Richard J. McNally is a preeminent clinical psychologist whose career has significantly shaped the understanding of anxiety disorders and their cognitive underpinnings. He currently serves as Professor of Psychology and Director of Clinical Training at Harvard University, a position he has held since 2003. McNally received his B.S. in psychology from Wayne State University in 1976 and completed his Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1982. Following a clinical internship and postdoctoral fellowship at Temple University's Behavior Therapy Unit, he established the Anxiety Disorders Clinic at the Chicago Medical School before joining Harvard University in 1991 as an Associate Professor, where he was promoted to Professor in 1995.
Dr. McNally's groundbreaking research has focused on elucidating the cognitive abnormalities constitutive of anxiety disorders including panic disorder, specific phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. His laboratory studies on information-processing biases have provided critical insights into how these disorders develop and persist, with his work appearing in over 550 publications spanning several decades. McNally's influential books, including "Panic Disorder: A Critical Analysis" (1994), "Remembering Trauma" (2003), and "What is Mental Illness?" (2011), have shaped discourse in clinical psychology and psychopathology. His innovative network analyses of PTSD, OCD, and depression have offered new frameworks for understanding the complex interrelationships among symptoms in mental disorders. These contributions have established him as a leading authority whose work bridges theoretical understanding with clinical applications.
Beyond his research, Professor McNally has profoundly influenced the field through leadership roles including service on the specific phobia and posttraumatic stress disorder committees of the American Psychiatric Association's DSM-IV Task Force and on the National Institute of Mental Health's consensus panels. Recognized for his exceptional mentorship, he received the 2010 Outstanding Mentor Award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies and the 2005 Distinguished Scientist Award from the Society for the Science of Clinical Psychology. As a Fellow of both the Association for Psychological Science and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, he continues to advance the field through his laboratory's current work on cognitive biases, experimental psychopathology, and the cognitive and emotional benefits of physical exercise. Dr. McNally's ongoing research promises to further illuminate the mechanisms driving emotional disorders and inform more effective interventions for those suffering from anxiety-related conditions.
