Overview

This important volume brings together leading child psychiatry researchers to critically review the current diagnostic system and work toward new, more clinically useful ways of understanding childhood problems. The authors examine how existing diagnostic categories as embodied in the DSM-IV do not adequately account for the interplay between maladaptive behavior on the one hand, and children's environmental contexts, relationships, and developmental needs on the other. Drawing on the latest findings from neurobiological and evolutionary research, the book offers fresh perspectives on the nature, causes, assessment, and treatment of a range of prevalent disorders. The concluding chapter offers specific, cogent suggestions for improving the forthcoming DSM-V.

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9781593852511

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Reviews

'It is increasingly apparent that psychiatric diagnosis needs a significant overhaul to serve us better as we reap the rewards of the 'decade of the brain.' In this book, distinguished child psychiatry clinicians and researchers weigh in on the lively debates that have resulted from tensions between the taxonomy and clinical realities, attempting to move forward the descriptive models we have used for over four decades. The reader will find a pointed and critical examination of current diagnostic practices in light of neuroscientific advances and the latest evolutionary thinking.' - Hans Steiner, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, USA 'This timely and provocative volume initiates the process of rethinking DSM's syndromal categories from an evolutionary perspective. The reviews are succinct and lucid. This book will be invaluable for introducing clinical and research students to the evolutionary approach to mental disorder in a clinician-friendly way. It should prove useful and stimulating not only to scholars and clinicians, but also to students in graduate seminars and advanced undergraduate survey courses in psychiatry, psychology, and social work.' - Jerome C. Wakefield, DSW, PhD, School of Social Work, New York University, USA

Provides the reader with a novel and well referenced way to look at the complexities associated with diagnosing and treating children with disturbed and disturbing behaviours. -- Journal of Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry <p> This well written and useful book enables a clinician to think beyond DSM IV in terms of diagnoses....Four stars. -- Doody's This is a thought-provoking volume that will be of interest to practitioners and researchers in the field of child and adolescent mental health. It should spark some interesting discussions in the field. The book could be used in an upper-level seminar for doctoral students or with interns and post docs. -- APA PsycCRITIQUES

If DSM-V is to be a real advance over DSM-IV (as everyone hopes), what is needed is more than tinkering with the diagnostic criteria. What is needed are some new ideas about the conceptual basis of psychiatric diagnosis. This book does exactly that by showing how evolutionary psychology and developmental knowledge are essential for understanding child psychopathology. The book would be an excellent choice as a text for introductory and advanced courses in abnormal psychology and child psychiatry. The developers of DSM-V would be well advised to study the last chapter, which offers suggestions for the new manual. --Robert L. Spitzer, MD, New York State Psychiatric Institute <br> This book grapples with the fundamental question 'What is a disorder?' The everyday concerns of the clinician and researcher in differentiating disorder from non-disorder are linked with the latest theoretical understanding of human mental processes and their functions and dysfunctions. The promise of the DSM has always been to use symptom syndromes as an initial step from which to bootstrap to deeper theories of the nature and etiology of disorders. This timely and provocative volume initiates the process of rethinking DSM's syndromal categories from an evolutionary perspective. The reviews are succinct and lucid. This book will be invaluable for introducing clinical and research students to the evolutionary approach to mental disorder in a clinician-friendly way. It should prove useful and stimulating not only to scholars and clinicians, but also to students in graduate seminars and advanced undergraduate survey courses in psychiatry, psychology, and social work. --Jerome C. Wakefield, DSW, PhD, School of Social Work, New York University <br> It is increasingly apparent that psychiatric diagnosis needs a significant overhaul to serve us better as we reap the rewards of the 'decade of the brain.' In this book, distinguished child psychiatry clinicians and researchers weigh in on the l

If DSM-V is to be a real advance over DSM-IV (as everyone hopes), what is needed is more than tinkering with the diagnostic criteria. What is needed are some new ideas about the conceptual basis of psychiatric diagnosis. This book does exactly that by showing how evolutionary psychology and developmental knowledge are essential for understanding child psychopathology. The book would be an excellent choice as a text for introductory and advanced courses in abnormal psychology and child psychiatry. The developers of DSM-V would be well advised to study the last chapter, which offers suggestions for the new manual. --Robert L. Spitzer, MD, New York State Psychiatric Institute <br> This book grapples with the fundamental question 'What is a disorder?' The everyday concerns of the clinician and researcher in differentiating disorder from non-disorder are linked with the latest theoretical understanding of human mental processes and their functions and dysfunctions. The promise of the DS

Author Information

Peter S. Jensen, MD, Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY Penny Knapp, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, and California Department of Mental Health, Sacramento, California David A. Mrazek, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

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