80036-4
Barlow, D. H. (2010). Negative effects from psychological treatments: A perspective. American Psychologist, 65(1), 13–20. doi:10.1037/a0015643
McHugh, R. K., & Barlow, D. H. (2010). Dissemination and implementation of evidence-based psychological interventions: A review of current efforts. American Psychologist, 65(2), 73–84. doi:10.1037/a0018121
Barlow, D.H. (2011). A prolegomenon to clinical psychology: Two 40-year odysseys. In D.H. Barlow (Ed.), The Oxford handbook of clinical psychology (pp. 3–20). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195366884.013.0001
Barlow, D. H., Bullis, J. R., Comer, J. S., & Ametaj, A. A. (2013). Evidence-based psychological treatments: An update and a way forward. In S. Nolen-Hoeksema, T.D. Cannon, & T. Widiger (Eds.), Annual Review of Clinical Psychology (Vol. 9, pp. 1–27). Palo Alto, CA: Annual Reviews. doi:10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-050212-185629
Ciraulo, D. A., Barlow, D. H., Gulliver, S. B., Farchione, T., Morissette, S. B., Kamholz, B. W., ... Knapp, C. M. (2013). The effects of venlafaxine and cognitive behavioral therapy alone and combined in the treatment of co-morbid alcohol use-anxiety disorders. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 51(11), 729–735. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2013.08.003
Barlow, D. H. (2014). The neuroscience of psychological treatments. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 62, 143–145. doi:10.1016/j.brat.2014.09.003
Barlow, D. H., Ellard, K. K., Sauer-Zavala, S., Bullis, J. R., & Carl, J. R. (2014). The origins of neuroticism. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 9(5), 481–496. doi:10.1177/1745691614544528
Barlow, D.H., Sauer-Zavala, S., Carl, J.R., Bullis, J.R., & Ellard, K.K. (2014). The nature, diagnosis, and treatment of neuroticism: Back to the future. Clinical Psychological Science, 2(3), 344–365. doi:10.1177/2167702613505532
Barlow DH, Farchione TJ, Bullis JR, et al. (2017). The Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders Compared With Diagnosis-Specific Protocols for Anxiety Disorders A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 74(9), 875–884. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.2164
References
^ ab"David H. Barlow, PhD, ABPP". Boston University Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
^ abcdefAward for Distinguished Scientific Applications of Psychology: David H Barlow. (2000). American Psychologist, 55(11), 1245–1247. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.55.11.1245
^ abHersen, Michel (2005). Encyclopedia of Behavior Modification and Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Vol. 1. Sage Publications. pp. 43–44. ISBN9780761927471.
^ ab"Past Presidents". Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. Retrieved June 4, 2018.
^Barlow, D. H., & Hersen, M. (1973). Single-case experimental designs: Uses in applied clinical research. Archives of General Psychiatry, 29(3), 319–325. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1973.04200030017003
^ abMorris, Sarah H. (2015). The Encyclopedia of Clinical Psychology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN9781118625392.
^Barlow, D. H., & Farchione, T. J. (Eds.). (2017). Applications of the Unified Protocol for Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders. Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-025554-4
