Definition
Clinical psychology focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, abnormal behavior, and psychological disorders in individuals. In 1907, American psychologist Lightner Witmer first coined the term and defined clinical psychology as the study of individuals through observational or experimental methods to promote change in individuals.
A clinical psychologist has a doctorate (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in clinical psychology, whereas a psychiatrist has a medical degree (M.D.). A clinical psychologist must be licensed by a state licensing board in order to conduct clinical work as a “clinical psychologist.” A clinical psychologist can be involved in the assessment or treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In addition, a number of clinical psychologists conduct research on ASD.
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Compas, B., & Gotlib, I. (2002). Introduction to clinical psychology. New York: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Witmer, L. (1907). Clinical psychology. Psychological Clinic, 1, 1–9.
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Tang, K. (2016). Clinical Psychology. In: Volkmar, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_336-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_336-5
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