This is a book worth puschasing by therapists of almost any persuasion;it summarizes the late Dr Masterson's work extending over decades,starting with Borderline disorders but later being extended to Narcissistic and then Schizoid disorders...all these being seen as basically disorders of the self,which Masterson saw somewhat differently than Kohut,the originator of the Psychology of the Self.
The three clusters do not coincide with the DSMlV terminology,but cover all the personality disorders in that system.Thus the histrionic,dependent,passive-aggressive and compulsive personalities are subsumed by the Borderline disorders,characterized by clinging or distancing,with the main wish dominating their psyches being to be cared for.The Narcissistic type has several sub-types,the main wish is to seek idealizable or mirroring objects.A desire for safety with the dominent fear of manipulation and appropriation characterizes the Schizoid disorders which cover not only the DSMIV schizoid but also avoidant.paranoid personalities etc..
The appropriate interventions are confrontation with the destructive consequences of actions for the Borderline pathology,interpretation of oversensitivity on the part of Narcissistic individuals and of the conflict around closeness,the so-called schizoid dilemma, for the Schizoid.Even if the diagnosis is uncertain,or possibly a mixed picture at various levels,these interventions can be useful whenever the relevant pathology seems to be in the foreground and thus can sharpen the diagnostic differences as the responses to the interventions tend to be different for each cluster.
The clinical illustrations are clearly presented,although in places one wishes for more clarity and explanations.For instance,it is not made clear as far as I could tell,what the diffenrces are between the "fused" part-units of the nacissist versus the split units in the other two types, especially since splitting is a defense mechanism in all of the self disorders.
All in all, a good start to get acquainted with the work of this tireless and dedicated psychiatrist who has not received the recognition he deserves from many establishment figures.
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Top reviews from other countries
Miss P J Roberts
Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 13, 2018
Amazon Customer
Great overviews of the Masterson Approach
Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on July 24, 2017
