We are delighted to announce that Professor Chris Brewin FAcSS FMedSci FBA, UCL PALS Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychology, has been awarded the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS). This accolade, which recognises outstanding contributions to the field of traumatic stress, will be presented at the ISTSS annual conference in Boston this September. Professor Brewin is only the third individual from the UK to receive this honour.
The ISTSS Lifetime Achievement Award acknowledges exceptional overall achievement across multiple domains including clinical practice, research, strategy, and policy. Nominees are evaluated on their consistent contributions over a minimum of ten years and their significant influence on the field, such as driving changes in clinical and research practices, implementing innovative policies, and maintaining an extensive publication record.
Professor Brewin's pioneering work on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has garnered international acclaim. His influential theory on traumatic memory posits that individuals store traumatic experiences both as limited sensory images and as fully contextualised autobiographical memories. Supported by clinical, experimental, and neuroscientific data, this theory has significantly advanced our understanding and treatment of PTSD. His recent research exploring the use of immersive virtual reality for treating depression exemplifies his ongoing commitment to innovative therapeutic approaches.
In addition to his academic achievements, Professor Brewin has made substantial contributions to public service. Following the London bombings, he was centrally involved in designing and implementing an outreach programme to support survivors' recovery and he continues to advise the government on mental health responses to major incidents and the recent pandemic. He has played a critical role in revising PTSD diagnostic criteria internationally and has contributed to mental health provisions for military veterans, for example in his capacity as Honorary Consultant Advisor in Clinical Psychology to the British Army. He has also been a trustee of the Centre for Emotion and Law, a charity dedicated to informing the legal system about psychological evidence on memory.
On receiving the award, Professor Brewin commented, "I am deeply honoured to receive this award from ISTSS. It is a testament to the value of national and international collaboration and to the outstanding colleagues and students I have been privileged to work with. It has been humbling to try to help people with PTSD through the National Health Service. In bravely sharing their very painful experiences they have taught me an enormous amount about the consequences of trauma and have inspired much of my research."
The UCL PALS community congratulates Professor Brewin on this well-deserved recognition and celebrates his outstanding contributions to the field of traumatic stress.