The award is the Society’s highest honour and is given to an individual who has made significant lifetime contributions to the field of traumatic stress through promoting change in practice and research, implanting and influencing policy, and maintaining an influential publication record.

Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychology at University College London, he was an undergraduate and postgraduate of the University of Oxford before completing his doctorate at the University of Sheffield.

Professor Brewin has conducted pioneering research into many aspects of human memory and published influential reviews of the precursors and consequences of PTSD, including the highly influential Dual Representation Theory of PTSD alongside Tim Dalgleish and Stephen Joseph. For three decades, he has been a prominent advocate for a balanced, scientifically grounded position on the debate around false/recovered memory.  His recent research explores the use of virtual reality for treating depression.

His work has extended into national and international public service.  He played a major role in designing and implementing the mental health response to terrorist attacks in the UK, with an emphasis on setting up screening and access to evidence-based treatment. Today he continues to advise HM Government on mental health responses to major incidents including the COIVD-19 pandemic.  In addition, he has contributed to mental health provision for military veterans as Honorary Consultant Advisor in Clinical Psychology to the British Army, was a trustee of the Centre for Emotion and Law, advised the American Psychiatric Association over DSM-5, and was involved in the revisions to the diagnosis of PTSD implemented in ICD-11.

This is Prof Brewin’s second honour from the ISTSS.  In 2013 he was award the Robert S. Laufer Memorial Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement. He joins a prestigious list of past Lifetime Achievement Award winners including Anke Ehlers, William Yule, Patricia Resick and most recently, George Bonanno.

On receiving the award, he said: “I have been very privileged to try to help people with PTSD and hear their stories. I am full of admiration for the courage and resilience they show in sharing what are often extremely painful experiences and in engaging with research and therapy. They have taught me a huge amount and I have always tried to ensure that my theory and practice accords with their experience and makes sense in their terms. I would like to dedicate this award to them and to the wonderful colleagues I have been lucky enough to work with.”

UKPTS President, Victoria Williamson commented: “On behalf of the UKPTS, I would like to congratulate Professor Brewin on being honoured by the ISTSS. His pioneering work has been pivotal in shaping the field and clinical practice. His research has had a profound global impact on improving our understanding of psychological trauma, making this award a well-deserved recognition of his exceptional career.”