Dr. Stephen Hinshaw stands as a preeminent figure in developmental psychology and clinical child psychiatry, renowned for his transformative contributions to understanding childhood mental health disorders. He currently holds the distinguished position of Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, where he previously served as Department Chair from 2004 to 2011, and concurrently serves as Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco. His academic journey began with exceptional distinction as he earned his A.B. in psychology from Harvard University summa cum laude in 1974, followed by his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from UCLA in 1983. After completing his postdoctoral fellowship at the Langley Porter Institute of UC San Francisco, he established himself as a leading scholar through his innovative research on developmental psychopathology and clinical interventions for children and adolescents.
Dr. Hinshaw's groundbreaking longitudinal research has fundamentally reshaped the understanding of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, particularly through his leadership of the Berkeley Girls with ADHD Longitudinal Study (BGALS), the largest investigation of girls with ADHD worldwide. His seminal findings revealed the significant risk of self-harm, suicidal behavior, and intimate partner violence among girls with ADHD as they transition into adolescence and adulthood, challenging previous assumptions that primarily focused on boys with this condition. With over $40 million in research funding from NIH and major foundations, his work has illuminated the complex interplay between neurobiological vulnerability, family dynamics, and peer relationships in the development and treatment of externalizing behavior disorders. His research has established critical connections between executive function deficits and later maladjustment, demonstrating how early interventions can alter developmental trajectories for children with ADHD and related conditions.
Recognized internationally for both scholarly excellence and teaching, Dr. Hinshaw has received numerous prestigious honors including the James McKeen Cattell Award, the Distinguished Scientific Contributions Award from the Society for Research in Child Development, and the Ruane Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Research. His influential memoir Another Kind of Madness: A Journey Through the Stigma and Hope of Mental Illness was selected as Best Book in autobiography/memoir by the American BookFest in 2018, reflecting his deep commitment to reducing mental illness stigma through both research and personal narrative. Currently, he co-directs the UCSF-UC Berkeley Schwab Dyslexia and Cognitive Diversity Center and leads innovative clinical trials aimed at reducing stigma and enhancing humanization for adolescents with mental health challenges. Dr. Hinshaw's enduring legacy lies in his transformative approach to understanding developmental psychopathology through the integration of longitudinal research, clinical practice, and bold advocacy for those affected by mental illness.
