This first Canadian edition of Essentials of Abnormal Psychology covers the terrain one might expect of an abnormal psychology textbook. This includes chapters on historical context, approaches to psychopathology, clinical assessment, diagnosis and research methods, anxiety disorders, somatoform and dissociative disorders, mood disorders and suicide, physical disorders and health psychology, eating and sleep disorders, sexual and gender identity disorders, substance-related disorders, personality disorders, schizophrenia and other related disorders, developmental and cognitive disorders, and finally, legal and ethical issues as related to mental health.
Although the book initially may look rather dense (it is not), there are numerous organisational aids to facilitate learning. These include concept checks (answers included) embedded throughout the chapters, multiple-choice quizzes, and a visual "Cole's Notes" summary of the causes, symptoms, and treatments for the different diagnoses. Students should find the accompanying CD with brief clips of therapists interviewing clients with various mental disorders intriguing and thought-provoking. Instructors may appreciate that each clip has an associated question (e.g., "What symptoms of depression are evident?").