The clinical cases in this book are about real people suffering from psychopathology. Reviewing these cases will allow the early clinician to learn by observing the decision-making process of experienced clinicians. Reading this book is as close to a real-life experience as a reader can have without a patient in front of them.
Each chapter is consistently organized to answer these central questions concerning clinical presentation: functional impairment; DSM diagnosis (keyed to DSM-V); epidemiology; differential diagnosis; etiology and pathogenesis; natural course without treatment; evidence-based bio-psycho-socio-spiritual treatment options; clinical course with management and treatment; systems-based practice issues; and legal, ethical, and cultural challenges.

Designed as a clinical companion to the bestselling text, Essential Psychopathology and Its Treatment: Third Edition, this book's important lessons can also be learned by reading it as a stand-alone text.