The fourth edition of Essential Psychopathology and Its Treatment is a comprehensive revision of the authoritative textbook on modern psychiatric diagnosis and treatment, and includes of-the-moment material covering rapidly changing fields such as neurochemistry, psychopharmacology, and genetics. Major changes in the DSM-5's philosophy of nosology, which organizes diagnoses according to etiological factors rather than descriptive criteria, demand a substantial revision; this edition reflects those changes, notably doing away with previous DSMs' multiaxial approach to diagnosis. Mark D. Kilgus leads this revision, and with feedback from professors and students who used the previous edition has retooled its conceptual structure to ensure consistency of approach and style. To that end, he elegantly blends DSM-5 and 1CD-10 classifications to minimize confusion for the reader, at the same time reminding us of the larger context-familial, social, genetic, and otherwise-every patient bears. This book provides students with a strong, cohesive conceptual underpinning for psychiatric study, and will both challenge and encourage them to question what they read, pursue topics further, and perhaps chuckle every now and then. Most of all, though, it will prepare them to help their patients; this is a teaching text that assists with discovery, rather than a mere compendium of information on psychopathology. As new findings in neuroscience change the way we approach clinical practice on a constant basis, so has the organization of this edition adapted to more clearly present the range of psychopathologies.

Newly overhauled chapters home in on trauma- and stressor-related disorders, somatic symptoms, elimination disorders, and the schizophrenia spectrum. Other topics covered include introductions to assessment and diagnosis, systems-based practice, and legal, ethical, and multicultural issues, in addition to the wide variety of mental disorders reflected in the DSM-5. At a time when psychiatric diagnosis is the cornerstone of all clinical practice, and respect for rigorous scientific thought is spreading in a field accustomed to psychotherapeutic intuition, Essential Psychopathology and Its Treatment is more essential than ever. Book jacket.