Cynthia G. Last - Böcker

Several year~ ago we edited a casebook on behavior therapy with children. The book appeared to fill a gap in the existing child literature and was quite well received. A similar gap appears to exist in the behavioral literature for adult cases, in that there are very few adult case books currently available. The present book was developed in order to devote an entire casebook to both standard and more innovative clinical applications of behavioral treatments to adult problems. The book, containing 19 chapters, is divided into two parts. In the first part, in a chapter entitled Clinical Considerations, we discuss a variety of clinical issues that are of importance to designing and executing behaviorally based interventions with adults. The bulk of the book, the remaining 18 chap­ ters, contains a variety of cases presented by our experts. Each of the treatment cases is presented using the same format in order to increase consistency and comparability across chapters. Specific sections for each chapter are as follows: (1) Description of the Disorder, (2) Case Identification, (3) Presenting Complaints, (4) History, (5) Assessment, (6) Se­ lection of Treatment, (7) Course of Treatment, (8) Termination, (9) Follow-up, and (10) Overall Evaluation. Thanks are extended to our many expert contributors, without whom this book would not be possible. We also wish to acknowledge the technical support of Mrs. Kim Sterner. Finally, we thank our editor at Plenum, Eliot Werner, for his support and forbearance in the face of the inevitable delays.

In the first part, in a chapter entitled "How the Field Has Moved On," we briefly trace the historical roots of child behavior therapy, detail the relationship of psychiatric diagnosis and behavioral assessment, and con­ sider the importance of developmental norms, psychological testing, ef­ forts at prevention, and behavioral medicine.

Prior and subsequentto the publication of the third edition of the Diagnos­ tic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III), we have witnessed a considerable upsurge in the quantity and quality of research concerned with the psychiatric diagnostic process. There are several factors that have contributed to this empirical influx, including improved diagnostic cri­ teria for many psychiatric disorders, increased nosological attention to childhood psychopathology, and development and standardization of several structured diagnostic interview schedules for both adult and child populations. With the advent of DSM-III-R, and in anticipation of DSM-IV, diagnostic labels and their definitions have been in a state of change, as evinced by the many refinements and modifications currently taking place. However, the basic purpose or raison d'etre of the nosological scheme has not been altered. Psychiatric diagnosis is the means by which we classify or categorize human psychopathology. And, as is the case in the medical arena, psychiatric diagnosis serves three central functions: classification. communication. and prediction. As research accumulates, our understanding of psychiatric disorders increases, and we are in a much better position to classify reliably and with validity, as well as to com­ municate and predict Despite periodic changes in the diagnostic system, the basic strategies for conducting diagnostic research (e. g. , genetic-family studies, biological markers, follow-up studies, etc. ) do not vary appreciably over time. But in over one decade no scholarly book has appeared that tackles the essential research issues involved in upgrading the diagnostic endeavor.

If your son begs to stay home from school to avoid speaking in front of the class, should you be worried? If your daughter insists on crossing the street whenever she sees a dog, what should you do? A simple evaluation devised by renowned psychologist Dr. Cynthia G. Last can help you determine if you have reason to be concerned. If so, you can use Dr. Last’s checklists and examples to figure out the type and severity of your child’s anxiety, identify contributing factors, and tackle the problem head on. Strategies tailored for different kinds of anxiety will guide you in preventing new episodes, calming your child when a problem arises, and keeping anxieties in check as your son or daughter matures. Dr. Last delivers powerful advice and insightful information gleaned from 25 years of experience working with worried kids and their families, including coping and relaxation skills your child can use to reduce stress and worry, and tips for encouraging kids to approach--not avoid--their fears. Whether your son or daughter can’t go on sleepovers, gets nervous around peers, or just plain worries about “everything,” this reassuring and compassionate book will teach you how to soothe your child’s immediate fears and instill lasting confidence.

When bipolar disorder afflicts the person you love, you suffer too. How have other couples learned to manage the relationship strains caused by this illness? What can you do to provide your partner with truly helpful nurturance and support? No one cares more deeply about these questions than Dr. Cynthia Last, a highly regarded therapist/researcher who also has bipolar disorder. Sharing stories and solutions from her own experience and the couples she has treated, Dr. Last offers heartfelt, practical guidance for getting through the out-of-control highs and the devastating lows--together. Learn how you can help your spouse come to terms with a bipolar diagnosis, get the most out of treatment, and reduce or prevent future mood episodes, while also taking care of yourself.