Jerome C. Wakefield, University Professor and professor in the School of Social Work at New York University, will deliver an Inaugural University Professorship Lecture on Thursday, April 6, at 6 p.m., discussing “The Age of Depression: Is Normal Sadness Being Misdiagnosed as Mental Disorder?” The lecture, which is free and open to the public, takes place in NYU’s Vanderbilt Hall, Tishman Auditorium, 40 Washington Square South. Seating is on a first come, first served basis; for information and to register, click here.
Much of Wakefield’s recent work has concerned the concept of mental disorder, especially applications of his “harmful dysfunction” analysis to the diagnosis of mental disorders. He currently serves on the National Advisory Board of the Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration and is a founding fellow of the Council for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health. His many publications have appeared in journals and books in the fields of social work, psychology, philosophy, psychiatry, and psychoanalysis, and deal with issues at the intersection of philosophy and the mental health professions.
The Inaugural University Professorship Lecture series was established to recognize faculty who have recently been appointed as University Professors at NYU. The title is conferred upon outstanding scholars in recognition of the interdisciplinary dimension and breadth of their work.