Anxiety and Phobic Disorders: A Pragmatic Approach / Edition 1

by Wendy K. Silverman, Wiliam M. Kurtines

Overview

For many years, anxiety and phobie disorders ofchildhoodand adolescence were ignored by clinicians and researchers alike. They were viewed as largely benign, as problems that were relatively mild, age-specific, and transitory. With time, it was thought, they would simply disappear or "go away"-that the child or adolescent would magically "outgrow" them with development and that they would not adversely affect the growing child or adolescent. As a result ofsuch thinking, it was concluded that these "internalizing" problems were not worthy or deserving of our concerted and careful attention-that other problems of childhood and adolescence and, in particular, "externalizing" problems such as conduct disturbance, oppositional defiance, and attention-deficit problems de­ manded our professional energies and resources. These assumptions and asser­ tions have been challenged vigorously in recent years. Scholarly books (King, Hamilton, & Ollendick, 1988; Morris & Krahwill, 1983) have documented the considerable distress and misery associated with these disorders, while reviews of the literature have demonstrated that these disorders are anything but transitory; for a significant number of youth these problems persist into late adolescence and adulthood (Ollendick & King, 1994). Clearly, such findings signal the need for treatment programs that "work"—programs that are effective in the short term and efficacious over the long haul, producing effects that are durable and generalizable, as weil as effects that enhance the life functioning of children and adolescents and the families that evince such problems.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780306452277
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	03/31/1996
Series:	Clinical Child Psychology Library
Edition description:	1996
Pages:	142
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.36(d)

About the Author

Silverman, Wendy K. (Florida International Univ); Kurtines, William M. (Florida International Univ)

Table of Contents

I. Background.- 1. A Pragmatic Attitude.- II. Evaluation.- 2. Assessment.- 3. Assessment for Diagnosis.- III. Treatment.- 4. Building Blocks.- 5. Nuts and Bolts.- 6. Obstacles and Solutions.- IV. New and Better Ways.- 7. Working with Other Problems, Populations, and Contexts.- References.

Editorial Reviews

4 Stars! from Doody

This book is devoted to the pragmatic approach of treating anxiety and phobic disorders of childhood and adolescence. The seven chapters deal with background of the pragmatic approach, evaluation and treatment of anxiety, and new and better ways to deal with complicated treatments. The purpose is to offer ^^a fresh perspective on helping troubled children with anxious and phobic disorders.^^ The first chapter serves as an introduction to the pragmatic tradition, whereas the following chapters discuss evaluation and treatment using a pragmatic approach. The authors apply the ^^transfer of-control^^ approach for implementing an exposure-based treatment program with elementary and middle school age children. The objectives are met in a clear and concise manner. The book addresses a wide range of mental health providers, from students to seasoned professionals. It is aimed at clinicians who are looking for fresh ideas on how to approach anxiety and phobic disorders in those they treat. The authors' expertise is readily apparent by the wealth of personal clinical data interspersed in the material. Most of the chapters contain tables summarizing important information. The treatment chapters contain actual examples of completed homework assignments and excerpts from therapy sessions, both of which are invaluable in understanding the implementation of the treatment approach. The reference list and subject index are complete. This is a practical and useful guide for the treatment of anxiety and phobic disorders in children and adolescents. One of the most outstanding features is the authors' use of clinical data to demonstrate techniques and concepts. This book is useful for bothbeginners and those looking for a new approach to the common problem of anxiety. The pragmatic approach, although useful, is at times overdone.

Angela Nuzzarello

Presents guidelines for assessment, intervention, and treatment procedures for children suffering from anxiety and phobic disorders, describing the authors' transfer of control approach and its implementation in their exposure-based treatment program. Numerous case examples illustrate how to overcome treatment obstacles, and how to treat children in groups, with parents, and in schools. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

Reviewer: Angela Nuzzarello, MD (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine)
Description: This book is devoted to the pragmatic approach of treating anxiety and phobic disorders of childhood and adolescence. The seven chapters deal with background of the pragmatic approach, evaluation and treatment of anxiety, and new and better ways to deal with complicated treatments.
Purpose: The purpose is to offer "a fresh perspective on helping troubled children with anxious and phobic disorders." The first chapter serves as an introduction to the pragmatic tradition, whereas the following chapters discuss evaluation and treatment using a pragmatic approach. The authors apply the "transfer of-control" approach for implementing an exposure-based treatment program with elementary and middle school age children. The objectives are met in a clear and concise manner.
Audience: The book addresses a wide range of mental health providers, from students to seasoned professionals. It is aimed at clinicians who are looking for fresh ideas on how to approach anxiety and phobic disorders in those they treat. The authors' expertise is readily apparent by the wealth of personal clinical data interspersed in the material.
Features: Most of the chapters contain tables summarizing important information. The treatment chapters contain actual examples of completed homework assignments and excerpts from therapy sessions, both of which are invaluable in understanding the implementation of the treatment approach. The reference list and subject index are complete.
Assessment: This is a practical and useful guide for the treatment of anxiety and phobic disorders in children and adolescents. One of the most outstanding features is the authors' use of clinical data to demonstrate techniques and concepts. This book is useful for both beginners and those looking for a new approach to the common problem of anxiety. The pragmatic approach, although useful, is at times overdone.

Doody's Review Service