Synopses & Reviews
People with psychological problems almost always experience difficulties with interpersonal relationships and communication. Are interpersonal difficulties simply the result of psychological disturbance, or can they also precipitate and maintain psychopathology? This book provides an in-depth analysis of interpersonal theories and research findings on frequently encountered mental health problems. It integrates results from hundreds of studies on parent child relations, marital interaction, personal relationships, communication, and related areas. The focus is on elucidating the role of interpersonal difficulties in the development and persistence of the full range of major psychological disorders: depression, schizophrenia, eating disorders, anxiety, alcoholism, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders. In the process, the book provides the most comprehensive discussion to date of the interpersonal paradigm in mental health.
Review
"This book is long overdue! Despite widespread interest in the interpersonal aspects of emotional and behavioral problems over the past 20 years, this is the first book to undertake a comprehensive look at the antecedents and sequelae of particular psychological problems from an interpersonal perspective. With his impressive command of the relevant literatures in clinical, social, and developmental psychology, Segrin has given us an interesting, readable book that will be equally appealing to researchers interested in the interpersonal bases of psychological problems and mental health practitioners of all types."--Mark R. Leary, PhD, Wake Forest University
"The main contribution of this book is its combination of a strong historical analysis with the clear delineation of an interpersonal approach to understanding mental illness. Stimulating, comprehensive, and extremely well researched and well written, the book describes the emergence of the interpersonal approach and its emphasis on social behaviors, communication, and interpersonal contexts in the life of the 'patient.' Segrin offers a refreshing and novel perspective....This is groundbreaking work and offers a truly inspiring set of proposals for future research on mental illness."--Steve Duck, PhD, University of Iowa
"An interpersonal approach to psychopathology is rich with potential, but until now has lacked a guiding work that is both comprehensive and accessible. It is no surprise that Segrin, a leading interpersonal theorist and researcher, has produced an excellent response to this need. This book is engaging, systematic, and thorough, and will be of real interest to clinicians and students, as well as researchers concerned with psychopathology."--Thomas Joiner, PhD, Department of Psychology, Florida State University
Synopsis
People with psychological problems almost always experience difficulties with interpersonal relationships and communication. Are interpersonal difficulties simply the result of psychological disturbance, or can they also precipitate and maintain psychopathology? This book presents an in-depth analysis of interpersonal theories and research findings on frequently encountered mental health problems. It reviews a vast body of knowledge on how interpersonal experiences fundamentally shape an individual's behavior, thoughts, and emotions, sometimes with painful and far-reaching effects. In the process, the book provides the most comprehensive discussion to date of the interpersonal paradigm in mental health.
Written in a clear, nontechnical style, the book takes a close look at the full range of major psychological disorders: depression, schizophrenia, eating disorders, anxiety, alcoholism, bipolar disorder, and personality disorders. Chapters describe the clinical features and epidemiology of each disorder and examine its interpersonal characteristics in depth. The focus is two-fold, encompassing both how interpersonal difficulties affect psychological problems and how these problems then disrupt relationships and communication. The book cogently demonstrates that interpersonal events have a profound impact on the development, course, and consequences of specific disorders, even those that can be traced to biological or cognitive factors. Also discussed are broader connections between interpersonal experiences and vulnerability to psychopathology. Throughout, findings are incorporated from diverse theoretical, disciplinary, and methodological perspectives, including hundreds of studies of parent-child relations, marital interaction, personal relationships, interpersonal communication, and everyday social interactions. Bringing readers up to date on current knowledge, the book also identifies key areas for future investigation.
This timely work will be read with interest by students, researchers, and practitioners in clinical, social, personality, and developmental psychology; interpersonal communication; counseling psychology; and family studies. It will serve as a text in advanced undergraduate and graduate-level courses.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 225-281) and index.
About the Author
Chris Segrin, PhD, is Associate Professor of Communication at the University of Arizona, where he also holds adjunct appointments in the Departments of Psychology and Family Studies. His research focuses on the role of interpersonal relationships and social skills in psychosocial problems such as depression, loneliness, and anxiety. Current research interests also include family communication and predictors of relational and marital distress. Dr. Segrin's work can be found in such journals as
Journal of Abnormal Psychology,
Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology,
Journal of Social and Personal Relationships,
Human Communication Research, and
Communication Monographs.
Table of Contents
1. Origins and Overview of Interpersonal Approaches to Mental Health Problems
2. Depression
3. Social Anxiety
4. Schizophrenia
5. Bipolar Disorder
6. Personality Disorders
7. Eating Disorders
8. Alcoholism and Other Substance Use Problems
9. Somatoform Disorders and Psychogenic Sexual Dysfunctions
10. The Interpersonal Paradigm in Mental Health