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.

Education

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.)


Publications


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.

Available on Amazon


Hofmann, S., & Asmundson, G. J. G. (Eds.) (2017). The science of cognitive behavioral therapy. Academic Press.

Available on Amazon


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.

Available on Amazon


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.

Available on Amazon


Asmundson, G. J. G., Vlaeyen, J. W. S., & Crombez, G. (2004). Understanding and treating fear of pain. Oxford University Press.

Available on Amazon


Taylor, S. & Asmundson, G. J. G. (2004). Treating health anxiety: A cognitive behavioral approach . Guilford Press.

Available on Amazon


Asmundson, G. J. G., Norton, G. R. & Stein, M. B. (2002). Clinical research in mental health. Sage.

Available on Amazon


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.

Available on Amazon



Selected Awards


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


Primary Professional Appointments

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