Anxiety is a complex phenomenon and a central feature of many psychological problems. This new edition of Anxiety, part of the popular Clinical Psychology: A Modular Course Series, updates the remarkable developments that have occurred in the understanding of anxiety and the astonishing dissemination of effective methods of treatment.
This book details the growth of positive psychology, with its emphasis on learned optimism and resilience, influencing clinical psychology and psychological therapy, and explains the new concept of prospection, a key element in positive psychology based on the human ability to imagine thoughts and images about the future. It is said that we are influenced by the past but drawn into the future, and this notion has significant implications for anxiety. The recent infusion of positivity into theorising about anxiety has introduced a welcome balance into our understanding of this phenomenon.
This informative book covers the latest developments in research, therapy and theorising, containing numerous case-history illustrations about anxiety. It should appeal to practising and trainee psychologists and practitioners in related fields.
Table of Contents
01. The Nature of Anxiety 02. Fear, Anxiety and Avoidance 03. Influences on Anxiety 04. Anxiety, Attention, Perception and Memory 05. Theories of Anxiety 06. Specific Phobias and the Conditioning Theory of Fear 07. Panic and Anxiety 08. Agoraphobia 09. Obsessions and Compulsions 10. Health Anxiety Disorders 11. Social Anxiety 12. Generalised Anxiety Disorder 13. Emotional Processing Some Concluding Remarks Suggested Reading Bibliography Index
Stanley J. Rachman is a clinical researcher specialising in psychopathology and psychological therapy. He is Professor Emeritus at the Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London and at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. His other publications include Fear and Courage, Psychology and Medicine (with C. Philips), The Treatment of Obsessions, Fear of Contamination, The Meanings of Fear, Obsessions and Compulsions (with R. Hodgson) and The Psychological Management of Chronic Pain (with C. Philips).
'Throughout his more than 50-year career, Professor Rachman has contributed ground-breaking and foundational ideas on the origins, nature and treatment of anxiety and panic and their disorders. From original conceptions of basic learning processes involved in the development of fear, to the crucial identification of the cognitive roots of obsessive–compulsive and related anxiety disorders, to discovery of the appropriate processing of emotions as the basis for all evidence-based psychotherapeutic treatments, Rachman has led the way. Now, in the publication of the fourth edition of his seminal work Anxiety, Rachman updates these concepts and integrates important new ideas on positive psychology and "prospection" as important components of psychological treatment. Every clinician and clinical scientist working with anxiety (and that includes almost all of us) should have this brief manual on their bookshelf.'
David H. Barlow, PhD, ABPP, Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Psychiatry, University of Boston, USA
'This is a highly accessible, clearly written, state-of-the-art update on anxiety disorders. Concise yet comprehensive, the fourth edition effortlessly integrates clinical and academic perspectives including cognitive science, clinical psychology and positive psychology. Unlike other books, the current understanding and treatment of anxiety disorders is given a historical context, which enables the reader to benefit from the author’s unprecedented decades of first-hand experience. The case studies and summaries illuminate the conceptual content and make the book essential reading for students, researchers and practitioners alike.'
Roz Shafran, PhD, Professor of Translational Psychology, University College London, UK