Synopses & Reviews
Review
"This is a must-have book for clinicians and students alike. 4 Stars"--Doody's Electronic Review "Dr. Zuckerman could have justifiably entitled this extraordinary book "The Clinician's Handbook." The Clinician's Thesaurus is much more than a thesaurus--it's more like a comprehensive guide for client assessment and report writing. Zuckerman has done a remarkable job at creating an extremely valuable and easy-to-use resource for seasoned clinicians and students alike."--Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Book Reviews
Review
"
The Clinicians Thesaurus has once again been extensively revised, with the help of many suggestions from readers, to reflect clinical realities in the 21st century. Of course, the title doesn't do it justice: in addition to offering lists of synonyms, the book provides a vast smorgasbord of the materials that mental health clinicians need to evaluate patients, write reports, and navigate the often confusing nuances of nomenclature. I value it especially because its reach extends far beyond the confines of DSM-IV to address the countless questions and procedures not covered by official diagnostic manuals. This reference is indispensable for any clinician whose work depends heavily on language--in other words, all of us. It richly deserves its honored place on my desk."--James Morrison, MD, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University
"I find the Thesaurus particularly useful for constructing forensic reports, in that it enhances the precision of the language used. Precisely written reports are much less subject to litigious misinterpretation."--Edward B. Heyden, EdD, Psychology Master's Program, Carlos Albizu University, Miami, Florida
"The Clinicians Thesaurus, 6th Edition, is a comprehensive reference for anyone working in the field of mental health: the student preparing for a clinical career, the seasoned professional fulfilling the myriad demands of the field, or the supervisor overseeing the performance of a broad range of professionals. Not only does the Thesaurus offer detailed guidelines for conducting mental health evaluations, it also offers practical advice on writing up and presenting evaluation findings. The flow of the chapters provides a convenient, comprehensive approach to interviewing, report writing, and their relationship to treatment. The book includes concise descriptions of all major mental health diagnoses and their behavioral nuances, and clearly illustrates the relationship among assessment, diagnosis, and intervention. This clear, user-friendly work is designed to help the clinician successfully tackle one of the most challenging aspects of clinical work, the skillful documentation of evaluation and treatment."--Ann A. Abbott, PhD, LCSW, Graduate Social Work Department, West Chester University
Synopsis
Now in a revised and updated sixth edition, this perennially popular resource provides quick and handy access to the entire language of the mental health professions. More than a giant collection of synonyms, the book includes thousands of useful words, phrases, clinical tips, and interview questions to help practitioners conduct thorough assessments, accurately describe nearly any clinical situation, and shape raw data into effective reports. Updated for compliance with HIPAA privacy regulations, the sixth edition features easier-to-navigate, reorganized contents; numerous additional terms; matched listings for DSM-IV-TR and ICD-9 diagnostic criteria; many helpful website addresses; and much more--all in a large-size format with convenient lay-flat binding.
About the Author
Edward L. Zuckerman received his PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and remained there as an adjunct teacher of personality psychology and human sexuality for 14 years. He taught abnormal psychology at Carnegie Mellon University for 9 years and now consults to the Social Security Disability Determination Division. He was in the independent general practice of clinical psychology for more than 15 years and has worked in state hospitals and community mental health centers. He lives on a small farm in Pennsylvania with his wife, a daughter, and their horses, chickens, dogs, cats, geese, and ducks.
Table of Contents
Getting Oriented to the Clinician's Thesaurus
I. Conducting a Mental Health Evaluation
1. Beginning and Ending the Interview
2. Mental Status Evaluation Questions/Tasks
3. Questions about Signs, Symptoms, and Other Behavior Patterns
II. Standard Terms and Statements for Wording Psychological Reports
A. Introducing the Report
4. Beginning the Report: Preliminary Information
5. Referral Reasons
6. Background Information and History
B. The Person in the Evaluation
7. Behavioral Observations
8. Responses to Aspects of the Examination
9. Presentation of Self
10. Emotional/Affective Symptoms and Disorders
11. Cognition and Mental Status
12. Abnormal Signs, Symptoms, and Syndromes
13. Personality Patterns
C. The Person in the Environment
14. Activities of Daily Living
15. Social/Community Functioning
16. Couple and Family Relationships
17. Vocational/Academic Skills
18. Recreational Functioning
19. Other Specialized Evaluations
D. Completing the Report
20. Summary of Findings and Conclusions
21. Diagnostic Statement/Impression
22. Recommendations
23. Prognostic Statements
24. Closing Statements
III. Useful Resources
25. Treatment Planning and Treatment Plan Formats
26. Formats for Reports, Evaluations, and Summaries
27. Treatments for Specific Disorders and Concerns
28. Listing of Common Psychiatric and Psychoactive Drugs
29. Psychiatric Masquerade of Medical Conditions
Appendices: A. Abbreviations in Common Use
B. Annotated Readings in Assessment, Interviewing, and Report Writing