Personality disorders consist of long-term patterns of maladaptive behaviour which have a generally unrecognised importance in clinical practice. However, personality disorders are the origins of many medical consultations and social ills, including substance abuse, alcoholism, self-harm, suicide, neglect of children, criminality and HIV transmission. In a comprehensive summary and evaluation of the clinical literature, this book seeks to dispel the myth that personality disorder is simply a category for those problem individuals for whom nothing can be done. With detailed coverage of recognition, assessment and management, Drs Dowson and Grounds provide a co-ordinated empirically-based account of those aspects of personality disorders which are of relevance to psychiatrists and allied disciplines, including clinical psychologists, social workers, criminologists, specialist nurses and primary care physicians.

Clinical Assessment and Management of Severe Personality Disorders (Clinical Practice 35) offers the clinician working in the community a practicable approach to the treatment of patients with personality disorders. Clearly written, with minimal use of jargon, this book focuses on issues relevant to the clinician in private practice, including the diagnosis of a wide range of personality disorders and alternative management approaches. Recognizing patients with a personality disorder, differentiating one disorder from another, and using psychological tests in the diagnosis and treatment of personality disorders are among the clinical assessment issues covered. Two commonly encountered issues -- the assessment and management of patients using a neuropsychiatric approach and treatment of patients with comorbid symptoms and personality disorders -- are discussed. This book takes a broad approach to the management of personality disorders, moving beyond individual dynamic psychotherapy as the only treatment option. Pharmacological management of patients with personality disorders and differential management for patients in various settings are described. A discussion of the etiological impact and implications of early life experiences on the patient offers valuable insight for psychotherapeutic management. Clinicians are also provided with a useful framework for interacting and intervening with the families of patients with personality disorders.

"This volume presents the latest theory and research on the diagnosis and treatment of personality disorders"--

Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis in Social Work Practice surveys common mental disorders that individuals may demonstrate over their lifespan, and teaches social workers how to diagnose them according to the DSM-5. The medical model of the DSM is counterbalanced by social work values and principles and an appreciation for the environmental context of individual behavior.

"Structured clinical management (SCM) is a unified approach to the treatment of people with personality disorder. It is within reach of general mental health professionals without extensive additional training, however, clinical leads, managers, and practitioners can struggle to implement SCM across complex mental health systems. This book provides an easy-to-read and practical guide on how mental health services can implement SCM into their current clinical pathways. Each chapter outlines a core aspect of the SCM model and its delivery in clinical services. Key principles are highlighted, with case examples included to demonstrate real-world applications. Containing insights from clinical experts, researchers, service users, and practitioners of SCM from across the UK and Europe, this book will be a valuable resource for qualified and in-training mental health professionals, in particular those working with patients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and other personality difficulties"--page 4 of cover.

Psychiatric clinicians should use rating scales and questionnaires often, for they not only facilitate targeted diagnoses and treatment; they also facilitate links to empirical literature and systematize the entire process of management. Clinically oriented and highly practical, the Handbook of Clinical Rating Scales and Assessment in Psychiatry and Mental Health is an ideal tool for the busy psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, family physician, or social worker. In this ground-breaking text, leading researchers provide reviews of the most commonly used outcome and screening measures for the major psychiatric diagnoses and treatment scenarios. The full range of psychiatric disorders are covered in brief but thorough chapters, each of which provides a concise review of measurement issues related to the relevant condition, along with recommendations on which dimensions to measure – and when. The Handbook also includes ready-to-photocopy versions of the most popular, valid, and reliable scales and checklists, along with scoring keys and links to websites containing on-line versions. Moreover, the Handbook describes well known, structured, diagnostic interviews and the specialized training requirements for each. It also includes details of popular psychological tests (such as neuropsychological, personality, and projective tests), along with practical guidelines on when to request psychological testing, how to discuss the case with the assessment consultant and how to integrate information from the final testing report into treatment. Focused and immensely useful, the Handbook of Clinical Rating Scales and Assessment in Psychiatry and Mental Health is an invaluable resource for all clinicians who care for patients with psychiatric disorders.

This book considers personality disorders and how they are treated within the institutional context of prisons and hospitals and offers practical guidance on assessment, formulation and integrated treatment planning. Treating Personality Disorder offers contributions from professionals in psychiatry, nursing and psychology as well as prison officers and service managers and areas of discussion include: delivering integrated treatment to people with personality disorders issues and challenges for the clinical professional the role of the psychiatrist in treating personality disorder Treating Personality Disorder will provide a timely and valuable guide for all professionals involved in the treatment and management of serious personality disorders within an institutional framework.

Personality DisordersÂis an up-to-date, evidence-based, and accessibly written review to assist psychiatry, psychology, social work, and mental health trainees and seasoned practitioners in their understanding and treatment of patients with various personality styles and personality disorders. The work is divided into three sections, which include clinical illustrations and wisdom from well-known expert clinicians. Section I provides an overview of the assessment of personality styles and disorders and a general clinical approach, including epidemiology, interviewing, and developing a categorical and trait diagnosis. Section II describes the major evidence-based multi-clinical treatment approaches for personality disorders, such as general management, cognitive and behavioral therapies, dialectical behavioral therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapies, schema focused psychotherapy, mentalization-based treatment, and family and group therapy. Section III covers the major specific personality disorders, their treatments, and management of relevant co-morbidities. Each chapter offers key point summaries, provides useful resources for patients, and scholarly references for psychiatry trainees and clinicians. Chapters are written from a bio-psycho-social-cultural perspective using either a single theoretical approach or a multi-modal treatment approach. This book is the most comprehensive guide to personality disorders to date, detailing a wide array of multi-theoretical and inclusive clinical treatment approaches.

A book about personality disorders which starts with the actual research and clinical developments in the field. The contemporary state will be critically examined and the differential approaches (DSM-IV Millon, the psychoanalytical approach including Kenberg) will be related to each other.