Includes bibliographical references and index.

Preface -- Conceptual issues / W. John Livesley -- Theoretical versus inductive approaches to contemporary personality pathology / Roger D. Davis, Maria Cristina Samaco-Zamora and Theodore Millon -- Official classification systems / Thomas A. Widiger -- Dimensional approaches to personality disorder classification / Shani Ofrat, Robert F. Krueger and Lee Anna Clark -- Cultural aspects of personality disorder / Roger T. Mulder -- Identity / Carsten René Jørgensen -- Attachment, mentalizing, and the self / Peter Fonagy and Patrick Luyten -- Cognitive structures and processes in personality disorders /Arnoud Arntz and Jill Lobbestael -- Taking stock of relationships among personality disorders and other forms of psychopathology / Merav Silverman and Robert F. Krueger -- Epidemiology of personality disorders / Theresa A. Morgan and Mark Zimmerman -- Understanding stability and change in the personality disorders: methodological and substantive issues underpinning interpretive challenges and the road ahead / Mark F. Lenzenweger, Michael N. Hallquist and Aidan G. C. Wright -- Personality pathology and disorder in children and youth / Andrew M. Chanen, Jennifer L. Tackett and Katherine N. Thompson -- Genetics / Kerry L. Jang and Philip A. Vernon -- Neurotransmitter function in personality disorder / Jennifer R. Fanning and Emil F. Coccaro -- Emotional regulation and emotional processing / Paul H. Soloff -- Neuropsychological perspectives / Marianne Skovgaard Thomsen, Anthony C. Ruocco, Birgit Bork Mathiesen and Erik Simonsen -- Childhood adversities and personality disorders / Joel Paris -- Developmental psychopathology / Rebecca L. Shiner and Timothy A. Allen -- An attachment perspective on callous and unemotional characteristics across development / Roseann M. Larstone, Stephanie G. Craig and Marlene M. Moretti -- Empirically validated diagnostic and assessment methods / Lee Anna Clark, Jaime L. Shapiro, Elizabeth Daly, Emily N. Vanderbleek, Morgan R. Negrón and Julie Harrison -- Clinical assessment / John F. Clarkin, W. John Livesley and Kevin B. Meehan -- Using interpersonal reconstructive therapy to select effective interventions for comorbid treatment-resistant, personality-disordered individuals / Lorna Smith Benjamin, Kenneth L. Critchfield, Christie Pugh Karpiak, Tracey Leone Smith and Robert Mestel -- Clinical features of borderline personality disorder / Joel Paris -- Theoretical perspectives on psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder / Christopher J. Patrick and Sarah J. Brislin -- Clinical aspects of antisocial personality disorder and psychopathy / Lacy A. Olson-Ayala and Christopher J. Patrick -- Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder and component personality traits / Anthony Pinto, Emily Ansell, Michael G. Wheaton, Robert F. Krueger, Leslie Morey, Andrew E. Skodol and Lee Anna Clark -- Cognitive analytic therapy / Anthony Ryle and Stephen Kellett -- Cognitive-behavioral therapy / Kate M. Davidson -- Dialectical behavior therapy / Clive J. Robins, Noga Zerubavel, André M. Ivanoff and Marsha M. Linehan -- Mentalization-based treatment / Anthony W. Bateman, Peter Fonagy and Chloe Campbell -- Schema therapy / David P. Bernstein and Maartje Clercx -- Transference-focused psychotherapy / John F. Clarkin, Nicole Cain, Mark F. Lenzenweger and Kenneth N. Levy -- Systems training for emotional predictability and problem solving / Nancee Blum, Donald W. Black and Don St. John -- Psychoeducation for patients with borderline personality disorder / Maria Elena Ridolfi and John G. Gunderson -- Pharmacotherapy / Paul Markovitz -- Treatment framework for violent offenders with psychopathic traits / Stephen C. P. Wong -- Integrated modular treatment / W. John Livesley.

"This authoritative work comprehensively reviews what is known about personality disorders, including vital information to guide clinical decision making. Leading experts synthesize contemporary thinking about the classification, etiologies, and development of these complex disorders. Diagnostic issues are explored, and available assessment instruments are discussed. The Handbook provides in-depth coverage of all commonly used psychotherapeutic and pharmacological treatments, with particular attention to the empirical evidence for each approach. Also addressed are special treatment modalities, such as day programs and group therapy, and forensic issues"--

A major account of current understanding of personality disorders, their diagnosis, prevention and treatment, this comprehensive handbook deals with all aspects of the subject whilst striking a balance between theory and practice.