"A major contribution to our understanding of how families work." — Allen Frances, MD Professor of Psychiatry, Duke University Chair, DSM-IV Task Force

"...the biggest changes in the DSM-V—in a decade or so—will be in the area of...family or systems (relationship) diagnosis." — John McIntyre Past President, American Psychiatric Association

It has long been known that an individual's psychiatric and behavioral problems are often played out in and exacerbated by problems in his or her personal relationships. Nevertheless, traditional psychiatric classification schemes such as the DSM^TM and ICD have willfully neglected the relational component of mental health. As a consequence, no standardized classification system with which to assess distressed relationships has ever been developed. This lack of a common language has, in turn, led to the many well-known clinical, legal, and health insurance difficulties that often seriously curtail patients' ability to receive the care they deserve. The time has come to provide such a common language, and this book is the first giant step in that direction.

The Handbook of Relational Diagnosis and Dysfunctional Family Patterns is the first book to offer a comprehensive clinically based typology of couples-centered, parent-child, and family relational dysfunctions. It is the collaborative effort of more than 50 leaders in the field of relational therapy, many of whom have been actively involved in the APA Division of Family Psychology Task Force on Diagnosis and Treatment and the interorganizational Coalition on Family Diagnosis. Representing many different disciplines and schools of thought, these theorists and researchers share their insights into and expertise in relational assessment, treatment, and classification. They examine the role of diagnosis in couples and family therapy, and offer clinical criteria for diagnosing a broad spectrum of relational disorders and dysfunctional relational patterns. Also, whenever possible, they provide guidelines on specific intervention paradigms.

Praise for the Handbook of Relational Diagnosis and dysfunctional family patterns

Florence W. Kaslow, Editor

"Dr. Kaslow's groundbreaking handbook offers significant advances toward the development of a much-needed taxonomy of relational diagnoses." — Laura J. Singer-Magdoff, PhD Past President American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

"The study of relational dysfunctions signifies a brilliant new perspective in classificatory thinking. Although the dimensions and structure of relational taxonomies are in an inchoate state, its ecologic focus on problematic interpersonal relationships and family dynamics gives promise of becoming a crucial component in future diagnostic assessment and clinical therapeutics. Not only will the fields of psychology and psychiatry never be the same, but they will be immeasurably enriched by the insightful papers that comprise this book." — Theodore Millon, PhD Professor of Psychology, University of Miami Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard University

"This book represents the most important step thus far in bringing the relational perspective to bear on clinical assessment and diagnosis. It is must reading for all psychotherapists..." — Alan S. Gurman, PhD Professor of Psychiatry University of Wisconsin Medical School

"Dr. Kaslow and her distinguished colleagues masterfully lead us beyond static DSM nosology into the new millennium in which we will make cogent diagnoses of distressed relational systems. This groundbreaking volume is...of profound clinical importance. It deserves to be on the bookshelf of every psychotherapist treating dysfunctional relationships." — John C. Norcross, PhD Professor of Psychology University of Scranton

A book whose time has come, Handbook of Relational Diagnosis and Dysfunctional Family Patterns is certain to have a profound and lasting influence upon the diagnosis and treatment of relational dysfunctions. It is an indispensable resource for all mental health professionals, especially couples and family therapists, sex therapists, clinical psychologists, social workers, and psychiatrists.