Giancarlo Dimaggio - Psychotherapy of Personality Disorders: Metacognition, States of Mind and Interpersonal Cycles

Dimaggio, Semerari and colleagues have creatively constructed a cognitive constructivist model of psychopathology and psychotherapy that thoughtfully integrates cutting edge theory and research regarding personality disorders, attachment and developmental psychology, cognitive science and neuroscience, interpersonal and emotional processes and the therapeutic relationship. The result is a rich rendering of the psychotherapy process with personality disorders that readily moves back and forth from the presentation of sophisticated ideas, often grounded in empirical research, to accessible applications and clinical illustrations a treatment guide that is at once scholarly and practical.
J. Christopher Muran, Chief Psychologist, Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Medical Center

This is an important and intriguing contribution to understanding and treating personality disorder by a group of authors who are doing some of the most interesting contemporary work in the field. The volume offers an innovative perspective that extends our understanding of personality disorder by describing fundamental metacognitive processes underlying personality and interpersonal functioning. This work will appeal to both researchers and clinicians: those studying the disorder will appreciate the in-depth analysis of personality pathology and clinicians will benefit from the sophisticated examination of the reasons why the disorder is so intractable and thoughtful suggestions for treatment strategies.
John Livesley, University of British Columbia

In this remarkable volume, the authors present a theoretical perspective that not only achieves their stated goal of advancing the understanding and treatment of personality disorders, but also unstated goals whose achievement makes the work of exceptionally broad significance to psychological science. In a seamlessly coherent three-part attack on problems of personality disorder, the authors provide (1) principles for identifying and classifying types of disorder; (2) theoretical analyses of intra-psychic and interpersonal dynamics that are characteristic of each type; and (3) practical therapeutic principles that are firmly grounded in the basic theory. Yet they do even more than this. In the psychological science of persons, there is often a gap between classificatory, taxonomic efforts, on the one hand, and analyses of intra-individual personality dynamics, on the other. Taxonomists provide simple descriptive schemes, but sometimes at the cost of portraying the individual simplistically. Students of personality dynamics grapple with the complex interplay among biological, cognitive, and social processes, but commonly fail to address the practical need for taxonomic classification. In a manner that is rare, if not utterly unique, in contemporary personality science, the authors advance practical classificatory principles while simultaneously treating the subjects being classified evolved, socioculturally situated, self-reflective, meaning-constructing, agentic, coherent individuals with the complexity they deserve. The book accomplishes all of this with exceptional scientific breadth and intellectual sophistication.
Daniel Cervone, University of Illinois, Chicago

An accurate description of the problems associated with personality disorders can lead to psychotherapists providing better treatment for their patients, alleviating some of the difficulties associated with handling such disorders. The authors draw on existing therapeutic approaches and concepts to offer a treatment model for dealing with personality disorders.

Psychotherapy of Personality Disorders clearly discusses the models for different types of personality disorder, along with general treatment principles, focusing on:

• Principles for identifying and classifying types of disorder
• Theoretical analyses that are characteristic of each type
• Practical therapeutic principles that are grounded in the basic theory.

The language is clinician-friendly and the therapeutic model is illustrated with clinical cases and session transcripts making this title essential reading for psychotherapists, personality disorder researchers and cognitive scientists as well as professionals with an interest in personality disorders.

The Authors are all founding members of the Third Centre of Cognitive Psychotherapy, Trainers for the Italian Society of Behavioural and Cognitive Therapy (SITCC) and Trainers of the Association of Cognitive Psychology (APC).

Guest contributors: Laura Conti, Donatella Fiore, Daniela Petrilli, Raffaele Popolo, Giampaolo Salvatore, Maria Sveva Nobile.

Metacognition, States of Mind and Interpersonal Cycles

Giancarlo Dimaggio, Antonio Semerari, Antonino Carcione, Giuseppe Nicol, Michele Procacci

First published 2007 by Routledge
27 Church Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 2FA

Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

2007 Giancarlo Dimaggio, Antonio Semerari, Antonino Carcione,
Giuseppe Nicol, Michele Procacci

This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2007.

To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledges collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the advice and information in this book is true and accurate at the time of going to press. However, neither the publisher nor the authors can accept any legal responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions that may be made. In the case of drug administration, any medical procedure or the use of technical equipment mentioned within this book, you are strongly advised to consult the manufacturers guidelines.

This publication has been produced with paper manufactured to strict environmental standards and with pulp derived from sustainable forests.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Psychotherapy of personality disorders : metacognition, states of mind,
and interpersonal cycles / [edited by] Giancarlo Dimaggio... [et al.].
p. ; cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-415-41270-4 (hbk)
ISBN-10: 0-415-41270-6 (hbk)
1. Personality disordersPatientsTreatment. 2. Psychotherapy.
I. Dimaggio, Giancarlo.
[DNLM: 1. Personality Disorderstherapy. 2. Personality Disorders
diagnosis. WM 190 P641 2006]
RC554.P759 2006
616.8582-dc22
2006011791

ISBN 0203939530 Master e-book ISBN

ISBN: 978-0-415-41270-4 (hbk)