Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Advances in Research and Practice [Hardcover]

Richard G. Heimberg (Editor), Cynthia L. Turk (Editor), Douglas S. Mennin (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1572309725 | ISBN-13: 978-1572309722 | Publication Date: January 28, 2004 | Edition: 1

In the last decade, tremendous progress has been made in understanding and addressing generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), a prevalent yet long-neglected syndrome associated with substantial functional impairment and reduced life satisfaction. This comprehensive, empirically based volume brings together leading authorities to review the breadth of current knowledge on the phenomenology, etiology, pathological mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment of GAD. Provided are psychological and neurobiological models of the disorder that combine cutting-edge research and clinical expertise. Assessment strategies are detailed and promising intervention approaches described in depth, including cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, psychodynamic, and pharmacological therapies. Also covered are special issues in the treatment of GAD in children, adolescents, and older adults.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book, written and edited by many of the leading lights in the anxiety disorders field, represents a cutting-edge look at this important disorder. Comprehensive in scope, it is a valuable resource for researchers in the area, trainees in graduate and residency training programs, and practitioners looking to integrate state-of-the-art knowledge in the service of improving care for their patients."--Mark H. Pollack, MD, Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Related Disorders, Massachusetts General Hospital; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

"Generalized anxiety disorder has, for a long time, been a diagnostic orphan. Given the substantial prevalence and health burden, it is important that the disorder becomes a fully integrated member of the anxiety family. Heimberg et al. go a long way toward bringing about this integration. Their book is comprehensive, critical, and scholarly, comprising contributions of the highest caliber. It is likely to be especially useful to the academic and research community of psychologists and psychiatrists, as well as clinical specialists in anxiety disorders and other professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of GAD. Also included are a number of helpful practical measures that can be implemented by consumers whose lives are affected by GAD."--Jonathan R. T. Davidson, MD, Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center

"This uncommonly useful volume incorporates the most up-to-date information about GAD from a variety of theoretical and treatment perspectives. It is extraordinarily timely and helpful in being one of the first books to specifically address this difficult-to-treat disorder. Provided in a clear format is a comprehensive overview of the disorder's epidemiology, clinical presentation, theory, and treatment. Likely to become a key reference work for researchers and clinicians at all levels of experience, the book is also a suitable text for advanced undergraduate- and graduate-level courses."--John H. Riskind, PhD, Department of Psychology, George Mason University

About the Author

Richard G. Heimberg, PhD, is Professor of Psychology, Director of Clinical Training, and Director of the Adult Anxiety Clinic at Temple University. He is well known for his efforts in developing and evaluating cognitive-behavioral treatments, especially for social anxiety. Dr. Heimberg has published more than 225 papers on anxiety and related topics. He is coeditor or coauthor of several books, including [i]Social Phobia[/i] and [i]Cognitive-Behavioral Group Therapy for Social Phobia[/i]. Dr. Heimberg was recently named one of the four most influential psychological researchers in anxiety in a survey of members of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America and was the inaugural recipient of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy’s A. T. Beck Award for Significant and Enduring Contribution to Cognitive Therapy.

Cynthia L. Turk, PhD, is Assistant Professor of Psychology and Director of the Anxiety Disorders Treatment and Research Program at La Salle University. Previously, she was Associate Director of the Adult Anxiety Clinic at Temple and Director of its Generalized Anxiety Program. She received her PhD from Oklahoma State University in 1996.

Douglas S. Mennin, PhD, is Assistant Professor of Psychology at Yale University and Director of Yale Anxiety and Mood Services. He received his PhD from Temple University in 2001, and with Drs. Heimberg and Turk, helped to establish the Generalized Anxiety Program at the Adult Anxiety Clinic at Temple.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 446 pages
• Publisher: The Guilford Press; 1 edition (January 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572309725
• ISBN-13: 978-1572309722
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,183,307 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully detailed survey of the topic, June 11, 2009

By 

Brian V. Hunt "Brian V. Hunt" (Bellevue, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Advances in Research and Practice (Hardcover)

This is a remarkable book. Even if you have forgotten your undergraduate statistics, despair not. There is plenty in this book that is easily consumed by the non-specialist.

This book is useful to the sufferer in that it so clearly describes the experience of living daily with GAD and explains so specifically the mechanisms that drive anxiety and the development of the disorder. That goes a long way toward helping the sufferer begin to restructure their thinking about their disorder. Instead of seeing it, as they always have, as a major character flaw, they can begin to examine it as a cognitive response that can be retrained through cognitive behavioral therapy; a skill that the client learns that they can take with them through the rest of their life.

A more accessible book for laypeople is "The Anxious Brain," which is written for clinicians and is targeted at treatment. That book is smaller and leaves the expansive details to the citations. It's an excellent reference for both clinicians and clients.

But the book for which this review is written is a marvelous compilation of the latest in the field. Buy it or get it on interlibrary loan. Having gotten mine on loan, I now want to get a copy to refer to again and again.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great resource for therapists, July 29, 2007

By 

Anthony Gunn (Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Advances in Research and Practice (Hardcover)

As a psychologist specializing in treating anxiety, Generalized Anxiety would have to be potentially the hardest to treat as it is so fluid and hard to pin down unlike other anxiety disorders such as specific phobias. The author is regarded as one of the leading experts in the area of anxiety. This book is accademically based so if you are wanting a light read then this may not be for you. Witht that said it's easy to read and is grounded in the latest research for treating GAD. I have found it very useful for working with worriers in my private work. If you like reading about cutting edge research and are feeling frustrated with not being able to help clients who are the typical 'Worry warts' then this book is a must for your library. The author has also written a fantastic book on running 'anxiety groups' for practioners - brilliant.
Anthony Gunn, psychologist and author of Fear Is Power: Turn Your Fears Into Success

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tough, tough but excellent, March 10, 2010

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Mike Johnson "rower55" (Victoria, BC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Advances in Research and Practice (Hardcover)

Okay, this is tough material and it is for those of us who need to understand what anxiety and worry really are because it is killing us and ruining the quality of our lives even if it does not lead to some sort of crippling depression. Not a light feel good experience.

This book is an assembly of papers presented as chapters. If you choose this book please read a chapter and shelve it for a few days while you ponder what you are learning.

General Anxiety Disorder deconstructed. The rationalist in you can use the tools you can fashion here. I think that understanding what worry is not just what it feels like has been very useful for me. Expect some discomfort here.