Psychoanalytic Diagnosis

Published USA, 2011 (2nd edition)
Students often react with bewilderment to the language of pioneering analysts like Reich and Fenichel and the DSM-IV reflects an empirical-descriptive orientation that deliberately eshews psychodynamic assumptions. Consequently, emerging clinicians have little exposure to the rich clinical and theoretical history behind each disorder mentioned in the DSM-IV; to psychoanalytic expertise with widely recognized character patterns not mentioned in the DSM-IV; or to a comprehensive, theoretical rationale that links assessment to treatment. This book explicates the major clinically important character types and suggests how an appreciation of the client's individual personality structure should influence the therapist's focus and style of intervention.

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS
Why Diagnose?
Developmental Levels of Personality Organization
Clinical Implications of Developmental Levels of Organization
Psychopathic Personalities
Narcissistic Personalities
Depressive and Manic Personalities
Obsessive and Compulsive Personalities
Dissociative Personalities

Nancy McWilliams teaches at Rutgers University in the USA.
Hardback. 426 pages