What Works for Whom?, Second Edition: A Critical Review of Psychotherapy Research [Paperback]

Anthony Roth PhD (Author), Peter Fonagy PhD (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 159385272X | ISBN-13: 978-1593852726 | Publication Date: December 5, 2005 | Edition: Second Edition

This acclaimed work provides a systematic, comprehensive, and balanced evaluation of the current status of all major psychotherapeutic approaches. With a primary focus on adults, detailed evidence is presented for the efficacy of widely used interventions for frequently encountered mental disorders and specific populations. The book also explains the concepts that underpin psychotherapy research, examines methodological challenges in translating research into practice, and considers the impact on outcome of factors common to all therapies, such as therapist and patient characteristics.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is a remarkable feat of scholarship. Not only does the second edition encompass the latest research on treatment for many of the problems commonly seen in psychotherapy, but, like its predecessor, it also provides in-depth consideration of issues critical to research design, evaluation, and clinical practice. For researchers, practitioners, and service providers, this book more than fulfills its aims."--Alan E. Kazdin, PhD, Child Study Center,Yale University School of Medicine

"The best-titled book in the psychotherapy field returns for a triumphant second edition. The original authors have updated their analysis of the literature using an approach that is calm in tone, liberal in outlook, and judicious in evaluation. They are passionate about evidence-based practice and the proper use of clinical judgment, and they anticipate an evolution of existing psychotherapies in ways that respect necessary complexity and creativity. As experienced researchers and clinicians, they clearly describe the limitations as well as the strengths of the different research methodologies and are opposed to privileging one strategy over another. Without doubt, this book is essential reading for all psychotherapy researchers, trainers, practitioners, and students."--Mark Aveline, MD, FRCPsych, Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Leicester, UK: and President (2003-2004), Society for Psychotherapy Research

"In this era of evidence-based treatment, researchers are proud of their 'significant differences,' and clinicians often find research based on the mean score to be wanting in the individual case. The Roth and Fonagy volume, now in its updated second edition, provides a clinically sophisticated guide to utilizing the existing research with judicious sensitivity to the client who does not fit neatly into oversimplified categories of diagnosis and treatment brands. Simply put, this is the best book on the topic. Researchers will find their work put into a broader context, and clinicians will relish a thoughtful guide through the complicated tasks of assessment and treatment planning."--John F. Clarkin, PhD, Department of Psychiatry, Weill-Cornell Medical College

"Given that 'What works for whom?' is the perennial question asked by psychotherapy trainees, this superb book should be required reading in any psychotherapy course or seminar. Roth and Fonagy underscore not only the importance of understanding the answer to this question, but also the importance of asking the question in the first place."--Wendy K. Silverman, PhD, Department of Psychology, Florida International University

"A worthy successor and expansion of the first edition. Readers will find comprehensive reviews of empirical outcome studies on psychosocial treatments and selected medications found helpful in working with clients with specific disorders. In addition, the book discusses methodological considerations in designing and evaluating psychotherapy outcome studies, offering a masterful exposition of this complex topic. This is a clinically useful resource that would make an excellent text for graduate students in the mental health fields. I highly recommend it."--Bruce A. Thyer, PhD, LCSW, School of Social Work, Florida State University

About the Author

Anthony Roth, PhD, is Joint Course Director of the Doctoral Course in Clinical Psychology at University College London (UCL). He has contributed to the development of clinical training both in London and at a national level, and has worked in hospital and community settings for over 20 years. Dr. Roth (along with Peter Fonagy) was commissioned by the English Department of Health to identify evidence for the impact of the psychological therapies, a review that emerged as the first edition of [i]What Works for Whom?[/i] His recent research has focused on patient and therapist attachment patterns and the therapeutic alliance, the impact of therapist attachment patterns on therapist behavior, and the application of family interventions for people with schizophrenia.

Peter Fonagy, PhD, FBA, is Freud Memorial Professor of Psychoanalysis and Director of the Sub-Department of Clinical Health Psychology at UCL; Chief Executive of the Anna Freud Centre, London; and Consultant to the Child and Family Program at the Menninger Department of Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. Dr. Fonagy is also a clinical psychologist and a training and supervising analyst in the British Psycho-Analytical Society. His work attempts to integrate empirical research with psychoanalytic theory, and his clinical interests center on issues of borderline psychopathology, violence, and early attachment relationships. His recent books include [i]Attachment Theory and Psychoanalysis[/i].

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 661 pages
• Publisher: The Guilford Press; Second Edition edition (December 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159385272X
• ISBN-13: 978-1593852726
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #134,312 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #95 in Books > Medical Books > Nursing > Psychiatry & Mental Health

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best summary of psychotherapy research, January 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: What Works for Whom?: A Critical Review of Psychotherapy Research (Hardcover)

The book by Roth and Fonagy is a comprehensive and balanced summary of research on psychotherapy. Principly it covers outcome studies and is organised according to DSMIV diagnostic groups. It also covers a bit of process research, particularly the research on therapeutic alliance. There is much to recomnd the book: it is accurate, comprehensive, well written and balanced. It also offeres excellent summaries and impications ections at the end of each chapter. I don't know of a better summary of psychotherapy outcome research.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for graduate therapy course or as a teaching tool., November 2, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: What Works for Whom?: A Critical Review of Psychotherapy Research (Hardcover)

This book would lend itself well to a research oriented graduate course on clinical psychology and treatment. It is also an excellent resource for writing lectures. Practicing clinicians should find it invaluable. It is concise and synthesizes an extensive body of research well (with appropriate and useful references). Selling points include specifics on clinical description, prevalence, co-morbidity, and history for each disorder covered. Reviews (and summaries) of treatment efficacy are excellent. -W. Born

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a classic for both the student, seasoned researcher, clinician or high IQ consumer, August 30, 2008

By 

Robert M. Gordon, Ph.D. (allentown, pa USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: What Works for Whom?, Second Edition: A Critical Review of Psychotherapy Research (Hardcover)

This book is scholarly but quite readable, so much so that an intelligent consumer of potential psychotherapy services would do well to read this book. There are chapters on depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, PTSD, eating disorders, schizophrenia, personality disorders, substance abuse, sexual disfunction, child and adolescent disorders, etc.
Unlike many books that advocate for a particular school of thought, "What works for whom?" is fair, scientific and useful. As a psychotherapist and a researcher, I consider it required reading for anyone who wants to understand the research behind many of the grandiose claims of symptom focused short term treatments.
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