Descriptive Psychopathology: The Signs and Symptoms of Behavioral Disorders

In order to accurately describe and diagnose psychiatric illness, practitioners require in-depth knowledge of the signs and symptoms of behavioral disorders. Descriptive Psychopathology provides a broad review of the psychopathology of psychiatric illness, beyond the limitations of the DSM and ICD criteria. Beginning with a discussion of the background to psychiatric classification, the authors explore the problems and limitations of current diagnostic systems. The following chapters then present the principles of psychiatric examination and diagnosis, described with accompanying patient vignettes and summary tables, and related to different diagnostic concerns. A thought-provoking conclusion proposes a restructuring of psychiatric classification based on the psychopathology literature and its validating data. Written for psychiatry and neurology residents, clinical psychologists, behavioral neurologists, clinical psychology students and psychiatric nurse practitioners, it is invaluable to anyone who accepts the responsibility for the care of patients with behavioral syndromes.

Table of Contents:
Preface; Acknowledgments; Part I. Present, Past, and Future: 1. Beyond the DSM and ICD - a rationale for understanding and using descriptive psychopathology; 2. A history of psychiatric classification; 3. The brain and psychopathology; Part II. The Neuropsychiatic Evaluation: 4. The neuropsychiatic evaluation - principles of descriptive psychopathology and the diagnostic process; 5. The neuropsychiatic evaluation - examination style, structure, and technique; Part III. Examination Domains: 6. Psychopathology of everyday behavior and general appearance; 7. Disturbances of motor function; 8. Disturbances in emotional experience; 9. Disturbances in speech and language; 10. Perceptual disturbances; 11. Delusions and abnormal thought content; 12. Obsessive-compulsive behaviors; 13. Cognitive testing and the psychopathology of cognitive dysfunction; 14. Personality; 15. Abnormal trait behaviors: personality disorder; Part IV. Evidence-based Classification: 16. Evidence-based classification; References; Index.

About the Author :
Michael Alan Taylor is Adjunct Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA. Nutan Atre Vaidya is Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Illinois, USA.

Review :
'As a psychiatric resident, I feel fortunate to have read this book early in my career to help shape the way I learn psychiatry and to care for patients with brain disease. The book is very complete in its description of various psychiatric disorders and should be recommended to psychiatric and neurology residents in training.' Aaron Plattner, Rush University Medical Centre