Abstract :
Aaron Temkin Beck (born July 18, 1921) is an American psychiatrist and a professor emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania. Beck is noted for his research in psychotherapy, psychopathology, suicide, and psychometrics. He is regarded as the father of Cognitive Therapy. His theories are widely used in the treatment of clinical depression. Beck developed self-report measures of depression and anxiety, notably the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) which became one of the most widely used instruments for measuring depression severity. He has published more than 600 professional journal articles, and authored or co-authored 25 books.
Beck has been named one of the "Americans in history who shaped the face of American Psychiatry" and one of the "five most influential psychotherapists of all time” by The American Psychologist in July 1989. He is currently the President Emeritus of the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy set up by him and his daughter, psychologist Judith S. Beck and the Honorary President of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, which certifies qualified cognitive therapists.
Keyword :
Aaron T Beck, Cognitive therapy, Beck depression inventory.