The Benefits of an Integrative Approach to Abnormal Psychology: A Summary of the 7th Edition of David H. Barlow's Book
Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach, 7th Edition David H. Barlow
If you are looking for a comprehensive and engaging book to help you succeed in your abnormal psychology course, you might want to check out Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach, seventh edition, by David H. Barlow, V. Mark Durand, and Stefan G. Hofmann. This book is not just a collection of facts and theories about psychological disorders; it is also a guide to understanding how these disorders are rooted in multiple factors: biological, psychological, cultural, social, familial, and even political. In this article, we will give you an overview of what this book has to offer and why it is worth reading.
Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach, 7th Edition David H. Barlow
What is abnormal psychology?
Abnormal psychology is the branch of psychology that studies unusual patterns of behavior, emotion, and thought that may or may not be understood as signs of mental illness. Abnormal psychology aims to describe, explain, predict, and treat psychological disorders that cause distress or impairment to individuals or society. Abnormal psychology is a fascinating but also challenging field because there is no clear-cut definition or criterion for what constitutes normality or abnormality. Different perspectives and approaches may have different opinions on how to classify, diagnose, or treat psychological disorders.
What is an integrative approach?
An integrative approach is a way of studying abnormal psychology that combines multiple perspectives and methods to provide a more complete and accurate picture of psychological disorders. An integrative approach recognizes that psychological disorders are complex phenomena that cannot be reduced to a single cause or factor. Instead, an integrative approach considers how biological, psychological, cultural, social, familial, and political influences interact and contribute to the development and maintenance of psychological disorders. An integrative approach also acknowledges that different perspectives may have different strengths and limitations, and that no single perspective can capture the whole truth. Therefore, an integrative approach seeks to synthesize and evaluate the evidence from different sources and levels of analysis to arrive at the best possible understanding and treatment of psychological disorders.
How does the book apply the integrative approach?
The book applies the integrative approach in several ways. First, it introduces the main perspectives and models of abnormal psychology, such as the biological, psychodynamic, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, existential, sociocultural, and diathesis-stress models. It explains how each perspective views the nature, causes, and treatment of psychological disorders, and how each perspective has its own advantages and disadvantages. Second, it presents the latest research findings from various disciplines and domains, such as neuroscience, genetics, epidemiology, cross-cultural studies, etc. It shows how these findings support or challenge different perspectives and models of abnormal psychology. Third, it illustrates how the integrative approach can be applied to specific psychological disorders by using case studies and examples from the authors' own clinical experience. It shows how different factors and influences can interact and affect the onset, course, and outcome of psychological disorders. Fourth, it discusses how the integrative approach can inform the assessment and treatment of psychological disorders by using evidence-based practices that draw on multiple sources of knowledge and methods.
How does the book cover different psychological disorders?
The book covers a wide range of psychological disorders that are commonly encountered in clinical practice or everyday life. The book is organized into six parts: Part One provides an introduction to abnormal psychology and the integrative approach; Part Two covers anxiety disorders; Part Three covers mood disorders; Part Four covers somatic symptom and dissociative disorders; Part Five covers schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders; Part Six covers personality disorders. Each part consists of several chapters that describe the features, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, prevalence, course, prognosis, and treatment of each disorder. The book also includes a table that summarizes the diagnostic criteria for each disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which is the standard reference for mental health professionals.
Anxiety disorders
Anxiety disorders are a group of psychological disorders that are characterized by excessive fear or anxiety that interferes with normal functioning. Fear is an emotional response to a real or perceived threat; anxiety is an anticipation of future threat or danger. Anxiety disorders are among the most common psychological disorders in the world. They affect about 18% of adults in the United States in any given year. Some of the anxiety disorders covered in the book are panic disorder, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Panic disorder and agoraphobia
Panic disorder is a psychological disorder that involves recurrent and unexpected panic attacks. A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear or discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes and is accompanied by physical symptoms such as palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, dizziness, etc. Agoraphobia is a fear or avoidance of situations where escape might be difficult or help might not be available in case of a panic attack or other embarrassing symptoms. People with panic disorder may or may not have agoraphobia. Panic disorder affects about 2-3% of adults in the United States in any given year.
A case study of a person with panic disorder and agoraphobia is Jane. Jane is a 35-year-old married woman who works as a secretary in a law firm. She had her first panic attack when she was driving on a highway six months ago. She felt like she was having a heart attack and pulled over to call 911. The paramedics arrived and told her she was fine physically but suggested she see a doctor for her anxiety. Since then, Jane has been having more panic attacks at random times and places. She has become afraid of driving on highways, going to crowded places like malls or movie theaters, being alone at home or at work, etc. She avoids these situations as much as possible and relies on her husband or friends to accompany her when she has to go out. She feels ashamed of her condition and worries about losing her job or her marriage.
Generalized anxiety disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a psychological disorder that involves persistent and excessive worry about various aspects of life such as work, health, family, finances, etc. People with GAD find it difficult to control their worry and experience symptoms such as restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, sleep problems, etc. GAD affects about 3-4% of adults in the United States 71b2f0854b