Review of The psychopath: Theory, research and practice.

Reviews the book, The psychopath: Theory, research and practice edited by Hugues Hervé and John C. Yuille (see record 2006-11788-000). This book begins with an historical overview of the construct of psychopathy and then works its way through a variety of important issues, including measurement, etiology, behavioural manifestations of the disorder, typologies, and practice considerations. A few notable exceptions notwithstanding, this text is a fine primer on psychopathy: It includes a number of outstanding chapters and other important issues in the area of psychopathy receive solid treatment. Although there is occasionally some drop-off in quality, I suspect that even the less outstanding chapters in this book would prove informative for students, lay consumer groups, and clinicians who do not routinely work with psychopaths. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of The behavioral management of anxiety, depression and pain.

Reviews the book, The Behavioral Management of Anxiety, Depression and Pain edited by Park O. Davidson (1976). Every year since 1969 the Banff Conference has assembled outstanding behavioral scientists who discuss and present their data about a topic of major current importance. In addition, the major presenters prepare a chapter for an annual publication hi which relevant literature is reviewed, concepts are developed and each contributor reports on his own current applied programme. The present book, which grew out of the 1975 conference, is about the behavioral assessment and treatment of anxiety, depression, and pain. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Cognitive therapy of anxiety disorders: Science and practice.

Reviews the book, Cognitive therapy of anxiety disorders: Science and practice edited by David A. Clark and Aaron T. Beck (2009). Drs. Clark and Beck’s book Cognitive therapy of anxiety disorders: Science and practise is a comprehensive review of cognitive therapy for anxiety from its empirical theoretical foundation to its clinical application to disorders. Although the focus of the text is ultimately on the cognitive treatment of anxiety, the rich theoretical background that is interwoven throughout makes this book of interest to academics and graduate students as well as clinicians. The book is divided into three parts, each with several chapters: 1) cognitive theory and research on anxiety; 2) assessment and intervention techniques used in cognitive therapy for anxiety; and 3) the application of cognitive therapy to specific anxiety disorders (e.g., panic disorder, obsessive– compulsive disorder [OCD]). Overall, this book is an excellent resource for researchers and clinicians working in the field of anxiety disorders. The reference section alone makes it a valuable addition to one’s bookshelf, and the authors have done an excellent job of organising a vast, and at time disparate, body of research into a cohesive review of cognitive theory as it applies to anxiety. Although the treatment chapters may be a bit overly ambitious in attempting to review both the research and the application of the cognitive model to the treatment of specific disorders, the book in its entirety is clearly an essential text for those interested in obtaining a comprehensive understanding of cognitive therapy and anxiety. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Generalized anxiety disorder: From science to practice.

Reviews the book, Generalized anxiety disorder: From science to practice by Michel J. Dugas and Melisa Robichaud (2006). The reviewers commend the authors for providing a comprehensive overview of GAD. Chapters include information on diagnosis, assessment techniques and treatment modules. Dugas and Robichaud refer to their treatment as primarily cognitive and emphasize the difference between their approach and other cognitive and cognitive-behavioural treatments for GAD. The treatment presented does not employ relaxation training or other strategies to reduce physical tension and overarousal. Rather, this treatment makes use of specific cognitive interventions with the understanding that physical and affective symptoms will decrease with corresponding reductions in excessive worry. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of The shyness and social anxiety workbook.

Reviews the book, The shyness and social anxiety workbook by Martin M. Antony and Richard P. Swinson (see record 2001-16563-000). Books that provide information and guidance for people with social anxiety are a much-needed resource. Unfortunately, relatively few self-help books completely meet the needs of these individuals--some books are overly academic, others overwhelm readers with details. Therefore, it was a pleasure to read this workbook by Drs. Antony and Swinson. Designed to address the concerns of people whose lives are impaired by social anxiety, the volume provides a clear, comprehensive, and sophisticated self-help guide. The volume is divided into two sections. Part 1 consists of three chapters that present information to increase readers' understanding of social anxiety. Part II focuses on strategies to overcome social anxiety. In general, the book is written at a level that will be readily understood by members of the general public but without the patronizing simplification that can characterize self-help volumes. The book manages to capture the complexity of social anxiety as a clinical condition without overwhelming the anxious reader with excessive detail. Although this book is directed primarily at people for whom social anxiety is a significant life concern, it will also be of interest to clinicians working with individuals with social phobia, avoidant personality disorder, and other conditions marked by interpersonal discomfort. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of The handbook of humanistic psychology: Leading edges in theory, research, and practice.

Reviews the book, The handbook of humanistic psychology: Leading edges in theory, research, and practice by Kirk J. Schneider, James F. T. Bugental, and J. Fraser Pierson (see record 2001-01409-000). Over 30 years ago Abraham Maslow (1971) envisioned a 3rd force psychology that would bring about “a change of basic thinking along the total front of man’s endeavors, a potential change in every social institution, in every one of the ‘fields’ of intellectual endeavor, and in every one of the professions.” Schneider, Bugental, and Pierson must have been guided by a similar vision as they edited the Handbook of humanistic psychology: Leading edges in theory, research, and practice. The breadth of the handbook is impressive with chapters addressing everything from psychotherapy, pedagogy, medicine, and spirituality to ecology, literature, social action and the workplace. The editors have successfully recruited authors from a variety of disciplines—including psychology, psychiatry, philosophy, education, and politics—who are well respected both inside and outside humanistic circles and who are exceptionally qualified to address their topics. Fortunately, despite this far-reaching breadth, the editors have not spread the handbook too thin. In fact, in areas where it seems especially needed (e.g., methodology) there is a much welcome depth and detail that is far from typical of other handbooks. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Social intervention: Theory and practice.

Reviews the book, Social intervention: Theory and practice, edited by Edward M. Bennett (see record 1987-98585-000). Scholarly literature in the field of social change is extensive, but knowledge of the nature of that change and the process of how it is implemented and carried out is limited. According to Bennett, this lacuna is due to the fact that writings in the field have dealt with interventions within a system and not with change of the system itself. The scarcity of meaningful study of social intervention, Bennett believes, is due to the unwillingness of social scientists to 1) function together in teams to address what is in essence a problem, 2) to pair-up with practitioners working on social intervention projects in joint ventures, and 3) to address the limitations of the logical positivist traditions of their university bases. To overcome these obstacles, Bennett has called upon both academics and practitioners from various disciplines to present both theory and interventions dealing with social problems. The book contains 14 chapters divided into four parts: I, Introduction; II, Cultural, Ideological and Educational Approaches to Social Intervention; III, Legal, Policy and Political Approaches to Social Intervention; and IV, Community Economic Development Approaches to Social Intervention. This book represents a Herculean task. Any text which would include the diversity of professions and disciplines in an effort to integrate theory and practice relating to social intervention is a challenge few would undertake. In doing so, Bennett has produced a volume which does indeed represent a serious attempt to come to grips with how to change a system instead of just the parts of that system. He has achieved this by insisting on a workable conceptual structure, theme and focus for all contributors regardless of the content areas covered by the authors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

School-based prevention of depression and anxiety symptoms in early adolescence: A pilot of a parent intervention component.

Previous studies suggest that school-based cognitive-behavioral interventions can reduce and prevent depressive symptoms in youth. This pilot study investigated the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral depression prevention program, the Penn Resiliency Program for Children and Adolescents (the PRP-CA), when combined with a parent intervention component. Forty-four middle school students and their parents were randomly assigned to the enhanced PRP (the PRP-CA plus parent program) or control conditions. Students completed measures of depression and anxiety symptoms at baseline and 2 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year after the intervention ended. The combined version of the PRP significantly reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety during the follow-up period. Children assigned to the intervention condition were less likely than controls to report clinical levels of anxiety symptoms. Findings suggest that school-based cognitive-behavioral interventions that include parents may prevent depression and anxiety symptoms in early adolescence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of The mindful way through depression: Freeing yourself from chronic unhappiness.

Reviews the book The mindful way through depression: Freeing yourself from chronic unhappiness by J. Mark G. Williams, John D. Teasdale, Zindel V. Segal and Jon Kabat-Zinn (see record 2007-10791-000). This book is written as a lay companion piece to the therapist manual Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: A New Approach to Preventing Relapse by Zindel Segal, Mark Williams, and John Teasdale (2002). Part 1 begins with a discussion of mind, body, and emotion. In chapter 1, the authors present their theory on the recurrence of depression, illustrating patterns of thought and behaviour that will be very familiar to readers with a history of depression. Part 2 of the book explores specific techniques to begin cultivating the mindful "being mode" and incorporating it into everyday life and formal practice. Traditional practices such as mindfulness of taste, breathing, and bodily sensations, are introduced with detailed instructions that parallel the instructions on the accompanying CD. Part 3 explores the more difficult areas of mindfulness of feelings and thoughts. Finally, the "3-min breathing space" is introduced as a technique to help bring the formal practice into the everyday realm. This involves three steps and can be used at any time; most helpful may be during a crisis situation or shortly thereafter. The book ends with a detailed week-by-week schedule of chapter readings, practices to engage in and CD tracks for daily guided meditations. Overall, the reader is left feeling hopeful and excited about the possibility of being truly free from chronic unhappiness and fully alive. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Work motivation: History, theory, research, and practice.

Reviews the book, Work motivation: History, theory, research, and practice by Gary Latham (see record 2006-11764-000). The reviewer commends Latham for writing an empirically comprehensive and "personal" book on work motivation. Included is a history of work motivation studies throughout the last 100 years, directions for future research, and the author's reflections on what he has learned about the field on his own professional and personal journey through life. The reviewer praises the author's style highly, and recommends this book to all. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of From research to clinical practice.

Reviews the book, From research to clinical practice, edited by George Stricker and Robert H. Keisner (1985). The intended audience for this edited volume "will probably be practicing psychotherapists...[with] a minimum knowledge of the research area but a ready familiarity with clinical concepts" (p. xv). In addition, the editors suggest to the chapter authors that a successful chapter should provide new meaning for the term "scientist professional" by providing a feedback loop between research and practice. The authors also state that the theoretical focus of this volume is psychodynamic. The book is divided into four areas each preceded by a brief overview. The following areas are covered: Basic issues, social psychology, developmental psychology, and special topics. Overall, I found the chapters to be informative and well written. I think some practitioners may find this book overly academic in tone and may question whether enough of the chapters are sufficiently relevant to busy, practicing clinicians. This is not a book on spotting golden research nuggets between the covers of the volume. Instead, this book requires careful mining of considerable content in order to find sparkling applications. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Parent-child interaction and development disabilities: Theory, research, and intervention.

Reviews the book, Parent-child interaction and development disabilities: Theory, research, and intervention by Kofi Marfo (see record 1988-98167-000). The growing interest in social support family-centered interventions for developmentally disabled children has found expression in this volume. The editor has outlined an ambitious set of objectives for the book, including "the integration of theoretical, research and clinical perspectives" on parent-child interactions with handicapped children. While certainly not the first attempt to apply a family focus to this population (e.g., Gallagher & Vietze, 1986), this book provides both a multidisciplinary approach to the field with an emphasis on data presentation. The book is divided into four major parts: (1) social-emotional aspects of parent-child interaction, (2) maternal response style and language development, (3) issues in intervention and evaluation, and (4) a review of parent-child observational systems. Each section is preceded by a brief introduction to the authors and topics to be covered. Although this method of organization enhances the cohesion of each section, certain topics are covered in much greater depth than others. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Universal-based prevention of syndromal and subsyndromal social anxiety: A randomized controlled study.

This article reports results from a universal preventive program aimed at (a) reducing social anxiety and (b) preventing the development of syndromal social anxiety among a population-based sample of older children and young adolescents during a 1-year period. Pupils (N = 1,748) from 2 counties were cluster randomized to either an intervention or a control condition. In the intervention condition, the Norwegian Universal Preventive Program for Social Anxiety (NUPP-SA)—which educates pupils, parents/guardians, teachers/school staff, and county health workers—was administered. The results indicate that NUPP-SA had a significant specific intervention effect for reducing social anxiety in the total sample as well as among the syndromal subjects. Further, significantly fewer subjects from the intervention county developed syndromal social anxiety during the 1-year period, thus showing a prevention effect. The results demonstrate the value of an intervention specifically aimed at reducing social anxiety and preventing the development of syndromal social anxiety among young people. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Handbook of depression in children and adolescents.

Reviews the book, Handbook of depression in children and adolescents by John R. Z. Abela and Benjamin L. Hankin (see record 2008-01178-000). The editors of this book embraced the ambitious objective of assembling a comprehensive review of the burgeoning literature on the etiology, prevention, and treatment of depression in children and adolescents. The book is divided into five parts. In an unusually brief introductory chapter, the editors emphasise the need for a critical analysis of the research on diverse theories of the etiology of depression in young people and coverage of interventions based on current theories. It is clear that this objective is met throughout the book. Abela and Hankin warn the reader that the reviews may generate more questions than answers. They hope the book will inspire the development of integrative and developmentally sensitive models. The book provides a comprehensive overview that clearly conveys the vibrancy of research in this area. The current format separates research on etiology from that on intervention. The authors of individual chapters do a good job of briefly highlighting the etiological factors on which the interventions are based. In a future edition, it would be very helpful for the editors to play a more explicit role in providing integrative syntheses to weave the themes together. In addition, to lay the foundation for the inclusion of positive psychotherapy and positive youth development programs, it would be useful to include a chapter addressing resilience and protective factors. In conclusion, this book will be appreciated by clinical scientists and scientist-practitioners alike. Abela and Hankin are to be congratulated for editing a book that convinces the reader that this is an exciting research area with great promise for further development of prevention and treatment of depression in children and adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Musical creativity: Multidisciplinary research in theory and practice.

Reviews the book, Musical creativity: Multidisciplinary research in theory and practice by Irène Deliège and Geraint A. Wiggins (2006). This book is an edited volume developed from the proceedings of a conference held at the University of Liège in Belgium in 2002, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the founding of the European Society for the Cognitive Sciences of Music. The book is ambitious in scope, and it is clearly organized around a varied series of perspectives on musical creativity. The purpose of this book is explicitly stated as "a source of ideas, research topics to start on, to follow up on, or to develop" (p. xv). In that sense, the book succeeds. Even those who are not particularly interested in music research might find some of its ideas and perspectives stimulating and take them as a challenge to develop them analogously in their own areas. On the whole, Musical Creativity is well worth a look, and its best chapters make it a useful and valuable reference. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Self-esteem: Research, theory, and practice.

Reviews the book, Self-esteem: Research, theory, and practice by Chris Mruk (1995). Historically, attempting to define self-esteem has been a lot like defining love, often tried and ever elusive. When one aspect was grasped, others remain out of reach. Dr. Mruk, in his book Self- Esteem: Research, Theory, and Practice acknowledges that self-esteem is both a popular and elusive construct. It is used as both cause and effect, as explanation and outcome, as a factor and as a goal to be attained. It is a construct currently invoked by educators and politicians, clinicians and sociologists, columnists and critics, the authors of popular self-help books and talk show hosts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Therapeutic communities for addictions: Readings in theory, research and practice.

Reviews the book, Therapeutic communities for addictions: Readings in theory, research and practice edited by George DeLeon and James T. Ziegenfuss Jr. (1986). DeLeon and Ziegenfuss present a collection of readings that are representative of the current thinking about therapeutic communities. Initially the concept of therapeutic communities was exclusively utilized in psychiatric settings. Since the 1960s the therapeutic community approach has been widened and predominantly applied in the treatment of drug abusers. The therapeutic community offers a systematic approach to achieve its main rehabilitative objective, which is the reorganization of the life-style, perception, and behavior of the addict. The overall conceptualization of the book is an excellent one. One aspect that it has failed to address is the impact on the staff, usually former addicts, of prolonged work within the TC. A chapter on burnout and how to combat it within the TC would have enriched the book. This book will appeal to the researcher, to the clinician, and to psychotherapists who may need to refer clients to a TC within their geographic area. It gives a clear understanding of historical roots, functioning, and contributions to treatment of addicts. It also explores the implications of extensive longtitudinal research findings on our dealing with the addicts in our society. Certainly a worthy book to add to our libraries on clinical understanding of such a critical problem. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Shaping the future of feminist psychology: Education, research, and practice.

Reviews the book, Shaping the future of feminist psychology: Education, research, and practice by Judith Worell and Norine G. Johnson (see record 1997-36316-000). This book is distinct in that it is neither a psychoanalytic nor psychoanalytically informed reader. The book is the collective outcome of the first National Conference on Education and Training in Feminist Practice, a working conference that convened in 1993, in Boston, and was attended by some of the nation's preeminent feminist psychologists. The 4 day conference was organized for purposes of developing a solid training and educational plan for prospective feminist practice. The focus was on the re-creation of a psychology that would be consistent with feminist principles and practices. The book evokes a sense of how exciting the conference must have been. It focuses on nine topics: theory, assessment, therapy, research, curriculum development, teaching, supervision, diversity, and postdoctoral training. In general, each chapter provides a summary review of the status of the topic, describes the process and content of the work group meetings, considers some models, and identifies future directions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Review of Pathological anxiety: Emotional processing in etiology and treatment.

Reviews the book, Pathological anxiety: Emotional processing in etiology and treatment edited by Barbara Olasov Rothbaum (see record 2005-16244-000). This book is a tribute to the work of Edna B. Foa whose model of emotional processing has had a profound impact on the understanding and treatment of individuals with pathological anxiety. The first section of the book provides a series of chapters on theoretical conceptualizations of various anxiety disorders stemming from emotional processing theory. The second section of the book overviews assessment and treatment strategies stemming from emotional processing theory, across a spectrum of specific anxiety disorders. This book also contains chapters on unique clinical applications of emotional processing theory. Through its foundational focus on defining and explicating the importance of principles as outlined in emotional processing theory, this book's significance to the future of psychological treatments of anxiety is clear. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)