Loren Pankratz

In 2021 Pankratz's book Mysteries and Secrets Revealed: From Oracles at Delphi to Spiritualism in America was published by Prometheus books.

In 2012, Pankratz constructed a display of historically significant books about quackery at the Oregon Health & Science University Library.

Pankratz published Patients Who Deceive in 1998 which is part of the Charles Thomas Behavioral Science and Law series. Reviewer Phillip Resnick wrote that Pankratz clearly explains the difference between a malingerer (someone who wants to appear sick) and a person with factitious disorder who wants to be sick (even when no one is watching). Resnick says the book showcases "many dramatic examples of creating illusions of illness." Pankratz and psychiatrist Landy Sparr described factitious posttraumatic stress disorder in 1983, saying the stories of trauma always require external verification. In November of 2021, a revised edition of Patients Who Deceive was published with KDP and is available on Amazon in print and ebook. It will be available on iBooks shortly.

Following his retirement in 1995, he maintained a forensic practice until 2012. He testified nationally on cases of Münchausen syndrome by proxy (MBP), often defending mothers accused of harming their children.

In 1993, Pankratz was appointed to the scientific and professional advisory board of the False Memory Syndrome Foundation. He has written about the lack of documented evidence for repressed memory and the resistance in acknowledging this professional blunder.

Pankratz was appointed professor in the psychiatry department at Oregon Health Sciences University (now Oregon Health & Science University) in 1989. After retirement, he became a clinical professor in the department of psychiatry.

In 1984, Pankratz and two colleagues founded the Drug-Seeking Behavior Committee which turned the focus of drug abuse from addiction to the earlier problem of risk.

In 1975, Pankratz became consultation psychologist for medical and surgical services where he remained until his early retirement in 1995. "The purpose of checking a veteran's story, of course, is not directed at catching lies but at identifying and treating the proper problem."

Pankratz received his B.A. from Oregon State University in 1962 and his Ph.D. from the University of Oregon in 1968. He is a lifelong resident of Oregon.

Loren Pankratz (born February 27, 1940) is a consultation psychologist at the Portland VA Medical Center and professor in the department of psychiatry at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU).