Dimensional Psychopathology

Description

This book presents an innovative approach to clinical assessment in psychiatry based on a number of psychopathological dimensions with a presumed underlying pathophysiology, that are related to fundamental phenomenological aspects and lie on a continuum from normality to pathology. It is described how the evaluation of these dimensions with a specific, validated rapid assessment instrument could easily integrate and enrich the classical diagnostic DSM-5 or ICD-10 assessment. The supplemental use of this dimensional approach can better capture the complexity underlying current categories of mental illness. The findings from a large patient sample suggest how this assessment could give a first glance at how variable and multifaceted the psychopathological components within a single diagnostic category can be, and thereby optimise diagnosis and treatment choices. Being short and easy to complete, this dimensional assessment can be done in a busy clinical setting, during an ordinary psychiatric visit, and in an acute clinical context, with limited effort by a minimally trained clinician. Therefore, it provides interesting and useful information without additional costs, and allows research work to be performed even in difficult settings. Front Matter ....Pages i-xiii The SVARAD Scale for Rapid Dimensional Assessment: Development and Applications in Research (Massimo Biondi, Paola Gaetano, Massimo Pasquini, Angelo Picardi)....Pages 1-28 Dimensional Assessment with SVARAD in Clinical Practice (Massimo Biondi, Martina Valentini, Corinna Pancheri, Daria Piacentino, Massimo Pasquini, Angelo Picardi)....Pages 29-81 The Apprehension/Fear and Somatic Preoccupation/Somatisation Dimensions (Roberto Delle Chiaie, Amedeo Minichino)....Pages 83-125 The Reality Distortion and Thought Disorganisation Dimensions (Lorenzo Tarsitani, Annalisa Maraone)....Pages 127-158 Psychopathological Dimensions in Emergency Psychiatry: Determinants of Admission, Compulsory Treatment, and Therapeutic Intervention (Federico Dazzi, Luigi Orso, Angelo Picardi, Massimo Biondi)....Pages 159-174 Sadness/Demoralisation and Apathy (Angelo Picardi, Paola Gaetano, Elisa Fabi)....Pages 175-209 The “Outer Dimensions”: Impulsivity, Anger/Aggressiveness, Activation (Francesco Saverio Bersani, Massimo Pasquini)....Pages 211-232 The Obsessive-Compulsive Dimension (Ines Taddei, Martina Valentini, Massimo Pasquini)....Pages 233-265 Psychopathological Dimensions and the Clinician’s Subjective Experience (Mauro Pallagrosi, Angelo Picardi, Laura Fonzi, Massimo Biondi)....Pages 267-286 Phenomenology of Temporality and Dimensional Psychopathology (Thomas Fuchs, Mauro Pallagrosi)....Pages 287-300