Overview
Psychopathology is the study of the signs and symptoms of psychiatric disorders: delusions, hallucinations, phobias, depression, for example. This book gives an account of the terms currently in use and attempts an in-depth analysis of the nature of each. The matter is examined both from a philosophical perspective and from the point of view of what is known about the function of the hemispheres of the brain.
The book contains black-and-white illustrations.
Synopsis
Psychopathology is the study of the signs and symptoms of psychiatric disorders: delusions, hallucinations, phobias, depression, for example. This book gives an account of the terms currently in use and attempts an in-depth analysis of the nature of each. The matter is examined both from a philosophical perspective and from the point of view of what is known about the function of the hemispheres of the brain.
Joseph Fink
This book is an ambitious attempt to elucidate and integrate the philosophical and neuropsychological underpinnings of psychopathology theory. The endeavor is richly suffused with the philosophical perspectives of Kant, Schopenhauer, and Bergson, a neuropsychological perspective informed by dual hemisphere theory, and Dr. Cutting's own grasp of the history of psychopathology theory. "The author aims in part to deliver a comprehensive reference book on psychopathology, but also seeks to explicate the theoretical assumptions that undergird psychopathology. Eclectic, and at times encyclopedic in its wide-ranging attempts to integrate philosophy and neuropsychology, the book lacks somewhat in cogency. The copious detail provided by the text comes at the expense of tightly argued and organized principles that would make the work more accessible to a wide range of readers. "Whereas the book will likely appeal to advanced clinicians and theoreticians interested in the philosophical structure of psychopathology theory, it would seem to be less approachable for clinicians engaged in daily clinical work. As such, its objective to be a comprehensive reference book on psychopathology will be best met for academicians rather than clinicians or beginning students. "The table of contents, index, and references are all quite good. Many of the tables embedded in the text, however, tend to be overly detailed for a work aimed at drawing out general principles. "This scholarly work is rich in detail, ambitious in scope and purpose, and laudable for its attempts to integrate multiple perspectives. Although it is unlikely to serve well as a comprehensive reference on psychopathology for clinicians, itis a welcome and learned project of integration for those interested in the philosophical, historical, and scientific assumptions that underlie our evolving models of psychopathology.
Editorials
From The Critics
Reviewer: Joseph Fink, PhD(Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine)Description: This book is an ambitious attempt to elucidate and integrate the philosophical and neuropsychological underpinnings of psychopathology theory. The endeavor is richly suffused with the philosophical perspectives of Kant, Schopenhauer, and Bergson, a neuropsychological perspective informed by dual hemisphere theory, and Dr. Cutting's own grasp of the history of psychopathology theory.
Purpose: The author aims in part to deliver a "comprehensive reference book on psychopathology," but also seeks to explicate the theoretical assumptions that undergird psychopathology. Eclectic, and at times encyclopedic in its wide-ranging attempts to integrate philosophy and neuropsychology, the book lacks somewhat in cogency. The copious detail provided by the text comes at the expense of tightly argued and organized principles that would make the work more accessible to a wide range of readers.
Audience: Whereas the book will likely appeal to advanced clinicians and theoreticians interested in the philosophical structure of psychopathology theory, it would seem to be less approachable for clinicians engaged in daily clinical work. As such, its objective to be a "comprehensive reference book on psychopathology" will be best met for academicians rather than clinicians or beginning students.
Features: The table of contents, index, and references are all quite good. Many of the tables embedded in the text, however, tend to be overly detailed for a work aimed at drawing out general principles.
Assessment: This scholarly work is rich in detail, ambitious in scope and purpose, and laudable for its attempts to integrate multiple perspectives. Although it is unlikely to serve well as a comprehensive reference on psychopathology for clinicians, it is a welcome and learned project of integration for those interested in the philosophical, historical, and scientific assumptions that underlie our evolving models of psychopathology.
Joseph Fink
This book is an ambitious attempt to elucidate and integrate the philosophical and neuropsychological underpinnings of psychopathology theory. The endeavor is richly suffused with the philosophical perspectives of Kant, Schopenhauer, and Bergson, a neuropsychological perspective informed by dual hemisphere theory, and Dr. Cutting's own grasp of the history of psychopathology theory. "The author aims in part to deliver a comprehensive reference book on psychopathology, but also seeks to explicate the theoretical assumptions that undergird psychopathology. Eclectic, and at times encyclopedic in its wide-ranging attempts to integrate philosophy and neuropsychology, the book lacks somewhat in cogency. The copious detail provided by the text comes at the expense of tightly argued and organized principles that would make the work more accessible to a wide range of readers. "Whereas the book will likely appeal to advanced clinicians and theoreticians interested in the philosophical structure of psychopathology theory, it would seem to be less approachable for clinicians engaged in daily clinical work. As such, its objective to be a comprehensive reference book on psychopathology will be best met for academicians rather than clinicians or beginning students. "The table of contents, index, and references are all quite good. Many of the tables embedded in the text, however, tend to be overly detailed for a work aimed at drawing out general principles. "This scholarly work is rich in detail, ambitious in scope and purpose, and laudable for its attempts to integrate multiple perspectives. Although it is unlikely to serve well as a comprehensive reference on psychopathology for clinicians, itis a welcome and learned project of integration for those interested in the philosophical, historical, and scientific assumptions that underlie our evolving models of psychopathology.2 Stars from Doody