"[A] significant contribution to the national debate about violent criminal behavior."—Senator Joe Lieberman

Neurologist Dr. Jonathan Pincus personally examined and probed into the family and medical history of numerous serial killers and other violent criminals to analyze what creates and triggers the violent instinct. He discovered that virtually all suffered severe abuse as children, as well as brain damage and mental illness. In these gripping, terrifying stories, Pincus concludes that violent criminal behavior is the catastrophic product of a dysfunctional brain coupled with an abusive environment. Focusing on these critical factors, how can we prevent the development of potentially violent persons from a young age before the damage becomes irrevocable? And how do we evaluate chances of rehabilitation?

"[A] rigorous, troubling, and profoundly humane book."—Leon Wieseltier, The New Republic

"An urgent wake-up call for the nation...a must-read for every professional engaged in the administration of criminal justice."—Samuel Dash, Georgetown University Law Center

This is a thorough revision of one of the landmark books in the field of neuropsychiatry. The authors, one a distinguished neurologist and the other an eminent psychiatrist, provide a clear, well-integrated account of the behavioral aspects of neurological conditions and the neurological aspects of psychiatric disorders. Earlier editions presented the view, then provocative, that disordered brain function underlies psychiatric illnesses. A more balanced view characterizes the Fourth Edition, in which the authors discuss the most recent data from the neurosciences and molecular biology, including changes in the brain induced by the environment and by emotions. There is also a valuable new clinical chapter on differentiating the etiologies of disturbed behavior.
Avoiding the deluge of information in multi-authored volumes, this very readable text provides a consistent approach to the understanding and diagnosis of disturbances of behavior. While the book is directed toward medical students, residents, psychiatrists, neurologists, psychologists, and psychology students (particularly those taking abnormal psychology courses), it has also been used by a wide variety of health professionals and attorneys.

This is a thorough revision of one of the landmark books in the field of neuropsychiatry. The authors, one a distinguished neurologist and the other an eminent psychiatrist, provide a clear, well-integrated account of the behavioral aspects of neurological conditions and the neurological aspects of psychiatric disorders. Earlier editions presented the view, the provocative, that disordered brain function underlies psychiatric illnesses. A more balanced view characterises the fourth edition, in whch the authors discuss the most recent data from the neurosciences and molecular biology, including changes in the brain induced by the environment and by emotions. There is also a valuable new clinical chapter on differentiating the etiologies of disturbed behaviour. Avoiding the deluge of information in multi-authored volumes, this very readable text provides a consistent approach to the understanding and diagnosis of disturbances of behaviour. While the book is directed toward medical students, residents, psychiatrists, neurologists, psychologists and psychology students (particularly those taking abnormal psychology courses), it has also been used by a wide variety of health professionals and attorneys.