Cognitive Behavior Therapy of DSM-IV Personality Disorders : Highly Effective Interventions for the Most Common Personality Disorders

Although the treatment of patients with various disorders of personality have been discussed in clinical literature since the early days of psychotherapy, the general literature on the psychotherapeutic treatment of personality disorders has emerged more recently, and is growing quickly. It is also in recent times that cognitive behavioral therapists have offered a structured, active, and directive treatment approach, in addition to advocating the use of a wide range of cognitive and behavioral techniques for addressing personality disorders. Cognitive Behavior Therapy of DSM-IV Personality Disorders specifies a number of effective and realistic treatment strategies that focus on both the temperament and character dimensions of personality and degree of severity of the disorder.

The book is divided into two parts. In the first part of the book, the author introduces the reader to the paradigm shift that is presently taking place in behavioral health in the treatment of personality disorders. He also explains both the character and the temperament dimensions that are manifest in personality-disordered individuals. The second half of the book offers a clear description of an integrative and practical approach to the treatment of the six personality disorders most commonly seen in clinical practice. Extended case studies illustrate the process of treatment for each of these disorders and show how to use these various intervention strategies. Overall, this book highlights both cognitive and behavioral interventions, catalogues the maladaptive schema observed in specific personality disorders, and outlines fifteen common structured treatment interventions. In addition, although the author emphasizes the usefulness and effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral interventions in individual treatment, he also presents other modalities and intervention strategies. These include: medications, group therapy and interventions, family interventions, and couples therapy.

The book's focus on achieving positive treatment outcomes offers hope to both the clinician and the patient. By providing a workable, realistic treatment protocol for these six disorders, Cognitive Behavior Therapy of DSM-IV Personality Disorders proves to be a valuable addition to the library of the practicing clinician and clinician-in-training.

""This is a well-written and informative book which casts a little different light on the treatment of the personality disorders. It can be profitably read by any clinician interested in learning more, not only about the treatment of true personality disorders, but also clinically significant features of those disorders." --E. Thomas Dowd, Kent State Univ., OH for "Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy."