Chapter 18 – The Psychodynamics of Self-Harm
Abstract The act of harming oneself, causing pain, injury and scarring, can in a similar way to suicide appear deeply puzzling. It stands in stark contrast to more acceptable and…
Chapter 20 – Forensic Psychotherapy
Abstract Forensic psychotherapy is the application of psychological knowledge to the assessment, treatment and management of mentally disordered offenders and patients who commit violent or destructive acts against others or themselves….
Chapter 16 – Complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Abstract In this chapter, the focus will be on the newly emerging diagnosis of Complex Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (C-PTSD). Following a brief overview of the history of the concept and…
Chapter 15 – Personality Disorder
Abstract Ms N, a 27-year-old woman has been urgently referred to the community psychiatric service by her General Practitioner. The psychiatrist Dr R feels anxious about the encounter as the…
Chapter 14 – Psychological Approaches to Psychosis
Abstract This chapter will describe the psychological processes thought to underlie psychosis and how these approaches can assist our understanding and management of psychotic disorders. There is no single model…
Chapter 13 – Psychological Approaches to Affective Disorders
Abstract The term affective disorders encompasses a range of conditions that affect mood and emotional functioning. It includes unipolar and bipolar disorder as well as anxiety states. This chapter covers…
Chapter 12 – Mentalizing in Psychiatric Practice
Abstract The concept of Mentalizing is a recent theoretical development that has made a major contribution to our understanding of, and capacity to clinically work with, patients with a variety…
Chapter 10 – Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT):
Abstract This chapter introduces some recent developments in the application of Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT). After a brief, illustrated, overview of CAT; its theoretical base, its structure and its evidence…
Chapter 11 – Group Analytic Psychotherapy and the Group Analytic Model: A Clinician’s Guide
Abstract Group analytic psychotherapy is an important psychotherapeutic treatment, both in the NHS and the private sector. Many patients seek help for difficulties in social relating and maintaining intimate and…
Chapter 9 – Systemic Family Therapy
Abstract Family therapy represents a major conceptual shift in the approach to understanding and treatment of psychological disturbance and mental illness. Within this approach symptoms are understood as the consequence…
