| Abstract: | Reviews the book, Development and Psychopathology: A Vulnerability-Stress Perspective by Benjamin L. Hankin and John R. Z. Abela (Eds.) (see record 2006-04904-000). In this volume, Hankin and Abela seek to advance perspectives on the development of various psychopathologies by calling attention to the joint contributions of individual susceptibilities--vulnerabilities--and adverse environmental circumstances--stressors. Vulnerability-stress models of psychopathology are rooted in such early work as Beck's diathesis-stress model of depression, and Sameroff's transactional model of development. The volume starts with one chapter on stress, followed by one chapter on vulnerability-stress models. The chapters in Part II describe genetic, neurophysiological, affective, cognitive, attachment, social cognitive (interpersonal), and personality vulnerabilities. In Part III, the volume concludes with six chapters on specific kinds of psychopathology: depression, anxiety, disruptive behaviour, substance use, eating disorders, and personality disorders. As well as briefly reviewing symptoms, prevalence rates, and ages of onset, all six chapters provide detailed and useful summaries of the many vulnerabilities linked with these problems areas. The disclaimer in the preface rings true. One finishes this book with the sense that it is a good start, but also the hope that it is the first part of a two-volume series. It begins to provide the necessary information for generating new models of the development of psychopathology based on vulnerability-stress interactions, but also leaves a number of questions unanswered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
