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BOOK REVIEW
James E. Maddux and Barbara A. Winstead (eds): Psychopathology: foundations for a contemporary understanding (3rd edition) Diane Purper Ouakil
Ó Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2012
This book provides updated information about current conceptions of psychopathology and about the most important mental disorders. The first section presents background information about different domains of the study of psychopathology, the second describes the common mental disorders of adulthood, whereas the third is dedicated to child and adolescent psychopathology. In the first chapters, the reader learns about the social constructionist conception of mental disorders through a perspective that does not exclude a scientific approach to dysfunctional patterns of human behavior. Biological bases of mental disorders are illustrated by the developmental influences on brain differences and behavior. Innovative perspectives are found in chapters about cultural psychopathology, influence of gender, race and class on diagnosis and access to mental health care. The background information also provides a detailed analysis of the historical development of diagnostic nomenclatures and the contemporary issues raised by their increasing boundaries and the difficult distinction between psychopathology and other maladaptive patterns of living. The chapter dealing with assessment reviews psychometric principles and instruments and addresses the biases of clinical judgment while
emphasizing a scientific approach to clinical psychology to improve the quality of psychological assessment. Another important aspect developed in this textbook is psychotherapy research, aimed at the development of interventions with established efficacy and effectiveness. The principles of psychotherapy outcome studies are outlined as well as processes of clinicians’ decision making, a key issue for mental health care students and professionals. In Part II of the book, the main syndromes of adult psychopathology are comprehensively reviewed and a specific chapter is dedicated to the issue of mental health and aging. Mental disorders occurring in children and adolescents are developed in the third part of the book. This section is introduced by a chapter devoted to the concepts of developmental psychopathology, the definition of typical and atypical development, of developmental pathways, comorbidity, risk and resilience research and cultural issues. This textbook will be of great value to all students and health professionals in the field of psychology and psychiatry as it gives them access to the main issues of contemporary psychopathology and to updated data about specific disorders throughout the life-span.
D. Purper Ouakil (&) Me´decine Psychologique de l’Enfant et de l’Adolescent (MPEA), Hoˆpital Saint Eloi, 80 Avenue Augustin Fliche, 34295 Montpellier, Cedex 5, France e-mail: [email protected]
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