Treatment Companion to the DSM-IV-TR Casebook » (1st Edition)

Robert L. Spitzer, M.D., is Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University and Chief of the Biometrics Research Department at the New York State Psychiatric Institute.

Michael B. First, M.D., is a Research Psychiatrist at the Biometrics Department at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and maintains a schema-focused cognitive therapy and psychopharmacology practice in Manhattan.

Miriam Gibbon, M.S.W., is a research scientist in the Biometrics Department of the New York State Psychiatric Institute and is on the faculty of the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Department of Psychiatry.

Janet B. W. Williams, D.S.W., is Professor of Clinical Psychiatric Social Work in the Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and Deputy Chief of the Biometrics Research Department at the New York State Psychiatric Institute.

It is easy to understand the enduring popularity of the DSM Casebooks. They bring DSM diagnostic criteria to life using real-world cases, they familiarize practitioners with different types of patients they would otherwise not encounter in their work or studies, and they help teach the principles of differential diagnosis. Beginning with the DSM-III Casebook in 1981, they have consistently proven second in popularity only to the DSM itself.

Yet the DSM Casebooks focus almost exclusively on diagnosis—and not on treatment issues.

This practical companion volume to the DSM-IV-TR Casebook takes us a step further. Here, for the first time, case studies include not only diagnosis, but also in-depth discussions by world-renowned experts of state-of-the-art approaches to treatment.

Taken from the best-selling DSM-IV-TR Casebook, these 34 fascinating case studies cover a wide variety of psychiatric disorders: alcohol dependence, Alzheimer's disease, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, pedophilia, schizophrenia, somatization disorder, and many others.

This volume

• Includes a discussion of both the psychiatric diagnosis and treatment approaches with each case description.
• Brings together a world-class group of experts who provide their personal perspectives on how they would manage treatment for the specific patient and the general principles of treating that disorder.
• Highlights the fact that there are multiple approaches to treating the same disorder by including experts with widely differing treatment orientations to provide contrasting perspectives in several of the cases.

Designed for easy reading, this volume presents cases alphabetically by diagnosis, each followed by detailed references, and concludes with four indexes that list cases by name, discussant, diagnosis, and subject.

This meticulously detailed volume of dynamic real-life case studies is simply a “must read” for all mental health care professionals interested in expert opinion on today's treatment approaches. Psychiatric students, educators, and practitioners—as well as social workers, nurses, medical physicians, and interested laypersons—will find this unique volume of inestimable value in their day-to-day work.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Steven T. Herron, MD(University of Arizona Health Sciences Center)
Description:This relatively short and fairly inclusive casebook was developed to clarify and educate readers regarding the diagnosis and treatment of 34 different mental disorders found in the frequently and easily misunderstood DSM-IV-TR.
Purpose:Previous casebooks attempted to clarify various psychiatric diagnoses while excluding vital information regarding the treatment and particular challenges involved in caring for these types of patients. This edition rectifies the situation and includes basic guides, in general terms, for treating these populations.
Audience:Primarily geared for those using the DSM-IV-TR {those in the mental health-field), this supplement may also prove useful for individuals interested in learning more practical aspects of the complex illnesses portrayed in these pages.
Features:Some of the most common and/or misunderstood psychiatric illnesses are described in detail using case histories derived from actual patients. After each case presentation, authors provide further specifics about their diagnostic choices, differential diagnoses, and treatment suggestions. These are followed by a list of references to be used by the reader to obtain more detailed information about the specific diagnosis in question.
Assessment:The addition of treatment options for each case has made the book tremendously more valuable as an educational tool. As this was often the compliant with prior editions, the editors have progressed significantly and offer an interesting blend of clinical and educational information. However, if used improperly, this book could unfairly stereotype patients with certain diagnoses, such as borderline personality disorder. One must be sure to use this supplement in conjunction with other educational material to prevent oversimplification of these disorders. Nonetheless, this edition is far superior to its predecessors, and worthy of exploration by both novice and seasoned clinicians.