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Empirically based assessment of child and adolescent psychopathology
143
Book Reviews
mood, and once again in the chapter on sex hormones and depression. In a similar fashion the effects of the HPA axis and mood were discussed under endocrinology and again under depression and medical illness. Two chapters which were particularly well done were “Depression and Cardiovascular Disease:’ and “Depression and Somatization.” When the authors in these chapters discuss the clinical and research literature they have selected important studies to illustrate their point and then proceeded to discuss them in detail, thereby providing useful information for the reader. In several other chapters, the authors choose to make one large generalized conclusion and then cite many studies in support of the statement without providing any detail about most of these. about Two further points deserve mention. First, the advice to practitioners treatments was almost entirely medical, despite evidence that psychological treatments are effective with affective disorders, eating problems, and panic disorders. These suggestions will be of little value to the practicing psychologist. Secondly, the impression created by this book is that depression is ubiquitous. Scattered throughout the book are pieces of the biological theories for the etiology of depression. This fragmentation is a definite hindrance for the reader. A section on the various biological and neurochemical theories of affect disturbance would certainly help the reader understand the overall perspective better. Such chapters have been used in other published volumes. While there are some bright spots to this work, this reviewer felt that the overall volume was somewhat off the mark, and not as well done as other available sources of similar information. ROBERT
Empirically
Based Assessment
of Child
T. M. Achenbach and S. H. McConaughy. $19.95, pp. 168 ($12.95 softcover).
and Adolescent
California:
E. BECKER
Psychopathology.
Sage Publications,
By 1987.
As stated by the senior author, this book is intended as a sequel to the more comprehensive Assessment and Taxonomy of Child and Adolescent Psychopathology (Achenbath, 1985), with current emphasis on clinical application. The first three chapters introduce and discuss the need for standardized assessments and describe the use of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), the Teacher Report Form (TRF), the Youth Self-Report (YSR) and the Direct Observation-Form (DOF). The book is written in a clear and concise manner with liberal use of case examples. In fact, three of the seven chapters are devoted exclusively to case illustrations and the interpretation of assessment results. Overall, this book presents an approach to the assessment of child and adolescent psychopathology that the authors refer to as “empirically based assessment, because it is designed to tap the ways in which youngsters are actually seen by various informants . . . ” (p. 11). More specifically, their approach is psychometric and is limited to the use of the instruments generally associated with Dr. Achenbach. The authors do indicate that the comprehensive evaluation of a child may include many additional sources of information, including physical examination and clinical interview. Nevertheless, there is no question that the focus of the material is on the use of the CBCL, TRF, etc.
144
Book Reviews
It seems unfair to criticize this book for not being more than it is, when the authors make no pretense in this regard. However, there are many schools of thought on the most appropriate means of assessing psychopathology. This book provides no general discussion of alternative approaches to assessment nor how such alternatives contrast with the espoused methods. Instead, the book remains an (additional) presentation of how to use the above mentioned instruments. Despite its limitations, the book is a useful teaching devise for clinical students and beginning practitioners and does provide and introduction to one form of child psychopathology assessment. HELEN
ORVASCHEL
The Medical College of Pennsylvaniaat EPPI
The Practice
of Clinical
and K. E. Kelly. softcover).
Health
New York:
Psychology.
Pergamon
Press,
By C. D. Belar, W. W. Deardorff, 1987. pp. 166 $22.50 ($12.95
The Practice of Clinical Health Psycholopy, written by Belar, Deardorff, and Kelly, provides a basic introduction to the clinical practice of health psychology in the inpatient and outpatient settings. There are nine chapters, each devoted to a relevant clinical issue; topics include professional roles, training requirements, ethical and malpractice issues, and assessment and intervention strategies. Each chapter concludes with a list of suggested readings for further study of these content areas. The authors provide an excellent discussion of several areas of importance to clinical health psychologists. They make use of case examples to illustrate the diverse set of professional opportunities and challenges available to health psychologists. They also provide a thorough examination of “common pitfalls” in practice and make valuable recommendations for preventing and managing difficult clinical, ethical, and political circumstances. However, while this book is an excellent resource for the psychologist working in the medical setting, it provides little information on the development and maintenance of a private practice in health psychology. This book is ideal for the graduate student or clinical practitioner who does not already have expertise in clinical health psychology. I also recommend this book to the more seasoned health psychologist who wishes to refine or extend his or her professional role in this field. CARYN
E. LERMAN
Ample UniversitySchool of Medicine
Psychology
Pergamon
By W. B. Pryzwansky and R. N. Wendt. 1987. pp. 191 $22.50 ($23.95 softcover).
as a Profession.
Press,
The authors
New York:
state that:
. . the purpose of this book is to collate and present information regarding the foundation areas of practice in the psychology profession. This material should be helpful to those aspiring to join the ranks of psychologists who apply the scientific
Book Reviews
mood, and once again in the chapter on sex hormones and depression. In a similar fashion the effects of the HPA axis and mood were discussed under endocrinology and again under depression and medical illness. Two chapters which were particularly well done were “Depression and Cardiovascular Disease:’ and “Depression and Somatization.” When the authors in these chapters discuss the clinical and research literature they have selected important studies to illustrate their point and then proceeded to discuss them in detail, thereby providing useful information for the reader. In several other chapters, the authors choose to make one large generalized conclusion and then cite many studies in support of the statement without providing any detail about most of these. about Two further points deserve mention. First, the advice to practitioners treatments was almost entirely medical, despite evidence that psychological treatments are effective with affective disorders, eating problems, and panic disorders. These suggestions will be of little value to the practicing psychologist. Secondly, the impression created by this book is that depression is ubiquitous. Scattered throughout the book are pieces of the biological theories for the etiology of depression. This fragmentation is a definite hindrance for the reader. A section on the various biological and neurochemical theories of affect disturbance would certainly help the reader understand the overall perspective better. Such chapters have been used in other published volumes. While there are some bright spots to this work, this reviewer felt that the overall volume was somewhat off the mark, and not as well done as other available sources of similar information. ROBERT
Empirically
Based Assessment
of Child
T. M. Achenbach and S. H. McConaughy. $19.95, pp. 168 ($12.95 softcover).
and Adolescent
California:
E. BECKER
Psychopathology.
Sage Publications,
By 1987.
As stated by the senior author, this book is intended as a sequel to the more comprehensive Assessment and Taxonomy of Child and Adolescent Psychopathology (Achenbath, 1985), with current emphasis on clinical application. The first three chapters introduce and discuss the need for standardized assessments and describe the use of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), the Teacher Report Form (TRF), the Youth Self-Report (YSR) and the Direct Observation-Form (DOF). The book is written in a clear and concise manner with liberal use of case examples. In fact, three of the seven chapters are devoted exclusively to case illustrations and the interpretation of assessment results. Overall, this book presents an approach to the assessment of child and adolescent psychopathology that the authors refer to as “empirically based assessment, because it is designed to tap the ways in which youngsters are actually seen by various informants . . . ” (p. 11). More specifically, their approach is psychometric and is limited to the use of the instruments generally associated with Dr. Achenbach. The authors do indicate that the comprehensive evaluation of a child may include many additional sources of information, including physical examination and clinical interview. Nevertheless, there is no question that the focus of the material is on the use of the CBCL, TRF, etc.
144
Book Reviews
It seems unfair to criticize this book for not being more than it is, when the authors make no pretense in this regard. However, there are many schools of thought on the most appropriate means of assessing psychopathology. This book provides no general discussion of alternative approaches to assessment nor how such alternatives contrast with the espoused methods. Instead, the book remains an (additional) presentation of how to use the above mentioned instruments. Despite its limitations, the book is a useful teaching devise for clinical students and beginning practitioners and does provide and introduction to one form of child psychopathology assessment. HELEN
ORVASCHEL
The Medical College of Pennsylvaniaat EPPI
The Practice
of Clinical
and K. E. Kelly. softcover).
Health
New York:
Psychology.
Pergamon
Press,
By C. D. Belar, W. W. Deardorff, 1987. pp. 166 $22.50 ($12.95
The Practice of Clinical Health Psycholopy, written by Belar, Deardorff, and Kelly, provides a basic introduction to the clinical practice of health psychology in the inpatient and outpatient settings. There are nine chapters, each devoted to a relevant clinical issue; topics include professional roles, training requirements, ethical and malpractice issues, and assessment and intervention strategies. Each chapter concludes with a list of suggested readings for further study of these content areas. The authors provide an excellent discussion of several areas of importance to clinical health psychologists. They make use of case examples to illustrate the diverse set of professional opportunities and challenges available to health psychologists. They also provide a thorough examination of “common pitfalls” in practice and make valuable recommendations for preventing and managing difficult clinical, ethical, and political circumstances. However, while this book is an excellent resource for the psychologist working in the medical setting, it provides little information on the development and maintenance of a private practice in health psychology. This book is ideal for the graduate student or clinical practitioner who does not already have expertise in clinical health psychology. I also recommend this book to the more seasoned health psychologist who wishes to refine or extend his or her professional role in this field. CARYN
E. LERMAN
Ample UniversitySchool of Medicine
Psychology
Pergamon
By W. B. Pryzwansky and R. N. Wendt. 1987. pp. 191 $22.50 ($23.95 softcover).
as a Profession.
Press,
The authors
New York:
state that:
. . the purpose of this book is to collate and present information regarding the foundation areas of practice in the psychology profession. This material should be helpful to those aspiring to join the ranks of psychologists who apply the scientific