Clinical Assessment and Management of Severe Personality Disorders

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.