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Handbook of personality disorders: Theory, research, and treatment W. John Livesley (Ed.) New York: Guilford Press. 2001. Hardback, $65. ISBN 1-57230-629-7
The edited Handbook of Personality Disorders is a distillation of current theory and research in personality disorders. It is organized by research domains: theoretical and nosological issues; etiology and development; diagnosis and assessment; treatment; and special issues. The first section includes a scholarly critique of the conceptual issues underpinning personality and personality disorder (Livesley), a reflective account of historical and contemporary theoretical approaches (Milton et al.), a comprehensive account of the issues surrounding the major classificatory systems (Widiger) and a meticulous review of comorbidity issues (Dolan-Sewell et al.). The etiology section is more wide ranging, and includes two chapters focusing on the biological factors (genetic...