Middle east

Abstract

The field of psychology began to develop in the Middle East in the early twentieth century. In this chapter, we present a broad view of the current state of clinical psychology in the Middle East. For each country we discuss the historical development of clinical psychology, academic and professional requirements and training, the number of employed psychologists, and the challenges and obstacles that hinder progress within the discipline. Given the similarities in culture and religion in most Middle Eastern countries, social and cultural factors appear to negatively affect participation in mental health care. Despite this similarity, some differences exist in clinical psychology in the countries of the Middle East. Psychology is an acceptable and common filed in some countries, as they are realizing the importance of the role of psychology in mental health and beyond. In these countries, professionals are working to develop culturally adapted concepts that are widely accepted by the public. Based on our review, we emphasize the need for increased mental health awareness, the development of culturally adapted models of clinical psychology, and the creation of specific policy recommendations to promote and advance clinical psychology in the Middle East. It is important to conduct a systematic investigation to enhance the status of clinical psychology and evaluate current and potential resources to advance clinical psychology in the Middle East.