This timely reference examines the psychological and social phenomena of mass and serial murder, bringing scholarly depth to a frequently sensationalized subject. Its review of the literature features case studies of serial and mass murderers to expand on salient theories of evil, with biopsychosocial profiles highlighting core personality traits, particularly malignant narcissism, associated with psychopathy and its often deadly outcomes. The author's insightful analysis separates misconceptions from reality, poses questions for critical thinking and discussion, and offers realistic suggestions for prevention. Public fascination with these violent figures-the mystique of serial killers and their popularity in the entertainment media-is explored as well. Included in the coverage: * Public interest in mass and serial murder. * Concepts of evil: where it comes from, and why people kill.* Mass murder: classification, motivation, and typologies. * Serial murder: motivation and typologies. * Current trends in prevention, and areas for improvement. * Plus instructive case studies, both famous and less-known. Mass and Serial Murder in America is illuminating reading for undergraduate and graduate students and practitioners in social science disciplines such as criminal justice, criminology, social work, psychology, forensic psychology, and related fields. It will also find an audience among educators teaching courses in these areas, as well as interested laypersons.

In this compelling scientific detective story, a leading neuroscientist looks for the nature of human kindness in the brains of heroes and psychopaths (Wall Street Journal). At fourteen, Amber could boast of killing her guinea pig, threatening to burn down her home, and seducing men in exchange for gifts. She used the tools she had available to get what she wanted, and, she didn't care about the damage she inflicted. A few miles away, Lenny Skutnik was so concerned about the life of a drowning woman that he jumped into the ice-cold river to save her. How could Amber care so little about others' lives, while Lenny cared so much? Abigail Marsh studied the brains of both psychopathic children and extreme altruists and found that the answer lies in our ability to recognize others' fear. And as The Fear Factor argues, by studying people who demonstrate heroic and evil behaviors, we can learn more about how human morality is coded in the brain. A path-breaking read, The Fear Factor is essential for anyone seeking to understand the heights and depths of human nature.

From Dr. Martha Stout's influential work The Sociopath Next Door, we learned how to identify a sociopath. Now she tells us what to actually do about it. While the best way to deal with a sociopath is to avoid them entirely, sometimes circumstance doesn't allow for that. What happens when the time comes to defend yourself against your own child, a boss, or ruthless ex-spouse? Inspired by the many chilling and often heartbreaking emails and letters she has received over the years, from her work with the victims of sociopathy, Dr. Martha Stout uncovers the psychology behind the sociopath's methods and provides concrete guidelines to help navigate these dangerous interactions. Organized around categories such as destructive narcissism, violent sociopaths, sociopathic coworkers, and the sociopath in your family, Outsmarting the Sociopath Next Door contains detailed explanation and commentary on how best to react in these situations to keep the sociopath at bay. Uniting these categories is a discussion of changing psychological theories of personality and sociopathy and the enduring triumph of conscience over those who operate without empathy or concern for others. By understanding the person you're dealing with and changing the rules of the game, you'll be able to gain the upper hand and escape the sociopath's influence. Whether you're fighting a custody battle against a sociopathic ex or being gaslighted by a boss or coworker, you'll find hope and help within these pages. With this guide to disarming the conscienceless, Dr. Stout aims to give readers the tools to protect themselves while conducting a broader examination of human behavior and conceptions of normality.

Breaking through Schizophrenia builds on the ideas of Jacques Lacan who argued that schizophrenia is a deficient relationship to language, in particular the difficulty to master the metaphoric dimension of language, which children acquire by the Oedipal restructuring of the psyche. This book is thus a countercultural move to present a less damaging view and a more efficient treatment method for schizophrenic persons. Through a collection of published and unpublished articles, Ver Eecke traces the path of Lacanian thought. He discusses the importance of language for the development of human beings and examines the effectiveness of talk therapy through case studies with schizophrenic persons.

People with Borderline or Narcissistic Personality Disorders have a serious mental illness that primarily affects their intimate, personal, and family relationships. Often they appear to be normally functioning at work and in public interactions, and Narcissists may even be highly effective, in the short term, in some work or social situations. However, in intimate relationships, they can be emotional, aggressive, demeaning, illogical, paranoid, accusing, and controlling in the extreme. Their ability to function normally or pleasantly can suddenly change in an instant, like flipping a switch. These negative behaviors don t happen once in a while, they happen almost continuously in their intimate relationships and most often, and especially with their Caretaker family member. Here, Margalis Fjelstad describes how people get into a Caretaker role with a Borderline or Narcissist, and how they can get out. Caretakers give up their sense of self to become who and what the Borderline or Narcissist needs them to be. This compromises the Caretaker s self-esteem, distorts their thinking processes, and locks them into a Victim-Persecutor-Rescuer pattern with the Borderline or Narcissist. The book looks at the underlying rules and expectations in these relationships and shows Caretaker s how to move themselves out of these rigid interactions and into a healthier, more productive, and positive lifestyle with or without the Borderline/Narcissistic partner or family member. It describes how to get out of destructive interactions with the Borderline or Narcissist and how to take new, more effective actions to focus on personal wants, needs, and life goals while allowing the Borderline or Narcissist to take care of themselves. It presents a realistic, yet compassionate, attitude toward the self-destructive nature of these relationships, and gives real life examples of how individuals have let go of their Caretaker behaviors with creative and effective solutions."

What is defiance, and when does defiant behaviour impede one's ability to aim at flourishing? People who are defiant can present perplexing challenges etiologically, diagnostically, and responsively. But in order to understand accurately when defiant behaviour is good, or bad, or neither (when it emerges out of mental illness), a fresh perspective on defiance is needed. This book offers a nuanced and complex look at defiance, taking seriously issues of dysfunction while also attending to social contexts in which defiant behaviour may arise. Those living in adverse conditions such as oppression, systematic disadvantages, and disability may act defiantly for good reasons. This perspective places defiance squarely within the moral domain; thus, it should not be assumed that when professionals come across defiant behaviour, it is a sign of mental dysfunction. Potter argues that defiance sometimes is a virtue, meaning that a disposition to be ready to be defiant when the situation calls for it is part of living a life with a realistic understanding of the aim of flourishing and its limits in our everyday world. Her work also offers theoretical work on problems in knowing that can impede understanding and responsiveness to those who are, or seem to be, defiant. Clinicians, teachers, social workers, nurses, and others working in helping professions are invited to engage in different ways with defiance so as to better understand and respond to people who express that defiance. Case studies, a framework for differentiating different forms of defiance, a realistic picture of phronesis-practical reasoning-and an explanation of how to give uptake well are some of the topics covered. The voices of service users strengthen the author's claims that defiance that is grounded in phronesis is just as much a part of moral life for those living with mental disabilities as for anyone else.

Transdiagnostic treatment is the future of psychology. For the last twenty years, clinicians and mental health professionals have relied on the DSM manual to diagnose and treat patients. However, evidence now shows that treating individual symptoms, rather than relying on a single diagnosis, is much more effective. If you are frustrated with single symptom protocols when treating your clients, this book offers a powerful alternative to the DSM-V. The Transdiagnostic Road Map to Case Formulation and Treatment Planning is the first book to offer the psychology community a breakthrough, evidence-based road map for treating patients with symptoms that span across different diagnostic categories. The transdiagnostic approach outlined in this book signals a revolutionary break from traditional DSM categorization and gives mental health professionals a reliable resource for treating clients' individual symptoms, rather than relying on rigid pathology. If you are interested in a new approach to treating patients, this book is an extremely important addition to your professional library. It will serve as your guide for a more effective type of treatment planning-one that is tailored to your client's specific needs. For more than forty years, New Harbinger has published powerful, evidence-based psychology resources for mental health professionals and self-help books for clients. As the landscape of psychology evolves, New Harbinger will remain at the forefront, offering clinicians real tools for real change.

This book extends the critical scope of the previous volume, De-Medicalizing Misery, into a wider social and political context, developing the critique of the psychiatrization of Western society. It explores the contemporary mental health landscape and poses possible alternative solutions to the continuing issues of emotional distress.

Originally published in 1936, this book presents a detailed analysis of various types of neurosis and their treatment. The text was based on the histories of approximately 1,200 patients, all of whom were observed by the author in the Cassel Hospital for Functional Nervous Disorders at Swaylands, Kent. Numerous tables of case histories are included. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in mental health and the history of psychology.

Social anxiety is a common and potentially disabling problem that can occur in situations ranging from dating to conversations to job interviews. Fortunately, three decades of research have shown that most people struggling with social anxiety can benefit from the cognitive-behavioral intervention described in Managing Social Anxiety. The third edition of this Therapist Guide represents the latest update of the gold-standard psychosocial intervention for social anxiety. The guide provides foundational information on the nature of social anxiety and the empirically supported cognitive-behavioral techniques used to treat it, how best to implement these techniques, and how to deal with challenges that arise during treatment. New to this edition are updated procedures and background reflecting current science and clinical findings, a greater emphasis on a multicultural approach to practice, and more attention to client goals. The step-by-step approach detailed in Managing Social Anxiety is easy for beginning therapists to implement, and offers many practical recommendations to help clients successfully engage with the treatment. More experienced therapists will find useful strategies for challenging cases and expert guidance on fine-tuning their approach.

Many of the current debates about validity in psychiatry and psychology are predicated on the unexpected failure to validate commonly used diagnostic categories. The recognition of this failure has resulted in, what Thomas Kuhn calls, a period of extraordinary science in which validation problems are given increased weight, alternatives are proposed, methodologies are debated, and philosophical and historical analyses are seen as more relevant than usual. In this important new book in the IPPP series, a group of leading thinkers in psychiatry, psychology, and philosophy offer alternative perspectives that address both the scientific and clinical aspects of psychiatric validation, emphasizing throughout their philosophical and historical considerations. This is a book that all psychiatrists, as well as philosophers with an interest in psychiatry, will find thought provoking and valuable.

Is there life after Adderall?Andrew K. Smith s hooligan pranks and social impulsiveness paints a picture of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) before medication, and it would seem that the little orange pills could cure his mischief. But readers will furrow their brows as they enter The Adderall Empire, traveling with the author through the chemically conflicting mind states. Is working-memory training a feasible alternative? Readers will beg for the answer, hoping Andrew stops getting into trouble before his parents disown him or he winds up in jail. Again.Everyone is curious about Adderall. Young people abuse it, adults are addicted to it, teachers wish their students would take it, and parents consider prescriptions for their children. The Adderall Empire gives honest evidence of how working-memory training can change the life of a person with ADHD and provides readers with information about an alternative to ADHD prescriptions.Find out what it s like to exit the Empire "

The meanings and causes of hearing voices that others cannot hear (auditory verbal hallucinations, in psychiatric parlance) have been debated for thousands of years. Voice-hearing has been both revered and condemned, understood as a symptom of disease as well as a source of otherworldly communication. Those hearing voices have been viewed as mystics, potential psychiatric patients or simply just people with unusual experiences, and have been beatified, esteemed or accepted, as well as drugged, burnt or gassed. This book travels from voice-hearing in the ancient world through to contemporary experience, examining how power, politics, gender, medicine and religion have shaped the meaning of hearing voices. Who hears voices today, what these voices are like and their potential impact are comprehensively examined. Cutting edge neuroscience is integrated with current psychological theories to consider what may cause voices and the future of research in voice-hearing is explored.

A versatile reference text for developing and applying clinical psychopathology skills Designed to serve as a trusted desktop reference on mental disorders seen across the lifespan for mental health professionals at all levels of experience, Diagnosis and Treatment of Mental Disorders Across the Lifespan, Second Edition expertly covers etiology, clinical presentation, intake and interviewing, diagnosis, and treatment of a wide range of DSM disorders at all developmental stages. Unlike other references, this book takes a lifespan approach that allows readers to develop the clinical skills necessary to respond to mental health concerns in a patient-centered manner. Introductory and advanced features support clinicians at every stage of their careers and help students develop their skills and understanding. Authors Woo and Keatinge combine a review of cutting edge and state-of-the-art findings on diagnosis and treatment with the tools for diagnosing and treating a wide range of mental disorders across the lifespan. . This second edition incorporates the following changes: * Fully updated to reflect the DSM-5 * Chapters have been reorganized to more closely follow the structure of the DSM-5 * Cultural and diversity considerations have been expanded and integrated throughout the book * A new integrative model for treatment planning * Expanded discussion of rapport building skills and facilitating active engagement * Identity issues and the fit between client and intervention model has been added to the case conceptualization model Mental health disorders affect patients of all ages, and the skilled clinician understands that there are no one-size-fits-all treatments. Diagnosis and Treatment of Mental Disorders Across the Lifespan, Second Edition will instruct clinicians and students in psychopathology for every life stage. * Praise for the first edition: Reviews This handbook, Diagnosis and Treatment of Mental Disorders Across the Lifespan, comprehensively integrates best practices necessary for clinicians who deal with a wide range of mental disorders across the continuum of development in a practical, applied, and accessible manner. One of the unique aspects of the book is the length to which the authors go to ensure that the up-to-date information contained in the book is practical, user-friendly, and accessible to beginners in clinical practice

An up-to-date overview of a range of topics, covering contemporary concerns and therapeutic challenges in clinical psychiatry, written by distinguished psychiatrists who are leaders in their fields. This volume will help to shape the clinical practice of psychiatry students and mental health professionals.