Psychoanalytic Diagnosis- Understanding Personality Structure in the Clinical Process Description:

Psychoanalytic Diagnosis: Understanding Personality Structure in the Clinical Process review:
5 stars (The Best Psychoanalytic Psychopathology Textbook) - This book has really caught on with psychoanalytic teachers because students (beginners especially) are uniformly enthusiastic. This book is readable and comprehensive and every page has a clinically useful insight those beginners or advance practioners can use. What also makes this book so appealing is that it is organized pretty much in line with (Axis II of) the DSM 4 but explains personality types (paranoid, narcissistic, histrionic etc) in classical psychoanalytic terms. Since psychiatry has been taken over by the biologists and since psychology has been taken over by the cognitive-behaviorists, psychoanalysts are lucky to have this presentation of their views. This book summarizes 100 plus year of accumulated psychoanalytic knowledge. Indeed McWilliams does for the turn of the twentieth century what Otto Fenichal did in the mid-l940's -- she has turned out a book that pretty much details the "state of the (psychoanalytic) art" at this point in history. Students will be very taken by McWilliams conversational (but savvy) style. Also the book has a feminist slant and takes what might be called politically correct positions on various aspects of psychopathology in women and this also may play a role in the books appeal to younger students who are suspicious that psychoanalysis is subtly (or not subtly) part of the patriarchal effort to suppress women. For any one who wants to learn about psychoanalysis this is one of about five basic books to start an analytic library. The basic organization of the book is consistent with the more technical, complex work of Otto Kernberg (which McWilliams's summarizes in a far simpler-than-original fashion) and also with the (sadly forgotten) work of Gertrude and Rubin Blanck. Also those who are familiar with Emmanuel Hammer's brilliant clinical insights into masochism will very much appreciate McWilliams giving Hammer's views a wider currency.
5 stars (not only for students) - As an engineer who just wanted to get some insights in the field of psychoanalysis this book is doing a great job. It is easy to understand also for people who did not enjoy any psychological education before. It might just be the best way to get a good first overview of modern psychoanalytical models.
5 stars (Thank You Nancy McWilliams!) - This book is without a doubt the finest psychoanalytic text I have come across. If you desire only one psychoanalytic work in your library, make it this one. Ms. McWilliam's book is beautifully and clearly written, intelligent, informative, and affords both a useful overview of most concepts that any practitioner (or interested layperson) might need, AND the history and development of whatever she discusses. She is smart, does not take herself or the field too seriously, and explains things better than nearly anyone else writing in the field. BUY THIS BOOK!