Investigating Abnormal Behaviour

This textbook is a readable and accessible introduction to a fascinating field of study. Abnormal behaviour is a large subject which has attracted a great variety of approaches, but rather than attempting a brief survey of everything from schizophrenia to mild stress, this book concentrates on an analysis of the key issues that arise in the classification and treatment of abnormal behaviour. After an examination of some basic conceptual questions, the authors look at problems of classification and explanation, using depression as the main illustrative example. They then go on to describe the major psychological approaches to the treatment of behavioural abnormalities, and the most important types of therapy that have been employed or advocated. The book ends with case studies of headache and mental handicap, which illustrate issues arising in earlier chapters.