Gordon J. G. Asmundson, OC, SOM, Ph.D., FRSC, FCAHS, is a Registered Doctoral Psychologist, as well as the Department Head and Full Professor of Psychology at the University of Regina. He received his doctorate in Psychology from the University of Manitoba in 1991 and in 2005-2006 trained as a Beck Scholar at the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research in Philadelphia. He holds several editorial posts, including Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Anxiety Disorders and Clinical Psychology Review, and serves on the editorial boards for seven other journals.
His research and clinical interests are in assessment and basic mechanisms of fear, the anxiety and related disorders, and chronic pain, and the association of these with each other, maladaptive coping, and disability. His pioneering work on fear and avoidance in chronic pain and his shared vulnerability model of co-occurring PTSD and chronic pain have led to significant advances in understanding and treating these prevalent, disabling, and costly conditions. His empirical work on PTSD and other anxiety- related conditions has also influenced changes in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Most recently he has been researching the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.
Dr. Asmundson has published over 400 peer-reviewed journal articles, 80 book chapters, and 9 books. In addition to numerous prestigious awards received over the course of his career, in 2009 Dr. Asmundson received the highest accolade available to scientists and scholars in Canada - induction as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada - and in 2014 received the Canadian Psychological Association Donald O. Hebb Award for outstanding contributions to the science of psychology. In 2020, Dr. Asmundson was recognized for his contributions as a recipient of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, in 2021 was awarded the Molson Prize from the Social Sciences and Humanities Canada Council for the Arts for those who have distinguished themselves by their remarkable achievements, and in 2022 he was inducted as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada for his ongoing research, mentorship and clinical practice in the field of mental health. His graduate students are also regular recipients of prestigious awards and five have received the CIHR Brain Star Award in the past several years. He is actively involved in clinical research, clinical research supervision, and has a small private practice.
1991 - 1993
Post Doctoral Research Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, St. Boniface General Hospital, Winnipeg, Manitoba (supervisor: Murray B. Stein, M.D. & John R. Walker, Ph.D.)
1989 - 1991
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba (supervisor: G. Ron Norton, Ph.D.)
1986 - 1989
Master of Arts (M.A.), Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba (supervisor: Lorna Sandler, Ph.D.)
1982 - 1986
Bachelor of Arts (Honours: First Class), Department of Psychology, University of Manitoba (supervisor: John Whiteley, Ph.D.)
Journal Articles and Refereed Publications: Google Scholar
Books
Asmundson, G. J. G., & Afifi, T. O. (2019). Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): Using evidence to advance research, practice, policy and prevention. Academic Press.
Hofmann, S., & Asmundson, G. J. G. (Eds.) (2017). The science of cognitive behavioral therapy. Academic Press.
McKay, D, Abramowitz, J. S., Taylor, S. & Asmundson, G. J. G. (2009). Current Perspectives on the Anxiety Disorders -- Implications for the DSM-V and Beyond. Springer Publishing Co.
Asmundson, G. J. G. & Taylor, S. (2009). It's Not All In Your Head: How Worrying About Your Health Could Be Making You Sick -- And What You Can Do About It. Guilford Press.
Asmundson, G. J. G., Vlaeyen, J. W. S., & Crombez, G. (2004). Understanding and treating fear of pain. Oxford University Press.
Taylor, S. & Asmundson, G. J. G. (2004). Treating health anxiety: A cognitive behavioral approach . Guilford Press.
Asmundson, G. J. G., Norton, G. R. & Stein, M. B. (2002). Clinical research in mental health. Sage.
Asmundson, G. J. G., Taylor, S., & Cox, B. J. (Eds.) (2001). Health anxiety: Clinical and research perspectives on hypochondriasis and related disorders. John Wiley & Sons.
2021-2023
President's Research Chair
University of Regina
2022
Order of Canada
Awarded December, 2022
2021
Molson Prize
Social Sciences and Humanities Canada Council for the Arts
2021
Dean's Prize for Accessible Scholarly Writing
University of Regina
2020
Saskatchewan Order of Merit
2019
Member of Distinction Award
Anxiety and Depression Association of America
2018
Distinguished Career Award
Canadian Pain Society
2017
Fellow
Canadian Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies (CACBT-ACTCC)
2016
Fellow
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT)
2014
Donald O. Hebb Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology as a Science
Canadian Psychological Association
Awarded January, 2014
2012
Top Cited Article 2007-2011
S. G. Hoffman and G. J. G Asmundson for Acceptance and mindfulness-based therapy: New wave or old hat? Clinical Psychology Review, 28, 1-16.
Awarded November, 2012
2012
Jillings Award in Psychology
Psychology Association of Saskatchewan
Awarded October, 2012
2011 - 2016
President's Chair for Academic Excellence
University of Regina
President's Chair in Adult Mental Health Research
2010
Self-Help Book of Merit Award
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT)
Awarded for: It's Not All in Your Head: How Worrying About Your Health Could be Making You Sick - And What You Can Do About It (2005, Guilford)
2010
Fellow of Section on Clinical Psychology
Canadian Psychological
2009
Inducted as Fellow in the Royal Society of Canada
Induction November 28, 2009
2008
Saskatchewan Institute of Health Research Achievement Award
Awarded December 4, 2008
2005
Saskatchewan Centennial Medal
Awarded September 1, 2005
2005 - 2006
Beck Institute Scholar
Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research
2003 - 2008
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Investigator Award
Saskatchewan CIHR Regional Partnership Program
2003 - 2005
President’s Scholar Award
University of Regina
Awarded June, 2003; award declined
2003
Alumni Association Award for Excellence in Research
University of Regina
Awarded May, 2003
2003
Highest-Ranked CIHR Awardee Funded in the 2002 Peer Reviewed Investigator Initiated Competition in the area of Musculoskeletal Pain Research
Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis
Awarded January 31, 2003
2002
President's and Dean’s New Faculty Research Award
Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies, University of Regina
2000
Elected to status of Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association
Awarded June 30, 2000 in Ottawa, ON
1999
Early Career Investigator Award
Canadian Pain Society, Chapter of the International Association for the Study of Pain
Awarded May 15, 1999 in St. John's, NF
1998
Young Investigators Research Award
Anxiety Disorders Association of America
Awarded March 27. 1998 in Boston, MA
2009 - present
Associate Member, Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies, University of Regina, Full-time, Adjunct, Associate Professor
2008 - present
Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Regina
2003 - 2008
Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies, University of Regina
2002 - 2003
Associate Professor, Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies, University of Regina (tenured 2002)
2002 - 2008
Associate Member, Department of Psychology, University of Regina
2002 - present
Faculty Research Director, Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies, University of Regina
2002 - present
Research Associate, Clinical Research and Development Program, Regina Health District
1999 - present
Adjunct Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan
1998 - present
Associate member, Mood and Anxiety Disorders Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba