Handbook of Prescriptive Treatments for Adults / Edition 1

by Robert T. Ammerman, Michel Hersen

Overview

This book could not have been conceptualized or published 20 years ago. Indeed, it is doubtful that we could have organized the material for this handbook 10 years ago. Over the last 20 years, however, the painstaking efforts of many clinical researchers working with a variety of resistive psychopathologies have resulted in specific psychotherapies and pharmacotherapies that are effective with a significant propor­ tion of patients, at least for some of the disorders. Much clinical research remains to be carried out in the forthcoming decades. But now that we are nearing the 21st century, at least some statement about efficacy can be made. In 1967, Gordon Paul succinctly stated that the ultimate goal of treatment outcome research is to determine "What treatment, by whom, is most effective for this individual with that specific problem, and under which set of circumstances" (p. 111). At that time, empirical evaluations of psychosocial and pharmacologic treatments were few and far between. Methodological strategies for determining treatment effectiveness were also in the formative stage, as exemplified by introduction of control groups that received inactive interventions (i. e. , placebo) and the relatively recent practice of comparing two or more treatments in addition to placebo. In the almost three decades since Paul's oft-quoted dictum, both the quantity and the quality of treatment outcome research with adults have increased dramati­ cally.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780306446825
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	06/30/1994
Series:	Viruses
Edition description:	1994
Pages:	512
Product dimensions:	7.01(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.05(d)

About the Author

Hersen, Michel (Nova Southeastern Univ); Ammerman, Robert T. (Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children)

The contributors represent the specialties of psychiatry, psychology, and behavioral science. Most come from various medical centers in the U.S.; three are from Australia, two are from Canada, and one is from England. Institutions prominently represented include the Univ School of Medicine-Boston, Univ of Pittsburgh, Temple, LSU (Baton Rouge), Univ of Iowa, Univ of Houston, Pennsylvania State, UCLA, and Univ of Minnesota.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Overview of the Issues in Prescriptive Treatments (R. Acierno et al.). Specific Disorders: Dementia (B.H. Mulsant, J.M. Rosen). Psychoactive Substance Use Disorders (K.S. Walitzer, G.J. Connors). Schizophrenia (S.A. Anderson et al.). Unipolar Depression (L.P. Rehm et al.). Bipolar Disorder (R. Philibert, G. Winokur). Panic Disorder (M.G. Craske, S.V. Waikar). Social Phobia (R.P. Mattick, G. Andrews). Simple Phobia (F.D. McGlynn). ObsessiveCompulsive Disorder (C. Duggan). Trichotillomania (G.A.H. Cristenson, T.B. Mackenzie). PostTraumatic Stress Disorder (T.M. Keane et al.). Generalized Anxiety Disorder (T.D. Borkovec, L. Roemer). Special Issues: Psychophysiological Disorders (D.A. Williamson, S.B. Sebastian). Pain Management (R.D. Kerns). The Violent Patient (G.T. Harris, M.E. Rice). Woman Battering (D.R. Follingstad, H. Breiter). 6 additional articles. Index.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Marilyn Johnson, PhD (Rush Medical College of Rush University)
Description: The book addresses the treatment of more than 20 psychological disorders. Etiology, epidemiology, assessment methods, and recommendations for treatment and case examples are provided for each disorder.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide strategies for selecting the optimal therapy for most of the disorders seen by psychotherapists; potential difficulties and alternative therapies are also presented.
Audience: The book is directed at practitioners, whether psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, or nurses. It will be of greatest help to behavioral therapists and pharmacotherapists because most of the recommended treatments fall in their areas.
Features: The book has only a few tables. The references are current and useful. An author index would have been welcome.
Assessment: This book will be useful to most practitioners. It provides a starting place for the practitioner unfamiliar with certain disorders. Its emphasis on behavior and drug therapy will make it helpful primarily to practitioners of these therapy approaches. A chapter on eating disorders could have replaced the few chapters that covered less commonly seen disorders. This is a good book for all psychotherapists.

Doody's Review Service

3 Stars from Doody

The book addresses the treatment of more than 20 psychological disorders. Etiology, epidemiology, assessment methods, and recommendations for treatment and case examples are provided for each disorder. The purpose is to provide strategies for selecting the optimal therapy for most of the disorders seen by psychotherapists; potential difficulties and alternative therapies are also presented. The book is directed at practitioners, whether psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, or nurses. It will be of greatest help to behavioral therapists and pharmacotherapists because most of the recommended treatments fall in their areas. The book has only a few tables. The references are current and useful. An author index would have been welcome. This book will be useful to most practitioners. It provides a starting place for the practitioner unfamiliar with certain disorders. Its emphasis on behavior and drug therapy will make it helpful primarily to practitioners of these therapy approaches. A chapter on eating disorders could have replaced the few chapters that covered less commonly seen disorders. This is a good book for all psychotherapists.

Marilyn Johnson

Based on the premise that although there are ample data documenting the efficacy of behavior therapy, pharmacotherapy, and alternative therapies for resistive psychopathological disorders in adults, there is a need for comprehensive empirical documentation of how therapists (psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, nurse practitioners) should decide which treatment strategy (or strategies) to choose first and what to do when the first-line option doesn't work out. In addition to documenting the status of the empirical literature for an adult disorder, each chapter presents a comprehensive clinical case that takes the reader into a real or hypothetical clinical situation that highlights differential diagnosis and assessment, treatment selection, treatment course, outcome and termination, and follow-up and maintenance. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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