Measuring Psychopathology - Softcover

Farmer, Anne

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0192630806 ISBN 13: 9780192630803

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2002

Synopsis

Measuring Psychopathology describes the methods by which the signs and symptoms of mental disorder are elicited.
Written for the non-clinical researcher as well as for those with clinical experience, the authors start by considering the question "what is psychopathology?" They tehn employ a historical perspective to explain why and how mental disorders are currently classified, and how the use of an operational approach to diagnosis was adopted. The use of operational crtieria to define psychiatric disorder has facilitated the development of standardised interviewing techniques, questionnaires and rating scales. These tools are all covered in some detail, not only with regard to adults with mental disorders, but also with reference to special and challenging groups such as children and the elderly, and those with a learning disability, substance misuse, or who have a personality disorder.
The strengths and weaknesses of current methodologies are explored and debated as well as the future diagnostic needs for research in the 21st century.
Essential reading for clinicians and non-clinical scientists engaged in research on psychiatric disorders, trainees and junior psychiatrists, and clinical psychologists.

About this title

About the Author:

Anne Farmer and Peter McGuffin are at the SGDP Research Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park. Julie Williams is in the Division of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine.

Review:

The information is brilliantly organized and gives the reader both the methods designed to improve diagnostics and the scales used in both clinical practice and in research. The author's objectives are worthy, and they successfully provide an excellent, concise tool for the measurement of psychopathology . . . Compared to other guides available in the mental health field, this book would be my first choice . . . I was pleased with this book and have gladly added it to my own personal library. * Doody's Journal * Measuring Psychopathology will enhance the practice of the up-to-date psychiatrist . . . highly recommended. * British Journal of Psychiatry * This is a very useful little book that should be in departmental libraries. In a brief and readable style it gives an overall contemporary account of interviewing schedules and ratings scales, and many of the problems of psychiatric classification and diagnosis . . . Any health care worker who wants to know something about the main tools of contemporary research into mental health problems should find the book useful. * Psychological Medicine, 33 *

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0192630806
• ISBN 13: 9780192630803
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 230