The
clinical program is devoted to training clinical scientists
and to the promotion of an integration of science and practice. Our
primary goal is to train students who will lead the search
for new knowledge regarding the assessment, understanding,
and treatment of psychological disorders. Some students
in the clinical program pursue specialized training in neuropsychology or clinical aging.
Research activities in the clinical area
are closely tied to basic science areas in our department. Our
department includes leading investigators in the psychology
of aging, cognitive neuroscience, and personality research. The
clinical area also has significant ties to psychologists
in the medical school who are concerned with psychological issues
associated with medical problems (such as cancer, diabetes,
and cardiovascular disease).
We are training young investigators to apply
concepts and methods from basic behavioral science to the
study of clinical problems, such as schizophrenia, personality
disorders, eating disorders, depression, and problems of
aging. Members of the core faculty are studying a variety
of cognitive, emotional, and motivational processes as well
as brain mechanisms that are associated with these phenomena.
Our students do not need to choose whether
they will be scientists or practitioners; they must see these
activities as being inherently intertwined, and they must
be able to function in both roles. We emphasize research
and academic career goals for our students consistent with
our view of the future needs of our profession. However,
a number of students elect careers in applied settings and
use their scientist-practitioner skills in clinical work.
The clinical training program belongs to the Academy of Psychological Clinical Science, an alliance of leading, scientifically oriented, doctoral and internship training programs in clinical psychology in the United States and Canada.
