Functional Analysis in Clinical Treatment (Practical Resources for the Mental Health Professional) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0123725445 ISBN 13: 9780123725448

Publisher: Academic Press, 2007

Synopsis

With the ongoing pressures for psychologists to practice evidence-based care, and the requirement insurance carriers have both for treatment goals, measurement of outcomes, and a focus on brief therapy, functional analysis provides a framework for achieving all of the above. Having proven itself in treating behavioral problems in education, functional analysis is now being applied more broadly to behavioral and psychologial disorders.

In his 1996 book (Functional Analysis in Clinical Psychology, Wiley UK), Sturmey applied the functional behavioral approach to case formulation across a wide range of psychological disorders and behaviors. Since the publication of his book, no other volume has taken an explicit behavioral approach to case formulation. The changes that have occurred over the last 10 years in behavioral case formulation have been significant and substantial. They include (a) a large expansion of the range of problems addressed, such as ADHD, (b) a range of new verbal behavior therapies such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapies, (c) increased area of activity in the area of autism spectrum disorders; (d) many publications in how to train professionals, staff and parents in behavioral technology, and (e) new assessment instruments and procedures.

• Makes theories of functional analysis accessible to a wide range of mental health professionals
• Reviews behavioral assessment methods and strategies for case formulation
• Offers readers a practical, organized, data-based means of understanding psychiatric conditions for intervening effectively and measuring positive change

About this title

About the Author

I have worked with children and adults with developmental disabilities for over 30 years as a volunteer; camp counselor; researcher; clinical psychologist in the British National Health Service; Chief Psychologist in developmental centers in Texas; consultant for many community services; and consultant to the states of Louisiana and Wyoming. I have been involved in professional training in Britain, Louisiana State University and now Queens College. It has always struck me that children and adults with developmental disabilities would have a better life, be happier, more autonomous and valued by other people if their staff and family members got a little help to do few simple things –interact positively and often, use contingent reinforcement accurately, teach a few simple skills and be more sensitive to preferences. I also believe that if these happened consistently, staff and family members would feel more competent.

From the Back Cover

Functional Analysis in Clinical Treatment summarizes the use and success of functional analytic approaches in the treatment of psychopathology. Functional analytic approaches focus on moderating the environmental variables that can have a large impact on the clinical problem. Behavior analytic concepts have been popular since the 1950s and now are regularly integrated into behavior therapy both for case formulation and treatment of a wide range of clinical problems.

Functional Analysis in Clinical Treatment begins with a review of the common learning processes involved in behavior change, and its relevance to case formulation and intervention with a wide range of populations. Subsequent chapters review use of functional analysis for treatment of the major DSM-IV categories. Each chapter reviews current diagnostic criteria, describes a functional analytic model of that disorder, and functional analytic assessment and intervention. Each chapter additionally includes a case study to help illustrate functional assessment, development of a treatment plan, and evaluation of outcome.

Written by practitioners with extensive clinical experience and established track records of empirical research, this book will be useful to clinicians treating a wide variety of disorders. Chapters discuss use of functional analysis in treating developmental disabilities and pediatric disorders, ADHD, substance abuse, schizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety, sexual disorders, eating disorders, personality disorders, and impulse control disorders.

Edition details

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0123725445
• ISBN 13: 9780123725448
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 512
• Editor: Sturmey Peter