Book Description
The older adult population is booming in the United State and across the globe. With this boom comes an increase in the number of older adults who experience psychological disorders. Current estimates suggest that about 20% of older persons are diagnosable with a mental disorder: Personality disorders are among the most poorly understood, challenging, and frustrating of these disorders among older adults. This book is designed to provide scholarly and scientifically-based guidance about the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of personality disorders to health professionals, mental health professionals, and senior service professionals who encounter personality-disordered or "difficult" older adults. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

From a student's perspective...
I read this book for an undergraduate course, and I was very pleasantly surprised by what an enjoyable read it was (as you don't generally expect that from a text book!). I found it to be very thoughtfully laid out - when one chapter would raise a question for me, I would find the answer to it in the following chapter. It presents complex concepts in such a manner that they are very easy to understand, which is always a bonus when it comes to textbooks.

My favorite aspect of the book is how extensively the topic is covered. As a psychology student, I find that other text books talk a lot about mental disorders, but do not touch on issues of diagnosis or treatment. This book does that quite well. The chapters that talk about the disorders in detail also provide case studies for each disorder - I found these to be quite helpful, making the rather stiff, cut and dry diagnostic criteria of the DSM much easier to understand and recognize.

All in all, a most enjoyable book!

Personality Disorders and Older Adults: Diagnosis, Assessment, andTreatment
This book is truly a must have for anyone working with older adults.It is both insightful and informative. I value its continued use as a reference for working with older adults.I would recommend this to both students and professionals. ... Read more

Book Description
Borderline Personality disorder is a severe personality dysfunction characterized by behavioural features such as impulsivity, identity disturbance, suicidal behaviour, emptiness, and intense and unstable relationships. Approximately 2% of the population are thought to meet the criteria for BPD.The authors of this volume - Anthony Bateman and Peter Fonagy -have developed a psychoanalytically oriented treatment to BPD known as mentalization treatment. With randomised controlled trials having shown this method to be effective, this book presents the first account of mentalization treatment for BPD.The first section gives an overview of BPD, including discussion of nosology, epidemiology, natural history, and psychosocial aetiology. It additionally summarises the present state of our research knowledge about effective psychotherapeutic treatments and use of medication. The second section outlines the authors' theoretical approach and contrasts it with other well known methods, including DBT, CAT, and CBT. In the extensive final section, the authors outline their clinical approach starting with how treatment is organised. A detailed account of the transferable features of the model is provided along with the main strategies and techniques of treatment. Numerous clinical examples are given to illustrate the core techniques and detailed information provided about how to apply aspects of the mentalization based treatment approach in everyday practice.Aimed at mental health professionals, along with counsellors, psychotherapists, and psychoanalysts, the book will be a valuable tool, providing an effective means of treating those suffering from Borderline Personality Disorder. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A good review of the subject and overview of MBT
This book presents a very good overview of the research literature on BPD and is not just a discription of their own form of treatment.The authors give good coverage of research conducted in and outside of the US such as that into cognitive analytic therapy and DBT. MBT is a psychodynamic form of therapy which has some very good research backing.When their first study, an RCT, came out it renewed my interest in psychodynamic based treatments as it showed that psychodynamic therapy could be evidenced based and thus fit in with the current EBM agenda.I would recommend this book to any one who treats or works with BPD patients ... Read more

Book Description
Object relations theory has been useful in understanding borderline personality disorder, and from this theoretical orientation have emerged effective approaches to its treatment.However, treatment based on the object relations model has tended to emphasize only the structural and technical facets of the psychotherapy enterprise, i.e., the frame of therapy, therapeutic neutrality, and interventions strategies, etc.In iAnother Chance to Be Reali, Donald and Deanda Roberts argue that the incorporation of attachment theory and research enhances the effectiveness of treatment by expanding the clinical focus to include relational and process factors. ... Read more

Book Description
Its Not You...Its THEM!Have you ever hung up with your boss and felt like you were nine years old again?Do you get a pang in the pit of your stomach when you see a certain friends number on your caller ID?Do you find yourself frequently apologizing to a family member even though you know youve done nothing wrong?If any of these scenarios sound familiar or you have ever felt bullied, manipulated, guilted, or threatened in a relationship, you could have a PDI!PDI, or Personality Disordered Individual, is a psychiatric term used to identify those people with whom we must interact and who can make us feel miserable in the process.PDIs make toxic people look like Santa Clause and often have unique attitude problems and behaviors that we must deal with but do not enrich, improve, enhance, boost, encourage, motivate, or inspire us.Day in and day out, they make us miserable!Stan Kapuchinski, M.D., has encountered numerous PDIs and their victims in his private psychiatry practice for more than twenty-five years.In Say Goodbye to Your PDI, he sheds light on five types of personality disorders and teaches: - How PDIs ensnare us into repeatedly dealing with them - How to spot a PDI at work and in our personal lives - Coping mechanisms to handle PDIs who we cannot eliminate from our lives - Techniques and advice on how to get rid of a PDI for good Say Goodbye to Your PDI will help you stop your misery and will help you deal more effectively with the users, the manipulators, the smooth talkers, and the guilt-trippers out there.Stan Kapuchinski, M.D., writes the widely read column Ask Dr.K.A board-certified psychiatrist, Dr.Kapuchinski has served as assistant processor of psychiatry at the University of Connecticut and special psychiatric consultant in Queensland, Australia.His expertise on human relationships has made him a sought-after commentator for hundreds of television and radio outlets. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Worth it's weight in gold!Excellent Book!
I have recently finished reading this book and all I can say is WOW!The author does an excellent job of keeping things simple, and gives many examples so that you are able to identify and eliminate these people from your life.I also liked the way he took the time to explain things in a way that made sense to me personally.I am 52 now, and feel that I have been victimized by at least a dozen of these types of people during my lifetime. It seems that I always blamed myself, but now because of this book I know better.Now I know: "when in doubt keep them out!"If you have people that are making your life miserable, get this book, it offers practical solutionsfor eliminating them from your life.

Peppered cover to cover with true-life examples
Say Goodbye to Your PDI (Personality Disordered Individual): Recognize People Who Make You Miserable and Eliminate Them From You Life Is Good! is a no-nonsense guide to identifying people who are toxic, or beyond toxic - so engrossed in their own needs (which no mortal can satisfy, such as "make me the center of attention at all times"), set in their ways, and oblivious to the needs of others that there is no reasoning with them and nothing positive to be gained from interacting with them. Types of PDIs covered including passive-aggressive "blamers", the histrionic personality disorders characterized by emotional and erratic personalities, the smooth-talking anti-social con men and sociopaths, the unstable borderline personality disorders, and the egotistical narcissistic personality disorders. Peppered cover to cover with true-life examples of destructive individuals and practical advice for minimizing or eliminating contact with them, Say Goodbye to Your PDI is highly recommended.

Thanks for a great book!
Dr. Kapuchinski has written an informative and very readable guide to identifying and handling people with personality problems. The book helped me understand that walking away was the only good solution to my own involvement with a PDI. I was also able to let go of the idea that the relationship failed because I didn't "try hard enough." The book's format covers personal and professional relationships with practical examples of how to handle problems, what you can and cannot expect from a PDI and how to keep your sanity. It was educational but also used humor which made the book easier to read than other self help books I've read.

Director of Wellness State of Rhode Island, Anne Marie Connolly
Dr. Stan's book is enlightening!Over the years, I have encountered several PDI's (but did not know it).I have attempted to change their behavior, they have successfully manipulated situtions, and in some cases made me believe it was me that was the problem--well...NO MORE--after reading this book I can SAY GOODBYE to my PDI'S!!!! THANKS Dr. Stan! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Characterological Quandries-Working with Axis-II Disorders
Otto Kernberg's insights into the rocks and shoals of personality disorders have been an invaluable aid in working with those who have Borderline, Narcissistic, and Antisocial Personalities, and the related types of Characterological disorders.As with any of the old school or psychoanalytic bent, don't be scared to use your thesaurus. Lord knows they never were!

key concepts re:borderline and narcissistic disorders...
....and highly recommended for understanding them.Although the author doesn't free himself entirely from the turgidity that marks much of the psychoanalytic literature, he lays out a number of clinically usefulformulations having to do with his pioneering work with characterologicallyill patients.

Den här är bra om man är helt jävla rubbad
Den här är bra om man är helt jävla rubbad o gillar att ligga under glasbord o titta ... Read more

Book Description
The second edition of this classic handbook includes the latest developments in the diagnosis and treatment of personality disorders that have emerged since the publication of the DSM-IV-TR. Sperry highlights the many significant advances in the field, providing the reader with a complete summary of new intervention strategies, treatment approaches, and research findings. In addition, this text includes greater coverage of Borderline Personality Disorder and presents an introduction to the diagnostic schema likely to be adopted by the DSM-V. The Handbook is at once comprehensive and concise, offering integrative assessment and treatment strategies as well as theoretical overview for a full range of pathologies. Its reader-friendly style and organization and make it an authoritative and accessible resource for clinicians and students of all mental health disciplines. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Not a self-help, "information" book. . .
All the previous reviewers hated this book, and while I can see some of their points, I think they approach the book expecting it to be a "how to" guide for the disorder.It is definitely not.The author intends it to be a discussion of how the diagnosis originated and how these presupositions still guide, knowingly and unknowingly, the diagnosis's conceptualization.These are valid issues for acadamics (not nearly as dirty a word as what the first reviewer insinuates) as well as mental health clinicians.The diagnosis is not as definitive or helpful as what people think, and framing it in a more feminist light helps remove some of the pejorative connotations within the field.

An Unfortunate Deliverance of Academe
The rating is somewhat misleading.This book deserves no stars at all.

This book is one of many unfortunate products of a small portion of the academic community that has isolated itself from an academic world generally dedicated to argument, reason, evidence, and truth.The book displays little evidence for a consideration, let alone a tolerance, for the truth, but in its stead offers a fantasy tale about a horrible illness that grips so many within our society.

As is so tiresomely typical of these sorts of texts, we are fed a weary history of old practices concerning mental illness (yes indeed, there was ignorance back then), with absolute ignorance concerning current research (please folks, get up to date), coupled with loose metaphoric fantasia substituting for any reasoned argument.To offer one example (a prominent one in the book), scattered references to a "flood" or a "torrent" of emotion taken from selected sources in the field is somehow translated into references to the menstrual cycle in women.The "somehow" is impossible to discern.I would not recommend readers to attempt to decipher any logical steps to the conclusion.

It is a sad fact that this comes out of academe.And it is harmful.People who have BPD or who are the loved ones of BPDs need information, not feminist fantasies.For any who wishes information I would recommend "Borderline Personality Disorder Demystified," by Robert Friedel.

For the record, I am an academic in the field of Philosophy, and I have a loved one who is suffering from BPD.

Not Recommeneded
This book is not recommended for the average reader who just seeks information about borderline personality disorder. In fact, it is loaded with abstract erudition, it is hard to read, the information is often redundant,and it takes on a feminist approach in explaining the pathology.

boring, too technical
I have read a number of books on depression and Borderline Personality Disorder.This is by far the worst; it was all I could do to finish it.It is very technical, hard to read, and boring, repeating itself repeatedly :)I wouldn't recommend it - there are a lot of better books out there on the subject (like Lost in the Mirror). ... Read more

Book Description
Until now, multiple personality disorder (MPD) has been one of the most baffling mental health problems of our time. In More Than One, Dr. Terri Clark, a psychiatrist who specializes in MPD, provides a faithful yet compassionate examination of this little-understood disorder. Dr. Clark reveals clinical origins and history of MPD, features and characterisitics of persons with MPD, the relationship between child abuse and MPD, the relationship between satanic ritual abuse and MPD, successful therapy methods, plus a glossary and a list of special resources. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A great introduction for patients, family, and friends
This is a book I have lent to several people to introduce them to the complex world of dissociative identity disorder, (formerly called multiple personality disorder). Those who have read it have come to a sound, positive understanding of the disorder. Through its gentle treatment of the topic, the fears of others have been allayed and I have been able to show others my true selves. The book is an easy, fast read, written for the general public. I'm sad to find that the book is out-of-print; it has been a great resource! ... Read more

Book Description
This state-of-the-art resource presents a short-term dynamic model for effectively treating personality disorders. Synthesizing many of the techniques developed by the pioneers of short-term therapy and integrating components from current research as well as the author's own extensive experience, the book presents a systemic approach that is both accessible and flexible. Clinical transcripts from patients in each of the three DSM clusters of personality disorders bring the material to life and demonstrate the intimate struggle of conducting therapy with character disturbed patients. ... Read more

Book Description
...presents a unique, empirically based intensive study of threeborderline patients, based on transcripts of audio- taped therapysessions...reviews research methodology, clinical descriptions,psychotherapy processes & outcomes. ... Read more

Product Description
Author Lynn Melville believes that people caught in abusive relationships -- whether Borderline or not -- are stuck in the middle of the Grief Cycle. They are unable to move forward to acceptance of the reality of the abuse they're receiving, because their abuser continues to change, back and forth from the person who acts like they love them -- to the person who hurts them.

Melville began writing Breaking Free from Boomerang Love for herself, words to help her stay focused on reality. Over time, her writing began to change into letters to others who were still stuck in abuse.

Written in a daily affirmation style, readers will re-feel and finish the grieving of their pain, laugh and then watch their denial disappear, achieve a new strength to stand up for themselves, and re-connect and reach for guidance from the God of their understanding. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

Stopping the addiction!
Great book if you are leaving a relationship with a BPD, or if you are or were addicted to someone with BDP - easy to read! ... The humor and the spirituality are just right.

The first book that made sense of my "relationship"
I got your book last night and read the whole thing straight through.I've read every self-help book I could get my hands on since meeting my boyfriend, and this is the first one that made any sense.Thank you so much!

The light in a very dark tunnel.
Living in the eye of a storm surrounded by chaos was my life for the past almost four years. When the engagement ended I didn't know what normal was anymore. Boomerang love is the calm after the storm. Lynns book helped me understand I wasn't alone. I found clarity to the confusion and sense of betrayal of a love I felt was real. It's the only book I have found that helps you as a survivor of a Borderline relationship find the tools needed to heal your soul. I would highly recommend this book to anyone recovering from an emotional or physically abusive relationship. It's my bible.

Making Sense of the Craziness!
I always thought he was just a "zero-to-sixty in 0.3 seconds" kind of guy! At first, I tried to believe the jealousy just proved he loved me. I thought all the bragging about his intellect, accomplishments, and possessions was just a cover-up for his insecurity. However, with the help of this book, I gained new insights into the phenomenon that lay at the root of all his behaviors. Melville writes in a learned yet easily accessible style, and practicality seems to be her muse. However, I found that the "Pot-Shot" illustrations, while acerbic and witty, detracted from rather than added to the value of this tome.

Helpful to read her journal and love the cartoons
This book is helpful in that it is like reading someone's journal as they process through the trials and tribulations of being in a romantic relationship with someone (and breaking free from that relationship) who has Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) -- but it is formatted like a daily meditation book.It is a different kind of book, but I found it to be validating of one's experience and comforting at the same time.I especially appreciate the captioned cartoons.Many of them are quite profound, as well as entertaining.I would recommend this book for anyone who is in or has been in a romantic relationship with someone who has BPD.It won't tell you directly how to repair any of the damage that has been done, but by reading the author's experiences/insights it will help point you in the direction of right thinking - and that is healing.

... Read more

Book Description
Although the treatment of patients with various disorders of personality have been discussed in clinical literature since the early days of psychotherapy, the general literature on the psychotherapeutic treatment of personality disorders has emerged more recently, and is growing quickly.It is also in recent times that cognitive behavioral therapists have offered a structured, active, and directive treatment approach, in addition to advocating the use of a wide range of cognitive and behavioral techniques for addressing personality disorders. Cognitive Behavior Therapy of DSM-IV Personality Disorders specifies a number of effective and realistic treatment strategies that focus on both the temperament and character dimensions of personality anddegree of severity of the disorder.

The book is divided into two parts. In the first part of the book, the author introduces the reader to the paradigm shift that is presently taking place in behavioral health in the treatment of personality disorders. He alsoexplains both the character and the temperament dimensions that are manifest in personality-disordered individuals.The second half of the book offers a clear description of an integrative and practical approach to the treatment of the six personality disorders most commonly seen in clinical practice.Extended case studies illustrate the process of treatment for each of these disorders and show how to use these various intervention strategies.Overall, this book highlights both cognitive and behavioral interventions, catalogues the maladaptive schema observed in specific personality disorders, and outlines fifteen common structured treatment interventions.In addition, although the author emphasizes the usefulness and effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral interventions in individual treatment, he also presents other modalities and intervention strategies.These include: medications, group therapy and interventions, family interventions, and couples therapy.

The book's focus on achieving positive treatment outcomes offers hope to both the clinician and the patient.By providing a workable, realistic treatment protocol for these six disorders, Cognitive Behavior Therapy of DSM-IV Personality Disorders proves to be a valuable addition to the library of the practicing clinician and clinician-in-training. ... Read more

Book Description
The 1994 edition of this book has been a definitive resource for bothresearchers and clinicians interested in the applications of thefive-factor model to personality disorders. Since the publication of thefirst edition, a steady flow of new empirical research has been conducted, and key theoretical developments have occurred. This revised editionupdates the book and offers nine important new chapters. A new chapter bythe editors presents a comprehensive summary of 55 empirical studiespublished since 1994 on the relationship of the five factor model topersonality disorder symptoms. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

FFM and diagnosis of personality disorders
A good starting point for adding the FFM at domain and facet levels to diagnose personality disorders, a useful tool to better comprehend individual differences in our current DSM categorical system. FFM assessment with the NEO PI-R helps me, as clinician, to build good therapeutic alliances with patients via collaborative assessments, since it seems easier to use common language terms a)for the patient to understand his/her underlying maladaptive schemas, and b)the clinician to aprehend strenghts in the patient's personality . Hope that the 3rd edition brings data on the use of NEO PI-R form R. ... Read more

Book Description
Personality-disordered people are not uncommon in our neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, or even our homes. They include people who are persistently paranoid, obsessive-compulsive, antisocial, or overly dependent. Most of them do not realize the hardships they create for themselves and their families. This book is an introductory guide for those who live and work around personality- disordered people, and for general readers seeking illustrations of the disorders. Dobbert illustrates warning signs that can be missed and walks readers through scenarios that are common with personality-disordered people. He explains how such maladies might develop, and most important, how they can be successfully addressed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Recommended Reading
The author displays mastery over his subject and aptly passes this on to the reader.This book puts personality disorders into the context,and concisely discusses each disorder. Due to the quality of the content of this book I am recommending it to my students.

An excellent survey highly recommended as an authoritative introduction for all walks of life.
Personality disorders appear everywhere: in the workplace, shopping centers, and even the home - that's why it's important for more than just the professional therapist to understand and recognize them. UNDERSTANDING PERSONALITY DISORDERS isn't for the usual professional audience, but for lay readers - making it the perfect choice for general-interest health holdings. It provides an introduction geared to those who live and work around personality-disordered people, presenting common signs of troubles and how they can be handled. An excellent survey highly recommended as an authoritative introduction for all walks of life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Concise, accurate, fun to read overview
This 186 page paperback is a wonderful synopsis of the more thorough text, Disordered Personalities, 2nd Ed. It should be in the office of every mental health professional. The book includes DSM-IV criteria, as well as athorough overview of therapeutics, including etiology, ego defenses,therapeutic techniques, MSE, mnemonics, etc. The reader will find separatechapters describing 10 different disorders, as well as a discussion of thepassive-aggressive individual, the "organic" personality, andmultiple personality. The graphics and caricatures are simply wonderful!The information is current and accurate, and the price is very reasonable.Professionals and lay people alike will learn much from this gem, and havefun in the process! Highly recommended!

I am a medical student.This is a helpful Psychiatry adjunc
This book is really good.If you are a medical school student like me and would like a book that explains the DSM IV disorder classifications, you would do very well with this book.For the lay person, this is a good bookbecause it gives you an insight to the many different personalities--notjsut necessarily disorders.There are personality behaviors that everyonepossess but are not to the severity of being considered a disorder.If youread this book, you will understand people much better. But you have tounderstand, not everyone who meets some or a few of the criteria of aparticular disorder has the disorder.A person can have certain traits ofa particular disorder (for example: passive-aggressive) without actuallyreally having the disorder.It is a matter of degree and the number ofcriteria the person meets.A person can have passive-aggressive treats,but to have a diagnosis of "passive aggressive personalitydisorder," there needs to be more specific behaviors!It is allexplained in the book. ... Read more

Book Description
The existence and characteristics of multiple personality disorder (MPD) have been debated from the time of the first case reports in the 19th century. The dispute has never been resolved, and MPD has become the most controversial syndrome known to mental health professionals. Currently, very little balanced academic material on this disorder is available, and much of the literature aims to disprove its existence as a psychiatric disorder. In the past, general understanding of MPD was guided largely by this medical literature, but in recent decades the disorder has been widely exposed to both professionals and the public through the mass media.This timely work examines MPD from an empirical viewpoint, describing the research that has been done on the disorder, as well as providing in-depth analysis of how MPD has developed over the years in relation to the media. The book identifies the earliest origins of MPD in published literature and traces the course of its development as a concept to the present. Existing data on MPD are presented in a detailed review of the current state of knowledge of the disorder including clinical description, delineation from other disorders, family history studies, follow-up studies, and laboratory documentation. The authors also point out specific areas of research that is needed before psychiatry can consider MPD an adequately validated diagnosis. This critical approach is designed to provide direction to researchers in the pursuit of a better understanding of MPD and to provide clinicians with a valuable guide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

who was that masked man?I mean....
what in the heck was this book about?

I admit, I am not the brightest star in the firmament.So I am not ashamed to admit I struggled through this book several times to try to figure out just what in the heck the point was.

and I struggled, and struggled, and struggled, and.........oh boy.

I got two useful things out of this book:

1) medical students could use a good hard lesson in thinking for themselves.North et al. surveyed them about their beliefs on what was then called MPD.And every single student reported the beliefs of the author of whatever book(s) he or she had read, without exception.All were believers except for one who was a skeptic.(This experiment would have different results today being that skepticism is more fashionable than in the post-Sybil decade or so.)

2) their summaries of the autobiographies that had been produced by people with MPD to date were compelling.

as a librarian, these points were of interest to me.

but the rest of it.........ooooooh boy.

This book examines the case for and against the existence of MPD as a disorder.Now I do not have MPD/DID, but I do have "lesser," I actually think of it as different, dissociation.And based on that I was incorrectly diagnosed with MPD in 1992, when I had shown not a hint of an alter.

The authors conclude that MPD has not been sufficiently differentiated from other psychiatric disorders to call it an independent disorder.

I do not agree with this, well specifically I do not agree with singling MPD out for skepticism.

But, as it is now very fashionable to state, the elephants in the living room are comorbidity and (in my opinion) excessively abstract and subjective language used by many professionals, making it difficult to know what the heck they are talking about.I have read some truly mind-numbing books in which it seemed that the author made it a personal mission to avoid using plain English.And these were MPD treatment and theory boooks!Given that, huge uncertainties and inaccuracies in diagnosis were probably inevitable.

but yet, if I read this right the authors state that no psychiatric disorder can be effectively validated as an independent disorder.

I may be misphrasing that but basically as I read it, their point was:the state of psychiatry is in its infancy with all psychiatric disorders, but the situation with MPD is really particularly bad.Yank it from the DSM.

I think that's what they said.I became totally confused.

the authors argue that media influence was key to the conceptualization and spread of views on MPD.to large extent that is true, although I think they ignored the extent to which researchers went back to old work on trauma from the 1920's and 1880s and 1890s, before there was a media blitz.

but these authors are rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.let's face it, fads come and fads go in mental health.To quote Paul Simon:

"We come and we go; it's a thing that I keep in the back of my head."

in other words, *all* disorders are subject to fads.today's "biology reigns supreme" is another fad.I agree that many disorders seem "real" in a way that MPD does or did not, but frankly I think a lot of that dates back to the very abstract impenetrable language that the theorists used when first describing MPD.so there was hardly a clear version around of what it was, making it easy for people to read things into it that were not there, like diagnosing me on the basis of other symptoms.

I mean, if you want to read truly yawn-inducing stuff about the MMPI, etc. this is the book for you.

It is stated that MPD is less valid b/c people are more suggestible, uniquely suggestible with MPD.that may be true but I have seen enough fads come and go by now that I'm a cynic about who, exactly, is suggestible.

my bottom line:they make a lot of good points but in the end their conclusions are quite confusing, as is most of this book, because they are arguing about one mental disorder in a field where much remains unknown about all of them.so it's kinda like pointing to a spot on the horizon and saying "that square of sky looks exceptionally blue."true but so what?

shrinks will defend their industry but you notice that when it comes down to the dollar, we clients got to "self-pay" as the euphemism goes.to that extent, I view the mental health industry in America as a truly massive failure.society, and insurance companies, have not been convinced that there is anything real to pay for, or that treatments are effective enough to be paid for, or that the stigma should be reduced and one way to do that is for those of us with mental illness/mood disorders to get our treatment paid for so we can live in better conditions.

while the shrinks fight about MPD/DID, they participate in an unjust managed care system that denies care to too many.

I care very much about trauma.I do not define all severe mental illness/psychological problems as 100% biological with no environmental input.people who were abused and neglected as children often end up with very severe problems and whatever you call that, mental illness, consequences of abuse, whatever....it produces very severe suffering that at present, with the exception of a therapy session here and there and a few pills, no one pays for except the client and his or her family.

There were 600 excess deaths in Ohio in just four short years among the severely mentally ill.this is the consequence of refusal to pay for treatment, stigma, and lack of care.

I care about *that*, not about whether North et al view people with MPD as suggestible.and that's why I think they were rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic with this book.

Although I think E. Fuller Torrey's "take your pills" argument is too simple, because severe illness requires management and often human caring, there should have been a THOUSAND critics like Torrey who really got into the managed care mental health disaster before people died in these numbers, rather than the people who wrote endlessly about stuff like "is MPD real?" =

when they already had the patient/client testimony to say yes it is as real as anything else we say to shrinks.

I believe MPD/DID exist and so do other forms of dissociation and I also believe this book was an example of misdirected effort.if you are going to focus on the uncertainty of a disorder, focus on them all and push for coverage and justice, please.well that's my wish anyway.

An intellectual blitz (blitz being good)
North, et al., do an excellent job tearing apart their opponents-- with surprisingly humble rhetoric.

The science is sound, the premises are solid, and their opinions have been borne-out by time.I only wish the culture-at-large got their paws on this knowledge morsel sooner. . . or ever.

The rhetoric is not just an added bonus.They needed to come at this problem with enough force to make people respect them, but also with enough gentleness, so that one might be entirely defensive to their argument if it ran counter to their ingrained thought.The rhetoric in this book should be examined and imitated by scientists, because our knowledge must be palatable before it can be swallowed!

The authors should write more books. ... Read more

Book Description
Is there a mild psychopath near you? Or in you? If so, what can and should you do? Find out in this riveting exploration of a personality disorder usually dismissed by the mental health profession, and never before the topic of in-depth scholarly exploration. It is comparatively easy to recognize the true, full-blown psychopaths-the Hitlers, Stalins and Gacys. But what professionals and lay people alike often do not recognize is that we are surrounded by mild psychopaths, people who do not reach the level of their infamous counterparts, yet still share some of their traits. Fifteen-time author Martin Kantor, a psychiatrist whose last work, Understanding Paranoia, also zeroed in on everyday problems, explains how to recognize, understand and cope with the mild psychopaths one encounters every day. Who are these everyday psychopaths? They are politicians who lie to get votes, swindlers who phish the Internet to steal identities, salesmen who push cars or other products they know are lemons, businessmen who dupe the public in ways that barely skirt the law, doctors who perform unnecessary surgery because they need the money. The list goes on. Some would argue that each of us must use some of the means of the mild psychopath to be successful in life. Where is the line, and what do you do when those around you cross it? The Psychopathy of Everyday Life helps you decide. Kantor spotlights and disproves widely-held beliefs about mild psychopathy, then shows us methods to deal with such people, and such traits in ourselves. His conclusions and vignettes drawn from the treatment room and from everyday life, for example, show that psychopathy is a widespread problem, not one confined to low life' people in jails, or to men and women in mental hospitals. Psychopaths are not all failures in life who could be labled either bad' or mad;' many are quite successful and held up as models. And they are not all guilt-free with no conscience; some do want to escape their aggressive and socially harmful world where being honest, forthright and ethical is abnormal. Kantor offers an eclectic approach based on classic therapies to facilitate help and self-help methods for the victim and the psychopath. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A fantastic find, 5 stars!
In this thoroughly researched and beautifully written book Kantor helps the professional and layperson alike identify psychopathy, with an emphasis on spotting its milder forms, goes into its multiple causes ranging from the psychological (psychoanalytic, interpersonal, cognitive-behavioral and social) to the genetic-organic, and suggests ways for professionals to treat mild psychopaths and for laypersons to cope with them. As the blurb above clearly notes Kantor makes a central and surprisingly original point: that while many psychopaths are essentially guilt free due to a deficiency of conscience, not all are completely so, for the mildest ones do want to escape this inner demon and emerge into the world of altruism and empathy for their fellow men. Highly recommended, and also highly enjoyable.
Tom M.

A book you won't soon forget--incredible!
This latest scholarly work of Dr. Martin Kantor reads like a best-seller. It drew me in from the first page and I could not put it down! Finally I had explanations for some of the callous, hard hearted behaviors that I often see in people around me. Rich with real life examples and plenty of Dr. Kantor's characteristically brilliant insight and wit, The Psychopathy of Everyday life is a book that everyone could benefit from reading. Whether you are looking for deeper insight into the gray area of mild psychopathy toeffectively treat your patients or are a lay person trying to understand hurtful behaviors of the people around you or if others have identified some behaviors about you and you want to dig deeper, this book will not only enlighten you but also give you solutions, including extensive descriptions of the various individual and group therapies that work for the mild psychopath. Kantor doesn't forget the everyday victims of psychopaths either. Perhaps my favorite chapter of all is the final chapter, "Coping with Psychopaths of Everyday Life." Here the good doctor gives a six-step method that helps us to protect ourselves from the wrath of everyday psychopathic behaviors, by identifying our personal vulnerabilities and learning to stop enabling the psychopaths of our lives. This book is a must read. Give it as a give to your therapist, to a friend who too often lets other people upset her, or to a person who could use a hint about some of his or her own behaviors. This book contains a wealth of information and makes a great addition to anyone's library. Highly recommended. Raeleen D'Agostino, Ph.D.



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Book Description

"AM I LOSING MY MIND?"

People with Borderline Personality Disorderexperience such violent and frightening mood swingsthat they often fear for their sanity. They can beeuphoric one moment, despairing and depressed thenext. There are an estimated 10 million sufferersof BPD living in America today -- each displayingremarkably similar symptoms:

• a shaky sense of identity
• sudden violent outbursts
• oversensitivity to real or imagined rejection
• brief, turbulent love affairs
• frequent periods of intense depression
• eating disorders, drug abuse, and other
  self-destructive tendencies
• an irrational fear of abandonment and an
  inability to be alone

For years BPD was difficult to describe, diagnose, andtreat. But now, for the first time, Dr. Jerold J. Kreismanand health writer Hal Straus offer much-neededprofessional advice, helping victims and their familiesto understand and cope with this troubling,shockingly widespread affliction.

Customer Reviews (106)

Swings from simple to understand to technical and tough terrain
This book is well written and informative, but also very tough at times to get though technical language. I did learn a lot about a loved one by reading it, but it took commitment to get through. :)

The Self Esteem Workbook
This book was a wonderful resource for me as a crisis counselor.My clients found many of the exercises to be therapeutic.

Cover 2 Cover!
Living with a wife who has this issue has been very difficult.We've been married for 24 years.We have four beautiful children...so it is possible.This book helped explain the issues and gave me some new ideas for responding to the next crisis.

Very depressing
This book resonated so strongly and was the most informative of any I have read (and ive read them all), but it lacked all hope.You really have to personally have experienced all the situations described to understand how words like "manipulative" and the characterization of bp in general would impact someone struggling so hard to make sense of irrational behaviors that in fact do seem to conform to such motives.I felt so demeaned and hopeless, completely objectified.It was overwhelming.

Chapter 1
I don't know if this book will be any help to you but it was NOT to me...

My wife only read the 1st chapter, "I HATE YOU..." and then she stopped...

I think she found her answer :)
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Book Description
The New Personality Self -portrait  is the only guide to personality types based on  the American Psychiatric Association's  just-published official diagnostic system -- the DSM  -IV -- and written by one of today's  leading personality researchers. A long-time  backlist bestseller in its previous edition, it has now  been completely updated to include all the  fascinating new information about how we become who we  are-and how we can change. The self-test in  The New Personality Self -portrait is  already used extensively in mental health and  business settings. It reveals a profile so personal,  so accurate, that it's as individual as a  fingerprint. Readers discover their unique mix of 14  distinct personality styles -- and learn how those  traits impact their relationships, work and home  life. Fascinating case histories show each style in  action, with tips on how to live and work with  every type, and exercises for turning  vulnerabilities into strengths -- plus warnings about when  individual differences develop into personality  disorders. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

Not recommended - much better books exist for understanding yourself & other people
Although the introductory chapter of this book started out promisingly enough, I've read half of the book and given up because I was so disappointed with it.

The book's introduction explains that it is based upon the DSV-IV - which is a manual which outlines 14 different types of personality disorders. This book sees each of those 14 personality disorders as extreme versions of 14 normal and healthy personalities.

Unfortunately when you read the personality portraits of each of the 14 supposedly normal and healthy personalities, you'll come to the conclusion that none of these personalities are normal or healthy at all. The book describes personalities which demonstrate behaviours which clearly would impede a person's ability to either hold down a job or form HEALTHY human relationships. All of the personality portraits describe people with problems of self-importance, selfishness and a lack of integrity in terms of their character - i.e. they just act the way they do, even if the way they act is hypocritical because they expect others to obey rules that they themselves blatantly ignore.

The advice and tips on dealing with each personality type amounts to walking on eggshells: i.e. "This is what makes this person react negatively, they cannot be anything different, therefore give them what they want or just avoid broaching that particular topic with them."

When I completed the personality self-portrait questionnaire and read the descriptions of the personalities that I supposedly had within me, I was horrified and outraged to think that the authors of the book (a) thought that I was like that and (b) that this was a normal and healthy representation of a person's personality!

If you are looking for books to read on self-improvement, I recommend books that emphasis self-awareness and understanding other people. Stephen Covey's book "The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People" is an excellent book that promotes self-awareness and how to develop leadership skills by developing a good character and leading by example.

In terms of understanding how people think, I recommend David Keirsey's book "Please Understand Me II". It's a revised edition of original "Please Understand Me" and explains 16 different personality types which are very different, often conflict, but are all healthy. You'll laugh when you read the descriptions of each personality type, because it will remind you either of yourself or someone you know.

As for this book, the "New Personality Self-Portrait", I would advise you avoid unless you're a psychology student who wants to learn more about people with personality disorders and how that extremeness manifests itself.

Fun through navel gazing
If you are a Baby Boomer, as I am, you will find books about knowing yourself endlessly fascinating. I didn't really learn anything new about myself but I enjoyed the narcissism of the whole process. This was a great way to spend a lazy afternoon.

A True Self Portrait
I love this assessment and the information it reveals.I would like it even better if it was on line.:-)

WOW! Even better the 2nd time around!!!
So I have had this book on my bookshelf for while.I am an avid collector of psychology books, fascinated by people and figuring out what makes us all tick.

So when I picked this book up AGAIN in my bookshelf and started the read the chapter on the Sensitive Style, something just clicked for me.It was one of those rare "AHA" moments where things just make sense.

I picked up this book to learn about other people but what I am learning about myself is incredible.I have decided to go back and cover the book slooooooooooowly....page by page....Highly Recommended Keeper!!!

good book
people can learn alot about a few different types of person's mentalities from reading this book and also can take a test to see what kind of person they are. i took the test and felt the results were accurate. it was a fun read ... Read more