Case Analyses for Abnormal Psychology: Learning to Look Beyond the Symptoms

by Randall E. Osborne, Joan LaFuze

This casebook provides rich, detailed examples of the major mental illnesses. In addition, it also includes up-to-date information about the biological nature of these disorders, comprehensive approaches to treatment, and critical thinking and questioning pauses. As an added feature, this text incorporates multiple treatment providers including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and psychiatric nurse practitioners. Before delving into the detailed cases, the text provides introductory chapters on: perspectives in abnormal psychology, diagnostic and therapeutic interviewing, classification and diagnosis, assessment procedures, introductory comments about each case, and therapeutic strategies. Readers learn about the personal history of each consumer both before and during the development of each case. Most cases also include in-depth interviews with individuals close to the consumer. Every case ends with a section on that particular disorder as viewed from a biological perspective. Treatment approaches are applied as appropriate as well as discussions centring on why other treatment techniques have been ruled out as viable options.

Genres: Psychology

222 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keeping in mind that this book uses the DSM IV.

For 200 pages capturing 10 disorders, it is pretty good. It lays out symptoms of a case and with some, how it can be ambiguous in which the symptom matches the story. Like in the autism case, we don't get an extreme case for example. I also liked how the authors decided to use a male in the case of BPD, a condition women tend to be diagnosed in greater portion than male. IT is just the little things like changing minor characters that show that things are different than other textbooks I have read. I also liked the biological and psychological approach to seeing each case. Overall it just a great text.

[Alice Wardle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about trying to recognise symptoms of a mental health condition within the context of someone's life. For example, trying to recognise what disordered eating looks like for an individual isn't as simple as ticking off a list of symptoms, and the same condition doesn't look the same for everyone. Understanding that everyone will not have the same mental health journey is essential, so diagnosis and treatment will look different for everyone. There is not just one way to deal with things. The book also introduces the concept that friends, family, and professionals are also responsible for someone's mental health too.