Product Description

This is the first text to come along in many years that makes psychoanalytic personality theory and its implications for practice accessible to beginning practitioners. The last book of its kind, which was published more than 20 years ago, predated the development of such significant concepts as borderline syndromes, narcissistic pathology, dissociative disorders and self-defeating personality.
Contemporary students often react with bewilderment to the language of pioneering analysts like Reich and Fenichel and, since 1980, the various volumes of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) have reflected an empirical-descriptive orientation that deliberately eschews psychodynamic assumptions. Consequently, today's therapist in training may have little exposure to the rich clinical and theoretical history behind each disorder mentioned in DSM; to psychoanalytic expertise with widely recognized character patterns not mentioned in DSM, such as depressive and hypomanic psychologies, high-functioning schizoid personalities, and hysterical personalities; or to a comprehensive, theoretically sophisticated rationale that links assessment to treatment.
Filling the need for a text that clearly lays out the conceptual heritage that psychoanalytic practitioners take for granted, this important new volume explicates the major clinically important character types and suggests how an appreciation of the patients' individual personality structure should influence the therapist's focus and style of intervention. Dispensing with the dense jargon that often discourages people from learning, Nancy McWilliams writes in a lucid, personal manner that demystifies psychodynamic theory and practice. Innumerable clinical vignettes are presented with humor, candor, and compassion, bringing abstract concepts to life.
Comprehensive in scope, Psychoanalytic Diagnosis will be valued by seasoned clinicians and students alike. Psychodynamically oriented readers will find it an excellent introduction to psychoanalytic diagnostic thinking. For those identified with other approaches, it will foster psychoanalytic literacy, providing them with the capacity to better understand the approaches of their analytically oriented colleagues.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14502 in Books
• Published on: 1994-04-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 398 pages

Review
"...a much needed text which...will benefit both clinicians and psychotherapists in training....Considering the wealth of clinical material and wisdom found in this book, I think it is well worth the price. It is of great topical interest, and I highly recommend it to all residents and mental-health professionals involved in dynamic psychotherapy." --Canadian Journal of Psychiatry

"If a 'charming textbook' seems like an oxymoron, then welcome to Nancy McWilliams's Psychoanalytic Diagnosis. Her book is just such a wonder....McWilliams has succeeded in producing a book for initial learning that will remain on her readers' desks as a frequently thumbed manual." --Psychoanalytic Books

"Thanks to McWilliams's excellent book, those of us who teach or supervise can at last offer our students and supervisees a comprehensive, exceptionally well-organized text on diagnosis, grounded in evolving psychoanalytic theory and focused on linking diagnosis to the appropriate therapeutic response....Since reading Psychoanalytic Diagnosis, I have found myself using it as a teaching tool and reference when diagnostic questions arise that have implications for therapeutic interventions." --Contemporary Psychology

"...this text serves as a good introduction to the field of psychodynamic therapy and conceptualization." --American Journal of Psychotherapy

"In her sweeping, comprehensive work about a psychoanalytic perspectives on diagnosis, Dr. McWilliams has written a book which could easily become classic as a psychoanalytic primer for students in the field...This book is worthy of a wide readership." --Clinical Social Work Journal
-- Review

If a 'charming textbook' seems like an oxymoron, then welcome to Nancy McWilliams's Psychoanalytic Diagnosis. Her book is just such a wonder....McWilliams has succeeded in producing a book for initial learning that will remain on her readers' desks as a requently thumbed manual -- Psychoanalytic Books, 7:3

In her sweeping, comprehensive work about a psychoanalytic perspectives on diagnosis, Dr. McWilliams has written a book which could easily become classic as a psychoanalytic primer for students in the field...This book is worthy of a wide readership -- Clinical Social Work Journal, Sept 95

Psychoanalytic Diagnosis is a highly readable approach to character pathology that combines theoretical sophistication with clinical wisdom. Nancy McWilliams is an experienced, empathic, and intelligent therapist who succeeds in making clinical material come alive through her perceptiveness and her skill in writing. It isn't often that diagnosis is linked in a meaningful way to treatment, and McWilliams' schema allows this to happen. In addition, she shows an appreciation of all of the approaches to psychoanalytic theory without succumbing to a doctrinaire formulation. The integration that is achieved is an accomplishment in its own right, and students at all levels of training should benefit from this lucid presentation -- George Stricker, Ph.D., Distinguished Research Professor, Adelphi University

Thanks to McWilliams's excellent book, those of us who teach or supervise can at last offer our students and supervisees a comprehensive, exceptionally well-organized text on diagnosis, grounded in evolving psychoanalytic theory and focused on linking diagnosis to the appropriate therapeutic response....Since reading Psychoanalytic Diagnosis, I have found myself using it as a teaching tool and reference when diagnostic questions arise that have implications for therapeutic interventions -- Contemporary Psychology 41:6

Review
"Books by Nancy McWilliams used in unison make the best psychodynamic resources I have yet encountered in more than 60 years in the field."--Robert C. Lane, PhD, Department of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University

"The aim of Nancy McWilliams's excellent (and I believe essential) book is twofold: first, to present a psychoanalytically oriented view of individual differences in personality structure and then, secondly, to show how these differences can be clinically and therapeutically useful....Stylistically, the writing is clear and simple and jargon is, for the most part, avoided. The case examples and anecdotes, especially those illustrating the different personality types, are well-chosen and illuminating." --Scott Miller, Ph.D. in New Jersey Psychologist

"A successful attempt to bring together the many strands of contemporary psychoanalytic investigation of the nature and psychotherapeutic treatment of character pathology. Readable and informative, this book moves easily from one theoretical frame to another according to the usefulness of each frame for understanding a specific aspect of the character pathology....The result is a book that should be helpful to the psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapist of personality disorders as well as to the clinician in carrying out the differential diagnosis of these conditions....The thoughtful references, at crucial points, to literature that permits the reader to deepen his or her understanding in this field enriches and broadens the perspective opened by this excellent primer." --Otto F. Kernberg, M.D.

"Comprehensible and readable--lends itself to graduate studies." --Cathleen Adams, Ph.D., New School for Social Research, Graduate Psychology

"This is a clear, superbly written text. The author consistently develops the treatment implications of diagnostic statements." --Virginia Brabender, Ph.D., ABPP-Cl

"This book is so well written, and with such subtlety, sensitivity, and clarity, it gave me goosebumps to read it." --Garry Walls, Ph.D., Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Chicago IL; Course: Psychopathology I

"Psychoanalytic Diagnosis is a highly readable approach to character pathology that combines theoretical sophistication with clinical wisdom. Nancy Williams is an experienced, empathic, and intelligent therapist who succeeds in making clinical material come alive through her perceptiveness and her skill in writing. It isn't often that diagnosis is linked in a meaningful way to treatment, and McWilliams' schema allows this to happen. In addition, she shows an appreciation of all of the approaches to psychoanalytic theory without succumbing to a doctrinaire formulation. The integration that is achieved is an accomplishment in its own right, and students at all levels of training should benefit from this lucid presentation."
--George Stricker, Ph.D., Distinguished Research Professor, Adelphi University

"Finally, a current, lucid, and comprehensive psychoanalytic text on psychology. It takes into account all of the most recent developments in psychoanalytic thinking. It is an ideal text for serious students of psychoanalytic approaches to psychopathology." --Jonathan H. Slavin, Ph.D., Director, Counseling Center, Tufts University

"A superb, highly readable work on the understanding of character patterns in clinical practice....PSYCHOANALYTIC DIAGNOSIS will be of immense value to all students undertaking training in the psychodynamic tradition. Because this book is so broadly integrative in scope and so rich in clinical understanding, it will be of great interest to students and practitioners of other theoretical persuasions as well." --George E. Atwood, Ph.D.

"For the students of therapy, for the young practitioner, for those interested in a diagnostic model for the initial stage of analytic therapy, I recommend this book. The prose is lucid, lively, and very readable. The author demonstrates refreshing candor about therapeutic work, empathy toward patients, as well as invaluable knowledge and insights gleaned from the clinical setting. McWilliams writes about complex constructs in psychoanalytic theory in a clear and comprehensive way...." --Doris K. Silverman, Ph.D.

"This is diagnosis, not as labeling, but as making distinctions with consequences for treatment....This book sensitizes the therapist to differences that make a difference, and provides a conceptual bridge for using psychoanalytic knowledge to greatly increase the effectiveness even of brief psychotherapy, as well as longer-term treatments." --Bertram P. Karon, Ph.D.

"There has been a great need for a comprehensive book to address the relationships between character and therapy. McWilliams not only succeeds in writing a scholarly text, but brings each character type to life with clinical vignettes which make this a real page-turner. It offers a foundation to the beginner, and the more experienced psychotherapist will come away with a deeper understanding of people and the therapeutic process. I think it is destined to become a classic in psychotherapy literature." --Jean Ciardiello, Ed.D.


"...a much needed text which...will benefit both clinicians and psychotherapists in training....Considering the wealth of clinical material and wisdom found in this book, I think it is well worth the price. It is of great topical interest, and I highly recommend it to all residents and mental-health professionals involved in dynamic psychotherapy." --Canadian Journal of Psychiatry

"If a 'charming textbook' seems like an oxymoron, then welcome to Nancy McWilliams's Psychoanalytic Diagnosis. Her book is just such a wonder....McWilliams has succeeded in producing a book for initial learning that will remain on her readers' desks as a frequently thumbed manual." --Psychoanalytic Books

"Thanks to McWilliams's excellent book, those of us who teach or supervise can at last offer our students and supervisees a comprehensive, exceptionally well-organized text on diagnosis, grounded in evolving psychoanalytic theory and focused on linking diagnosis to the appropriate therapeutic response....Since reading Psychoanalytic Diagnosis, I have found myself using it as a teaching tool and reference when diagnostic questions arise that have implications for therapeutic interventions." --Contemporary Psychology

"...this text serves as a good introduction to the field of psychodynamic therapy and conceptualization." --American Journal of Psychotherapy

"In her sweeping, comprehensive work about a psychoanalytic perspectives on diagnosis, Dr. McWilliams has written a book which could easily become classic as a psychoanalytic primer for students in the field...This book is worthy of a wide readership." --Clinical Social Work Journal

About the Author
Nancy McWilliams, PhD, teaches psychoanalytic theory and therapy at the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers\m-\The State University of New Jersey. A senior analyst with the Institute for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy of New Jersey and the National Psychological Association for Psychoanalysis, she has a private practice in psychodynamic therapy and supervision in Flemington, New Jersey. Her previous book, [ital]Psychoanalytic Diagnosis[/ital] has become a standard text in many training programs for psychoanalysts, both in the United States and abroad. She has also authored articles and book chapters on personality, psychotherapy, psychodiagnosis, sexuality, feminism, and contemporary psychopathologies.

Customer Reviews

Straightforward solutions
This is an intelligent, practical and honest resource. It is not full of wordy, mind-numbing explanations like many other psychodynamic texts. Definitely would recommend.

Excellent book
Highly recommended for anyone interested in personality or clinical psychology. Nancy McWilliams is a fantastic writer and makes quite complex concepts very accessible and easily understandable. I also appreciate the compassion with which she discusses personality disordered individuals.

Accessible Freud
This book is required reading for my graduate studies, but after having read Brenner to get the complexities of Freud's theories, it is quite refreshing. The book is well organized, and it doesn't drown in academic language. It is fairly easy to understand, which makes it possible to put all of the components of psycho-dynamics together to make sense. I would reccommend this to anyone who wants to understand the origin of psycho-analysis, or to anyone who just is curious about Freud and how he influenced our world through his ground breaking theories.