This volume is the fourth in a series on depressive illness. The first volume, entitled Phenomenology of Depressive Illness, is devoted to a de- scription of depressive illness from a variety of perspectives that include that of the patient, the clinician, and the psychiatric researcher. It de- scribes the major subtypes of depressive illness and places them in the context of the life cycle. The second volume in this series is entitled Models of Depres- sive Disorders: Psychological, Biological, and Genetic Perspectives. This volume describes several major models of depressive disorders, in- cluding genetic, cognitive, interpersonal, intrapsychic, and neurobio- logical models. The third and fourth volumes deal with the biology of affective disorders in detail. These volumes are distinguished by a triaxial ap- proach. In Volume III the biology of affective disorders is described from the perspective of individual transmitter systems and neurophysio- logic and biologic processes. In Volume IV the biology of depression is addressed from the vantage point of symptom components of de- pression, and similarities and differences in the biology of depression are described compared to other psychiatric disorders with clini- cally overlapping features such as anxiety disorders or eating disor- ders. The effects on biology of comorbid conditions such as anxiety, personality disorders, alcoholism, and eating disorders are reviewed.

This volume is the third in a series on depressive illness. The first volume, entitled Phenomenology of Depressive Illness, is devoted to a de scription of depressive illness from a variety of perspectives that include those of the patient, the clinician, and the psychiatric researcher. It de scribes the major subtypes of depressive illness and places them in the context of the life cycle. The second volume in this series is entitled Models of Depres sive Disorders: Psychological, Biological, and Genetic Perspectives. This volume describes several major models of depressive disorders, in cluding genetic, cognitive, interpersonal, intrapsychic, and neurobio logical models. The third and fourth volumes deal with the biology of affective disorders in detail. These volumes are distinguished by a triaxial ap proach. In Volume III the biology of affective disorders is described from the perspective of individual transmitter systems and neurophysi ologic and biologic processes. In Volume IV the biology of depression is addressed from the vantage point of symptom components of de pression, and similarities and differences in the biology of depression are described compared to other psychiatric disorders with clinically overlapping features such as anxiety disorders or eating disorders. The effects on biology of comorbid conditions such as anxiety, personal ity disorders, alcoholism, and eating disorders are reviewed. These ap proaches incorporate issues of state versus trait."

There is a need to refine our current psychiatric nosology to produce diagnostic criteria and disorder categories that keep pace with advances in neuroscience while at the same time enhance clinical utility. Furthermore, dimensional aspects of psychiatric disorders require greater recognition so as to improve our understanding of boundaries between disorders and underscore the heterogeneous nature of psychopathology. The Conceptual Evolution of DSM-5 provides a framework for the evolution of the forthcoming diagnostic system in the fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which will help advance clinical practice and facilitate ongoing development of diagnostic criteria. This manual: • Highlights recent progress in our understanding of cross-cutting factors relevant to psychiatric diagnosis and symptom presentation • Includes detailed discussions on the role of factors such as age, gender, culture, and disability in the expression of mental disorders • Provides a review of genetic evidence supporting a cross-cutting approach to nosology • Offers suggestions for integrating cross-cutting factors with DSM-5. The Conceptual Evolution of DSM-5 was written to impart a theoretical context for understanding potential revisions to DSM-5. The authors reevaluate the structure of the current manual and discuss cross-cutting approaches to facilitate clinical practice and refine research approaches that will guide clinical trials, genetics, imaging, and treatment guidelines. The authors provide the following insights: • Detailed descriptions of age-, gender-, and culture-specific aspects relevant to psychiatric diagnosis and the need for sensitivity to these factors when making diagnoses • Discussions on the dimensional aspects of mental disorders, including overlapping symptoms relevant to many or most diagnoses • Consideration of alternative classifications of disorders that recognize disorders sharing validating features • Presentation of neuroscientific and epidemiologic evidence to expand understanding of disorders beyond that of the categorical organization presented in DSM-IV • A review of clinical implications, including how clinicians may shift their conceptualization of previously reified diagnostic criteria and their consequences. As presented to the 99th Annual Meeting of the American Psychopathological Association, The Conceptual Evolution of DSM-5 explores the rapidly changing research base for the understanding of neurodevelopmental, neurocognitive, addictive, and other psychiatric disorders. The contributions in this volume confirm that DSM-5 is intended to be a living document that can accommodate revisions to specific diagnostic areas based on new evidence that is replicable and subject to review. This efficient updating process will help researchers and clinicians keep abreast of the latest protocols for the research, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness.

This volume is the fourth in a series on depressive illness. The first volume, entitled Phenomenology of Depressive Illness, is devoted to a de- scription of depressive illness from a variety of perspectives that include that of the patient, the clinician, and the psychiatric researcher. It de- scribes the major subtypes of depressive illness and places them in the context of the life cycle. The second volume in this series is entitled Models of Depres- sive Disorders: Psychological, Biological, and Genetic Perspectives. This volume describes several major models of depressive disorders, in- cluding genetic, cognitive, interpersonal, intrapsychic, and neurobio- logical models. The third and fourth volumes deal with the biology of affective disorders in detail. These volumes are distinguished by a triaxial ap- proach. In Volume III the biology of affective disorders is described from the perspective of individual transmitter systems and neurophysio- logic and biologic processes. In Volume IV the biology of depression is addressed from the vantage point of symptom components of de- pression, and similarities and differences in the biology of depression are described compared to other psychiatric disorders with clini- cally overlapping features such as anxiety disorders or eating disor- ders. The effects on biology of comorbid conditions such as anxiety, personality disorders, alcoholism, and eating disorders are reviewed.

In the ongoing quest to improve our psychiatric diagnostic system, we are now searching for new approaches to understanding the etiological and pathophysiological mechanisms that can improve the validity of our diagnoses and the consequent power of our preventive and treatment interventions -- venturing beyond the current DSM paradigm and DSM-IV framework.

This thought-provoking volume -- produced as a partnership between the American Psychiatric Association, the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse -- represents a far-reaching attempt to stimulate research and discussion in the field in preparation for the eventual start of the DSM-V process, still several years hence. The book - Explores a variety of basic nomenclature issues, including the desirability of rating the quality and quantity of information available to support the different disorders in the DSM in order to indicate the disparity of empirical support across the diagnostic system.

- Offers a neuroscience research agenda to guide development of a pathophysiologically based classification for DSM-V, which reviews genetic, brain imaging, postmortem, and animal model research and includes strategic insights for a new research agenda.

- Presents highlights of recent progress in developmental neuroscience, genetics, psychology, psychopathology, and epidemiology, using a bioecological perspective to focus on the first two decades of life, when rapid changes in behavior, emotion and cognition occur.

- Discusses how to address two important gaps in the current DSM-IV: (1) the categorical method of diagnosing personality disorders and their relationship with Axis I disorders, and (2) the limited provision for the diagnosis of relational disorders -- suggesting a research agenda for personality disorders that considers replacing the current categorical approach with a dimensional classification of personality.

- Reevaluates the relationship between mental disorders and disability, asserting that research into disability and impairment would benefit from the diagnosis of mental disorders be uncoupled from a requirement for impairment or disability to foster a more vigorous research agenda on the etiologies, courses, and treatment of mental disorders as well as disabilities and to avert unintended consequences of delayed diagnosis and treatment.

- Examines the importance of culture in psychopathology and the main cultural variables at play in the diagnostic process, stating that training present and future professionals in the need to include cultural factors in the diagnostic process is a logical step in any attempt to develop comprehensive research programs in psychology, psychiatry, and related disciplines.

This fascinating work, with contributions from an international group of research investigators, reaches into the core of psychiatry, providing invaluable background and insights for all psychology and psychiatry professionals -- food for thought and further research that will be relevant for years to come.

The public is bombarded daily with reports about risk factors, many conflicting with each other, others accepted as "scientific truth" for awhile, then scientifically disproved, yet others questionable that later prove to be true. Physicians are faced with trying to make sense of those conflicting or questionable results in the scientific literature in order to guide their patients to the best possible decisions. The situation is not much easier for scientists who may waste years of their productive life, and considerable resources, basing their research efforts on what prove to be misleading earlier research findings. What this book does is to present, in non "academese" and with many examples from the general media and scientific journals, a guide to a critical reading of research reports, which, in turn, serves as a guide to researchers as to which approaches are likely to be regarded with raised eyebrows, and what they need to do to generate results that will be taken seriously. This stimulating and helpful book was written for informed consumers and physicians as well as for scientists evaluating the risk research literature or contemplating projects on risk research.

This volume is the third in a series on depressive illness. The first volume, entitled Phenomenology of Depressive Illness, is devoted to a de scription of depressive illness from a variety of perspectives that include those of the patient, the clinician, and the psychiatric researcher. It de scribes the major subtypes of depressive illness and places them in the context of the life cycle. The second volume in this series is entitled Models of Depres sive Disorders: Psychological, Biological, and Genetic Perspectives. This volume describes several major models of depressive disorders, in cluding genetic, cognitive, interpersonal, intrapsychic, and neurobio logical models. The third and fourth volumes deal with the biology of affective disorders in detail. These volumes are distinguished by a triaxial ap proach. In Volume III the biology of affective disorders is described from the perspective of individual transmitter systems and neurophysi ologic and biologic processes. In Volume IV the biology of depression is addressed from the vantage point of symptom components of de pression, and similarities and differences in the biology of depression are described compared to other psychiatric disorders with clinically overlapping features such as anxiety disorders or eating disorders. The effects on biology of comorbid conditions such as anxiety, personal ity disorders, alcoholism, and eating disorders are reviewed. These ap proaches incorporate issues of state versus trait.

Family-focused psychoeducational treatment (FFT) is among a very small number of psychosocial treatments that have been found to be effective in multiple studies to improve the course of bipolar disorder. This indispensable guide-now in a revised and updated second edition-describes how to implement FFT to help patients and family members understand bipolar disorder, communicate more effectively, solve practical problems related to the illness, and reduce the risk and severity of relapse. Revised throughout to incorporate the latest knowledge on the illness and its biological and psychosocial treatment, the second edition covers the treatment of adolescents as well as adults. It includes more than a dozen reproducible handouts.