Psicopatologia e psicopatologia dello sviluppo

This landmark work is indispensable for anyone studying anxiety or seeking to deliver effective psychological and pharmacological treatments. Integrating insights from emotion theory, recent advances in cognitive science and neuroscience, and increasingly important findings from developmental psychology and learning, David H. Barlow comprehensively examines the phenomena of anxiety and panic, their origins, and the roles that each plays in normal and pathological functioning. Chapters coauthored by Barlow with other leading experts then outline what is currently known about the classification, presentation, etiology, assessment, and treatment of each of the DSM-IV anxiety disorders. A definitive resource for researchers and clinicians, this is also an ideal text for graduate-level courses.

Schizophrenia is the most common of the psychotic illnesses, affecting approximately 1 per cent of the UK population at some point in their lives. Contrary to popular misunderstanding about the condition, although it is a serious and distressing illness, most people with schizophrenia are able to live in the community, managing their symptoms in close cooperation with their GP and primary care team. Evidence shows that the earlier schizophrenia is diagnosed and treated, the better the long-term prognosis. This book will help primary care providers to understand and identify the symptoms of schizophrenia, to provide evidence-based, appropriate management, and to respond to the needs of patients and their families for up-to-date information. Written in the popular Q and A format of the series, answers are presented in a succinct, accessible style, and include case vignettes to illustrate typical presentations. There are also some frequently-asked patient questions in non-medical language, and a list of sources of further information and support.

We are on the verge of a crisis in mental health. Over the next 30 years the number of chronically mentally ill people 55 years of age and older will double. With multiple disorders relating to mental illness and old age, these people will require unique services from a health care system that is ill prepared to deliver them. Schizophrenia Into Later Life: Treatment, Research, and Policy is the first major multidisciplinary reference on this important topicAa landmark work for researchers, service providers, and policy makers. Broad in scope, it discusses the demographic and clinical characteristics of older schizophrenic persons, details treatment approaches, suggests research strategies, and covers the relevant economic and health policy issues. -Unique. The most up-to-date, comprehensive source of information on this understudied group will help community psychiatrists, gerontologists, psychologists, policy makers, and social scientists meet a growing demand for services. -Multidisciplinary. Contributors have backgrounds in both aging and in biological psychiatry, social psychiatry, sociology, anthropology, social work, psychology, and neuropsychology to help professionals plan and deliver integrated services for the best outcome. -Comprehensive. Will serve as the key resource on the subject of schizophrenia in older people, covering epidemiology, biological aspects, psychosocial features, clinical care, and public policy. Today there is a distressing lack of age-appropriate clinical, rehabilitative, or residential programs for older patients with chronic mental illness. Schizophrenia in Later Life: Treatment, Research, and Policy will guide researchers, service providers, and policy makers in creating innovative new programs to help this underserved and growing population.

Unipolar major depression is one of the most prevalent and serious of the mental health disorders. It can result in chronic mental and physical ill health, social difficulties and suicide. The disorder occurs across the lifespan; however, its characteristics and outcomes vary with the age of the sufferer. Children, adolescents, adults and the elderly may all present with a depressive illness but the characteristics, response to treatment and final outcome show considerable variations between age groups. The extent to which genetic and environmental factors and processes contribute to the onset may be influenced by the developmental components of human growth and ageing. Equally, the social context within which depressions occur are not the same at different points in life. There are also known to be differences in relative responses to psychological and pharmacological treatments across the lifespan. Unipolar Depression: A Lifespan Perspective examines these, and other, issues, focusing on the continuities and discontinuities that arise in the nature of the disorder and how genetic, hormonal, psychological and social processes operate differentially throughout life. The chapters are written by major figures from the field of clinical research into depressive illness.

Anxiety symptoms probably account for up to a third of all consultations in general practice. There are increasing demands on GPs and other primary care providers to be able to respond to the needs of patients suffering from anxiety disorders, and to be able to provide appropriate information. This book, in the popular Q and A format of the "Your Questions Answered" series, provides succinct, expert, evidence-based knowledge. Although aimed mainly at the primary care practitioner, it also addresses many questions asked about anxiety by other physicians, practice and community psychiatric nurses, trainee psychiatrists, and patients. Some frequently asked patient questions, in non-medical language, are included, and there is a list of sources of further information and patient support.