In a fully revised and expanded second edition, this landmark work brings together in one volume the most important current theories of personality disorder. Written by the theorists themselves, all of the chapters have been extensively rewritten to reflect a decade's worth of significant research developments, and two entirely new chapters have been added. Comprehensive and authoritative, this is an indispensable resource and text in a rapidly developing field. Experts from across the theoretical spectrum present their respective approaches, including psychodynamic, interpersonal, attachment, ecological, psychometric, and neurobiological perspectives. Following a consistent format to facilitate reference and comparison, each chapter explicates the core assumptions of the theory at hand and reviews the extent to which it has been validated by empirical research. Coverage includes the ways in which each theory enhances our understanding of causation, classification, mechanisms, and risk factors of personality pathology, as well as how it has contributed to measurement, diagnosis, and treatment. The volume also explores similarities and differences among the various theories and identifies potential avenues of integration. This volume belongs on the desks of clinicians, researchers, and students in clinical psychology, clinical social work, and psychiatry. It serves as a uniquely informative text in advanced undergraduate and graduate-level courses.

This volume brings under one cover the principal theories of personality disorder, including cognitive, psychoanalytic, interpersonal, evolutionary, and neurobiological models. Chapters are written by such preeminent authorities as Aaron T. Beck, Otto F. Kernberg, Lorna Smith Benjamin, Theodore Millon, and Richard Depue. Providing valuable insight into the growing body of data on the personality disorders, the volume also lays a strong foundation for the next wave of empirical research.

This revision of the Schultz's popular text surveys the field, presenting theory-by-theory coverage of the major theorists who represent the psychoanalytic, neopsychoanalytic, life-span, trait, humanistic, cognitive, behavioral, and social-learning approaches, as well as clinical and experimental work. Where warranted, the authors show how the development of certain theories was influenced by events in a theorist's personal and professional life. This thoroughly revised Seventh Edition now incorporates more examples, tables, and figures to help bring the material to life for students. The new content in this edition reflects the dynamism in the field. The text explores how race, gender, and culture issues figure in the study of personality and in personality assessment. In addition, a final integrative chapter looks at the study of personality theories and suggests conclusions that can be drawn from the many theorists' work.

This work offers an evaluation of competing theoretical perspectives and nosological systems for personality disorders. The editors have brought together recognized authorities in the field to offer a synthesis of competing perspectives that provide readers with an assessment for each disorder. The result is a comprehensive, current, and critical summary of research and practice guidelines related to the personality disorders. Key Features focuses on controversies and alternative conceptualizations; separate chapters are dedicated to each personality disorder and considered from various points of view. It presents authoritative perspectives; leading scholars and researchers in the field provide a critical evaluation of alternative perspectives on each personality disorder. And it frames the current state of personality disorder research and practice issues; cutting edge and streamlined research is presented to be used in courses on diagnosis, assessment, psychopathology and abnormal psychology, especially those that include the DSM IV. It also offers an integrative understanding of elusive personality categorizations; wherever possible, case examples are offered as illustrations of each disorders clinical presentation. The use of technical terms are minimized; each contributor takes the approach of a user friendly summary and integration of major trends, findings, and future directions.

In this book a leading psychoanalytic clinician and theoretician presents his thoughts on the latest psychodynamic developments and insights related to treatment of severe personality disorders. Dividing his discussions into two sections, one on psychopathology and the other on psychotherapy, Dr. Otto F. Kernberg examines borderline personality disorder, narcissism, sexual inhibition, transference and countertransference, suicidal behavior, and eating disorders. In each chapter he integrates the ideas of European and Latin American psychoanalytic thinkers, bringing them to the attention of English-speaking readers. This book includes a selection of recently published journal articles. Their collection into one volume makes readily available Dr. Kernberg’s present thinking on an important subject.

This new edition of The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Personality Disorders has been thoroughly reorganized and updated to reflect new findings, expanded treatment options and considerations, and future directions, such as translational research, enhancing the text's utility while maintaining its reputation as the foremost reference and clinical guide on the subject. In four exhaustive and enlightening sections, the book covers basic concepts of personality disorders, etiology, clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, and it addresses special issues that may arise with specific populations or settings. In addition, the text offers many features and benefits: Several chapters describe the intense efforts to identify the scientifically strongest -- and clinically relevant -- approaches to conceptualizing and enumerating personality traits and pathology. The book does not sidestep ongoing controversies over classification but addresses them head-on by including chapters by experts with competing perspectives. The hybrid dimensional/categorical alternative model of classification for personality disorders included in the DSM-5 is included in an appendix and thoroughly referenced throughout the volume and discussed in detail in several chapters. Coverage of current research is up-to-date and extensive. Longitudinal naturalistic studies, which have shown surprising patterns of improvement in patients with selected personality disorders, as well as new and more rigorous treatment studies, have yielded critical findings in recent years, all of which are thoroughly addressed. Dozens of vivid and detailed case examples are included to illustrate diagnostic and treatment concepts. The editors have selected a roster of contributors second to none, and the text has been scrupulously edited for consistency of language, tone, and coverage. As clinical populations become better defined, new and more rigorous treatment studies are being conducted with increasingly promising results. The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Personality Disorders offers clinicians, residents, and trainees in all disciplines a front row seat for the latest findings and clinical innovations in this burgeoning field.

In this important book, one of the world's foremost psychoanalysts provides the clinician with tools to diagnose and treat severe cases of personality disorder, including borderline and narcissistic structures. Dr. Kernberg not only describes techniques he has found useful in clinical practice but also further develops theories formulated in his previous work and critically reviews other recent contributions. "A splendid book . . . of great value for anyone involved in psychotherapy with patients suffering from one or another variety of personality disorder, as well as for anyone who is teaching or doing research in this field. . . . An outstandingly fine and valuable book.--Harold F. Searles, M.D., Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease "Kernberg is a synthesizing, creative eclectic on the contemporary psychoanalytic and psychodynamic scene, broadly based in theory and in practice, a powerful intelligence, a prolific writer, and a man of ideas....This is a challenging and provocative book."--Alan A. Stone, M.D., American Journal of Psychiatry "A major work that brings together in one volume a host of clinical insights into people with a variety of severe personality disorders.... Anyone who has attempted to work with patients with severe personality disorders will be rewarding by studying this book." --Robert D. Gillman, Psychoanalytic Quarterly