Fundamentals of Psychological Disorders - 3rd edition

Reviewed by Ray Martin, Affiliate faculty, Metropolitan State University of Denver on 4/3/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

This book does a great job at covering the material in a way that undergraduate students can understand and dive deep into topics they are interested in without being overwhelmed. The appendix and references provided are great. However, there is a lack of examples and case studies which would round out the book and its comprehensiveness.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Book has great accuracy. Instructor resources are accurate and correct (except for some very minor editing-related issues on the powerpoints).

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The authors have been updating this text. They are doing a great job

Clarity rating: 4

My students have told me mixed reviews about this themselves. I think it is very well done and, when there is an increase in depth and content, the chapters are shorter and easier to digest. However, if students are not undergraduate juniors or seniors or english is not their first language, the reading rate must be slower.

Consistency rating: 5

Excellently done

Modularity rating: 5

Book has chapters and sections that are well organized. Each chapter features headers.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Amazing organization. While this book lacks in some disorders, the other book in the series helps.

Interface rating: 4

The book is approachable and looks good. However, when printing (or printing to PDF) the book, the back matter can overwhelm students due to the depth of it. I have been navigating this by just giving students a warning that the chapter is not over 100 pages long.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

Well done and easy to read.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

I would like to see more examples, but it is overall well done. The inclusion of ICD-10 adds to the content. Additionally, because models of abnormality feature sociocultural perspectives, this book addresses cultural features and differences in prevalence.

Reviewed by Karen Magruder, Assistant Professor in Practice, University of Texas at Arlington on 3/8/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This book covers all the major categories of mental disorders as codified in the DSM-5-TR. Each category includes a summary of clinical presentation, epidemiology, comorbidity, etiology, and treatment. Additionally, it sets the stage by defining key terms and introducing the topic, including an exploration of what defines abnormal psychology, the impacts of mental illness, types of mental health professionals, and how mental disorders are classified.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

Overall, the information presented is consistent with evidence-based practice and current DSM-5-TR criteria. While I understand collapsing Depressive and Bipolar disorders into one Mood Disorders category, I would prefer to see headers stay consistent with DSM categories, to avoid confusing learners.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The DSM of course goes through updates periodically, and this volume effectively conveys the most relevant statistics, diagnostic criteria, and information. This book will need to be updated as data regarding prevalence and outcomes evolve, but it is set up well to do so.

Clarity rating: 5

Writing is clear and easy to follow. Terminology is consistently defined. Key takeaways are summarized in a clear and accessible manner, which helps reinforce important points.

Consistency rating: 5

There is a very consistent flow between chapters, with a predictable rhythm. Language is consistence between sections.

Modularity rating: 5

The authors do an excellent job of breaking complex topic into manageable chunks. Modules and subcomponents could easily be assigned for smaller readings. Effective use of headings and subheadings.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

This book is very organized. The table of contents provides a helpful overview, with clear and consistent organization within chapters.

Interface rating: 3

Links make navigating through the PDF simple and straightforward. Some minor issues with images detract from professionalism and clarity, such as having Shutterstock watermarks on copyrighted images. Some charts are difficult to read due to contrast issues, granularity, and small fonts. Due to the PDF format (online and xml formats not working), there may be some issues with alt text or screen readers?

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammatical errors were found.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

This volume includes case studies to apply some of the mental health issues to real practice settings. It also sets the stage by discussing stigma surrounding mental illness. More examples of cultural factors in diagnosis and treatment would strengthen this.

Comments

What a great resource for clinicians and students in a variety of helping professions!

Reviewed by Matthew Hand, Associate Professor, Texas Wesleyan University on 2/29/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

I was very pleased with both the depth and breadth provided by this textbook. It did a good job of covering the major disorders along with their disorder categories. It also did a good job of talking about treatment and important factors related to psychological disorders. I especially appreciated the authors including research findings when discussing various aspects of the disorders.

The most recent version of the textbook included disorders of childhood, which are not always included in books provided by publishers. This was a welcome addition.

Also, the book did a good job of starting the text with talking about the models of abnormality, the history of assessment/treatment, and assessment of psychological dysfunction. They were comprehensive in the way they approached these topics.

Overall, I was pretty happy with the comprehensiveness of the text.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The content in the book accurately conveyed what it's supposed to cover. Descriptions of psychological disorders and the disorder categories were accurate and the authors did a good job of citing relevant research that would provide more depth to the information given.

I did not find any information in the book that seemed inaccurate.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The content of the book focuses on the concepts and theories that are typically taught in an abnormal psychology course. Furthermore, the authors have made the material more relevant by keeping the research presented in the book current and by following the most recent version of the DSM. While many of the OER resources still refer to the DSM-5, this text utilizes information from the DSM-5-TR. I really like seeing studies cited and explained that were in the last few years rather than just focusing on studies that are a decade older or more.

Clarity rating: 4

The description of conceptsa nd the discussion of research results seemed appropriately clear.

Since this is a course in abnormal psychology, it should be assumed that the reader has some pre-existing knowledge of psychology concepts and is able to understand the way that these concepts are communicated in a textbook such as this.

Consistency rating: 5

The textbook is consistent in both the writing style and the way that content is organized in various sections and subsections.

After reading a chapter or two, a reader can reasonably predict both the tone of the writing as well as how future chapters will be organized.

Modularity rating: 3

The content in the textbook is divided by modules, which are divided by sections and broken up into subsections. This lends itself to easy adaptability because it would be easy to take out pieces and incorporate it into a course.

The one element of the textbook that might make adaptability slightly more complicated is that the chapters of the book are labeled modules. I prefer labeling each content area as chapters instead of modules because the modules in my course might not follow the same order that the textbook prefers to follow. This means that simply adopting the textbook without changing it in such a way to adhere to the order of the course is challenging unless the instructor wants to follow the material exactly in the order that it is presented in the textbook.

However, it is not a significant hurdle as editing the textbook to change the label for content areas isn’t too difficult.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The book is organized really well, and follows the organizational structure one might find in a traditional textbook from a publisher.

There is a logical sequence as to how the book is organized.

Interface rating: 5

There aren't significant issues with the text that cause any reading problems.

The type of font that is used is consistent and the authors use boxes to highlight information such as review questions andsection summaries.

Grammatical Errors rating: 4

Throughout the textbook, grammar was pretty good.

I did not notice any glaring grammatical issues.

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

I think the authors do a good job of structuring the material in a way that it speaks to diversity and they include research findings that also go along with that message. However, there isn't an abundance of content that focuses on the ways that people in different cultures are similar and different in how they express the types of abnormality described in the book. This is pretty normal with abnormal psychology textbooks, so this text does not deviate from the norm all that significantly.

Comments

This OER is a good substitute for traditional textbook material provided by a publisher. Additionally, I thought it was better structured and more comprehensive than some of the other OERs that focus on abnormal psychology.

As I mentioned previously, I have not been able to find and review ancillary material, but the content in the textbook itself is comprehensive, current, relevant, and well-written.

This OER is a great candidate for someone wanting to use an OER in an Abnormal Psychology course.

Reviewed by Kathy Harowski, Community faculty, advisor, Metropolitan State University on 2/25/24

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

While this reader found the text comprehensive, at times the level of detail included was overwhelming an questionable for an undergraduate audience. Both General Psychology and Abnormal Psychology are often GEN ED courses taken by the range of undergrads and of course, Abnormal Psychology would be of even more interest and foundational for psychology majors and is often more clinically focused. The level of detail found in sections on the history of treatment and neural transmission as well as other sections was overwhelming and perhaps not key to many students. For this reader, it was too much even with my length of experience in the field in terms of how one would engage students, keep them connected to the material much less useful assessment beyond old school memorization. My concern was intensified by the lack of effort on format, paragraphs full of descriptive statistics, etc. There was a lack of charts and images to help one grasp and retain the points made; in fact, infographics were mentioned at the end of such lengthy ,packed paragraphs and then a link to the original material was provided . DK if that was about costs or how the outside organizations permit use of their work, but rough.

Content Accuracy rating: 3

In the closely read sections, there was at least one quote without attribution. Wondered about personal beliefs - section 1.4.75- to address over use and not great prescribing of psychotropic medications, there one option offered, prescribing psychologists. This is a sentence made without attribution... Really? One might also mention the decreased number of psychiatrists, the fact that most psychotropic medication is prescribed by primary care practitioners, the massive growth of the range of nursing practitioners degrees as well as the ongoing controversy around training for prescribing psychologists- which by the way, I am an advocate for...

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

Overall the content seemed relevant and up to date. There was a question in my reading when I saw prevelance rates for mental illness from 2001-2003 being used as current.

Clarity rating: 4

A strength was the clarity of definitions provided.

Consistency rating: 4

consistent but see comments around the lack of images, graphs.... In the closely read sections, did not see consistency around use of case studies nor did one see a return to the case study at the end of the section/chapter to pull the information from the chapter together as part of the summary. A strength was the amount and clarity of definitions of terms provided.

Modularity rating: 3

see comments about format in general. Use of side bars, boxes, more images and graphics, more case studies, would help.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

well organized, organized around DMS V sections

Interface rating: 3

See comments about the overall lack of images,tables, graphics to help ideas sink in. There were graphics in some sections.

Grammatical Errors rating: 4

clarity and grammar were solid.

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

Did not seem to be highlighted in the areas closely read. Was not even mentioned at all in the foundational sections nor was global statistics around mental illness and research.

Reviewed by Tim Boffeli, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology, Dept. Chair, Clarke University on 1/9/23

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

Content wise, the phrase “bare bones” would be too harsh. The book is about half the number of pages of the textbook that I am currently using. Plainly sufficient comes to mind especially considering the diminished amount of time that current students are engaging textbooks. Of the not covered topics, most of them are covered in our other courses in our curriculum (Psychology of Sex and Gender). Inclusion of neurodevelopmental disorders in future editions would be encouraged. Specific DSM 5 criteria are not included in the textbook. Inclusion of the criteria during the lecture would be critical for students to comprehend the diagnostic process. Descriptions of the various disorders is sufficient to enable students to understand what transpires life wise for the person who is experiencing the symptoms.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

I have no concerns about accuracy.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

Relevance was achieved.

Clarity rating: 5

The textbook was very readable and should engage a wide variety of students who have variable interests and attention spans.

Consistency rating: 5

The textbook was consistent.

Modularity rating: 5

The textbook was easy to follow and navigate.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The textbook was organized in a logical manner that did not necessarily dictate a proscribed sequence.

Interface rating: 5

There were multiple empty pages which distracted from the flow. Initially, I wondered if content was missing.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No concerns about grammar.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

No concerns about cultural insensitivity.

Comments

The textbook has been renamed with assurances that the content is unchanged. Removing the word “Abnormal” is a positive step. In my lectures, we spend quality time discussing what is normal vs abnormal. That continuum is ever culturally changing. Many students who constantly experience disgruntlement bristle in class when the label of “abnormal” is applied to their lives.

Conclusion: I am a licensed mental health counselor. I think this textbook would be fine for faculty who have extensive counseling experiences. Seasoned faculty would know where to enhance the content with clinically relevant supplemental information. I did not review the supplemental instructor resources so maybe additional information are located in those resources. For faculty with limited clinical psychology experiences, I would question/be concerned about enhancements to prepare students who have a career goal involving clinical psychology interventions. With that being said, for a student who desires a general understanding of psychological disorders then this textbook should be fine.

Reviewed by Emily Abel, Visiting Assistant Professor, Wabash College on 11/7/22

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

This text included all of the major psychological disorders, though was missing some that I plan to discuss (neurodevelopmental disorders, sleep-wake disorders). Some of these are included in their childhood disorders book, though I would like to see at least a discussion of autism spectrum disorder in the newest edition of this book, since it is so relevant to daily life and functioning in adulthood. I also think a greater discussion of developmental psychopathology in the introductory chapters would be helpful in future editions.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

I did not find any factual inaccuracies while reviewing this book. I found it to be an accurate reflection of the DSM-5 and relevent recent research studies.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

This book is updated to reflect the most recent research and version of the DSM. Some prevalence estimates may need to be updated periodically (before the next update to the DSM) as they tend to change for some disorders over time.

Clarity rating: 4

This book is particularrly well written for an undergraduate audience. I found the modules to be clear and concise (a good length for each section that will hold student attention well).

Consistency rating: 5

I liked the parallel structure of the each module (to include the clinical presentation, epidemiology, comorbidity, etiology, and treatment of each disorder). This was consistent across all modules.

Modularity rating: 5

The book is broken down into modules that are based on the broader set of disorders (e.g., Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders) in the DSM-5.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

This book is well organized both in terms of using modules, and within modules (headings and consisent structure of modules across the book).

Interface rating: 5

Interface is easy to use. The links and table of contents all work nicely to jump to individual modules/sections and outside sources.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I did not notice any major grammatical errors throughout the text.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The examples and descriptions I looked at while reviewing the book all appeared to be culturally appropriate. However, I will be sure to look at this element closely when incorporating the textbook this spring. I will also solicit feedback from my students about this aspect of the text.

Comments

I am considering using this textbook (or at least portions of the book) for my spring undergraduate course in Abnormal Psychology. Overall, I found it to be well-organized, well-written, and easy to navigate (in addition to a good length in terms of holding student attention). I particularly liked the consistent outline of each module to include the clinical presentation, epidemiology, comorbidity, etiology, and treatment of each disorder. I think this parallel structure would be helpful to students in understanding the key components of each diagnosis we discuss in class. I also liked the inclusion of ‘Learning Outcomes’ and ‘Key Takeaways’ that can help instructors tie the text to lecture content and activities. Within many modules, the authors also include resources where students can find additional information on that topic (e.g., the National Eating Disorders website). I found these resources to be particularly helpful because students can follow the link directly from the online textbook or PDF, and it’s not another thing I need to add to the slides for class. I typically like to give students these additional resources as we never have time to cover everything in as much depth as I would ideally like. I do think this text includes the most common psychological disorders, and the ones that students are often most excited to learn about (e.g., personality disorders). However, it is also missing others from the DSM-5 that I do plan to cover, including neurodevelopmental disorders and sleep-wake disorders. This is not necessarily a negative thing, as many courses do not include these sections. However, I will need to supplement with other materials if I choose to fully adopt this book as my primary text. Below are a few other thoughts I had while reviewing the book:

1) As with most Abnormal Psychology textbooks, this book is focused on understanding how disorders present in adulthood. As a developmental scientist, I do plan to focus a bit more of the progression of these disorders across the lifespan than is done in the book (e.g., how do features of depression change from childhood to adulthood). However, the same authors do have another excellent open text that is specifically focused on behavioral disorders of childhood that I can and will likely easily integrate in my course to address this issue. Their childhood book also does include information on some neurodevelopmental disorders, which I mentioned are missing from the current book. It’s important to note that these are critical to discuss in adulthood as they are not just childhood disorders.

2) I quite like the intro chapter and how it introduces students to important methods, types of professionals (e.g., clinical psychologist, psychiatrist), and professional societies and journals. These are all things I planned to incorporate in my course. My only comment with the two opening sections is that I would have liked to see a more explicit discussion of the developmental psychopathology theory (e.g., work by Dante Cicchetti) included in the models of abnormal psychology. I think discussing the transactional model could also be helpful, but the developmental psychopathology theory is critical to understanding abnormal psychology and is something I will incorporate in my course.

3) It is a great text for students who are interested in understanding how specific disorders are diagnosed and treated and would be great intro information for students who want to pursue clinical careers. I do think I will need to supplement to make the content a bit more applied and community focused for my purposes, though that is not a criticism of this text, but rather something I would be personally looking for in a text directly tailored to my course.

Overall, I think this textbook would be great for an introductory course in abnormal psychology and will also be useful as an open educational resource in my spring course. As I mentioned above, I will likely combine with their open textbook on childhood disorders to emphasize how disorders change across the life course. I appreciate the easy-to-use organization of the book, and I will plan to report back on what my students think after their experiences this spring.

Reviewed by Madison Smart-McCarthy, Adjunct Professor, Tidewater Community College on 8/1/22

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The outline of the textbook seemed similar to other abnormal psychology textbooks. The authors did a good job explaining terminology and defining mental health conditions. I think more clinical case examples could be provided throughout the textbook and perhaps inserting "food for thought" sort of sections that highlight recent studies and include questions that help students think critically about those studies. I have found sections in textbooks like that a good way to learn the material, help students apply concepts, and stimulate interesting discussion within the classroom.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

I did not find any information to be inaccurate, contain errors, or be biased. Authors brought in DSM definitions and used research studies to support their claims. Authors gave credit to external sources throughout the book.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

Authors state in the beginning of the text that they plan to update the sections to align with the newest edition of the DSM. Most of the information is still relevant but it may need to be tweaked in some areas to account for the DSM changes.

Clarity rating: 5

Authors select appropriate jargon and define parts that may not be known to an undergraduate student.

Consistency rating: 5

Textbook chapters are fairly consistent with how the modules are organized (DSM description, epidemiology, comorbidity, etc.). I found it very easy to review the sections because of the consistency. Students may also find this beneficial when trying to locate certain information within a chapter.

Modularity rating: 5

The authors divide the textbook into "Part," "Block," and "Modules," which give instructors a chance to break the chapters into smaller sections. The text for each section has appropriate font size and color.

I noticed that objectives/goals were presented at the beginning of the chapter and for each module. It may be helpful to stick to either objectives for the whole chapter or for each section.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

The organization of the textbook seems similar to other abnormal textbooks from publishers, such as Pearson. Personally, I think the sections on epidemiology and comorbidity could be summarized within each section that describes the DSM definition of the disorder or summarized in a single paragraph.

Additionally, the way that the textbook is organized currently it includes "Part," "Block," and "Module." The labels "Part" and "Block" are not very descriptive. Students may benefit from more detailed labels.

Interface rating: 5

The authors mention at the beginning of the textbook that they plan to update the text in August 2022. This may be a reason that images, charts, graphs, etc. were not used in the textbook. There were colored boxes at the end of each chapter that summarized the material and included review questions. No navigation problems were evident.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammatical errors were found.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

A discussion of cultural differences were found in various sections of the textbook (e.g. Module 1.4.7.4 and Module 5.5.4). However, I think students could benefit from more examples throughout the textbook that include individuals from a variety of races, ethnicities, and backgrounds as well as explaining how presentations may vary depending on one's identity and/or culture. The explanation about rates of PTSD within the Hispanic population was excellent. .

Comments

Images would be a wonderful addition to this textbook. I'm excited to see the edits that will be made soon.

Reviewed by Stephanie RiCharde, Visiting Assistant Professor, Randolph College on 4/10/22

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The text covered the major expected content. The authors included an effective glossary and index. The index would be improved it were clickable like the table of contents.

Content Accuracy rating: 3

The authors included many relevant, accurate ideas and concepts in modules 1 and 2 to set the stage for their discussion of specific mental illnesses. I was very concerned about their lack of primary source citations, which is something about which I speak with my students extensively. I would be uncomfortable assigning a text that cites websites and blogs.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The authors presented up-to-date content that could be updated in the future if necessary.

Clarity rating: 4

The text is written in a style that is accessible to undergraduate students. It is easy to read and follow. The authors do not always provide enough information to explain content to those who have no previous knowledge of the topic. For example, their discussion of the disease model is not clear enough nor does it prepare an undergraduate student with no background information to answer the review question about the model at the end of the section. The authors go to great care to highlight and define many key terms in the first chapter, but then describe a study about social distance without describing what social distance is, a term that warrants explanation.

Consistency rating: 5

I did not notice any inconsistencies in my review.

Modularity rating: 5

The modules are broken down into smaller sections in a way that would make it easy to assign.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 3

I did not always feel that the topics were presented in the most effective order to reduce confusion. For example, the prevalence rate for serious mental illnesses was presented before a description of what a serious mental illness is. Another example is presenting information about using psychotropic medications as treatment for specific disorders prior to discussing those disorders.

Interface rating: 5

I used the pdf in my review, which had no major issues. Sometimes the pages broke at places that were not ideal, but I did not see that as a major problem.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text was well-written for the audience. I notice one grammar error.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

I did not observe culturally offensive language. The authors discussed multicultural issues, but more should be added to address the many cultural issues related to the diagnosis and treatment.

Comments

In module 1, I was excited to see there was a section on deinstitutionalization, then quickly disappointed that it was a mere three sentences that glossed over the phenomenon nearly entirely.

Reviewed by Kris Owens, Assistant Professor, Grand View University on 10/14/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

As an introductory Abnormal Psychology textbook, it covers most of the main psychological disorders. It is comprehensive and accessible. Future enhancements could include sexual and gender identity disorders, research methodology, and expand on ethical issues. The figures and infographics are clear and easy to comprehend.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The concepts and supporting empirical evidence are accurate and not biased. Periodic updates will be needed to stay current. The second edition, August 2020 includes updated references.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The textbook is relevant and it incorporates current research. It should remain relevant until the DSM 5 is revised. The content and links can be easily updated, when necessary.

Clarity rating: 5

The design of the textbook and the navigation is accessible and clear. The terms throughout the modules in addition to the glossary and “key takeaways” are features that students should appreciate. The simplicity and clarity of the content is appropriate for an introductory textbook.

Consistency rating: 5

The psychological disorders (content related to the etiology, symptoms, and treatment) are presented consistently throughout each block or module. There is uniformity in each section.

Modularity rating: 5

The sections are modular. I really appreciated that variety of formats (Pressbook XML, PDF, and online e-book). The navigation is easy to use and it should be accessible for all learners.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The textbook provides a comprehensive overview of the main psychological disorders with a really good structural framework. The chapter organization and uniformity are excellent. The “back matter,” which includes the glossary, references, and index is positioned in a logical order with accessible links.

Interface rating: 5

The interface and navigation are excellent. The infographics are clearly displayed and easy to read online.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

It was well-written. No concerns or errors noted.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

The book content is culturally appropriate when addressing the complexity and heterogenous nature of psychological disorders. The cultural relevance may vary based on a variety of factors and social environments. The addition of sexual and gender identity disorders would enhance the cultural relevance.

Comments

For an introductory textbook, it is very good. Incorporating content related to sexual and gender identity disorders, research methodology, and expand ethical issues would enhance student learning. Several of these topics could serve as discussion prompts to facilitate a more in-depth understanding of cultural differences.

Reviewed by Jason Li, Associate Professor, Wichita State University on 10/5/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This textbook is quite comprehensive as an overall introduction to Abnormal Psychology. The content of each chapter unfolds each main objective and provides clear explanations with examples and figures. I recommend this book to students in counseling, psychology, and social work or anyone who is in the mental health field. The information is clear and easy to understand.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The content is accurate and unbiased

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The content is relevant and straightforward with supporting photographs and links that can be updated.

Clarity rating: 5

In my view, its easy to follow each section and build connection between chapters. The language was appropriate for the context.

Consistency rating: 5

The framework for each section is consistent. I believe that students will enjoy this easy to follow layout and framework.

Modularity rating: 5

The textbook is broken down into logical and manageable sections that could be divided for instructors and students. The subheadings are very helpful in navigating readers to the objective of each section.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The book chapters are presented in a logical, clear fashion. Well organized by chapters and headings.

Interface rating: 5

The interface is issue free and easy to read on a screen. The photo and tables are clearly displayed.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

Well-written, with not noticeable grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

Its imperative that we teach and address mental disorders across dimensions of race and ethnicity, countries of origin, home languages, socioeconomic status, and religious beliefs. I think that bringing in cultural implications may add to the well-roundness of this textbook.

Comments

I would use this textbook in a couple of my classes. However, I did not find references to refer to in-text citations.

Reviewed by Erin Palmwood, Assistant Professor, University of Mary Washington on 6/25/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

This text covers all key groups of psychological disorders that one might want to discuss in an Abnormal Psychology course. It provides an appropriate overview of key components within each subject area and does not "cast too wide a net" - it focuses appropriately on the most up-to-date, empirically-supported information about the etiology, symptoms, and treatment of each disorder. Additionally, the text is appropriately concise, providing key information in a way that is both comprehensive and accessible. Regarding content areas, I would have liked to see a Research Methods chapter and perhaps a designated chapter on Ethical Issues (which is currently a small section of the Contemporary Issues chapter).

Content Accuracy rating: 4

The text provides accurate, up-to-date, scientifically sound information regarding the etiology, symptoms, and treatment of each psychological disorder. However, it is missing a significant number of citations for the information provided - which is a problem in terms of (1) assessing the credibility of the claims made in the text and (2) teaching students the importance of citing their work.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The text is up-to-date with current research, and it is also organized in such a way that future updates to our understanding of the etiology and treatment of different psychological disorders should be relatively easy to add to the book.

Clarity rating: 5

The clarity of the text is one of its major strengths. It is written in a way that is accessible and concise, and key concepts are presented in a very digestible manner. While many textbooks might take two paragraphs to explain a concept, this textbook achieves an appropriate level of detail in a few sentences - which will likely enhance student engagement with the text.

Consistency rating: 5

The book achieves appropriate consistently in style and approach to content.

Modularity rating: 5

The text has several headers and sub-headers that are logical and consistent across chapters, as well as "key takeaways" at the end of each section. An instructor could easily break down a chapter into smaller assignments for students without causing high levels of confusion.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

The chapters within this textbook are exceedingly well-organized. Across chapters, content is presented in a predictable way that is outlined at the start of the chapter, and key takeaways are presented between each section to facilitate learning consolidation. However, some of the "blocks" which organize the chapters within the textbook are structured in an unclear manner, which makes it difficult to anticipate where certain chapters might be located.

Interface rating: 5

No interface concerns noted.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammatical concerns noted.

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

I did not observe any culturally insensitive language in my review of the text. However, the text's coverage of cultural factors in the etiology, presentation, and treatment of psychological disorders is exceedingly limited, and I would have liked to see increased attention to the role of culture and identity throughout the book.

Comments

The information provided in the PTSD section would benefit from increased focus on current empirically-supported treatments. Of the four psychotherapeutic treatments discussed, one is critical incident stress debriefing (CISD), which has been shown to have iatrogenic effects, and one is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR), which is controversial at best. While the text does discuss exposure therapy and CBT, it is missing explicit discussions of empirically-supported treatments like CPT and PE.

Reviewed by Janessa Carvalho, Associate Professor, Bridgewater State University on 6/23/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

Bridley's text covers most of the traditional components covered in Abnormal Psychology textbooks, though I was disappointed to see the absence of neurodevelopmental disorders and sexual/gender disorders covered. Historically, students really enjoy learning about neurodevelopmental disorders and sexual/gender disorders chapter offers a nice opportunity to teach sociocultural factors in clinical psychology.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

I thought the book overall made very accurate statements, with the exception that some information in the Current Trends section (Module 1) could stand to be updated.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The authors for the most part cover all relevant content in the field.

Clarity rating: 5

The book was written in a clear format with good readability for undergraduate level.

Consistency rating: 4

I found overall consistency among presentation of disorders and content within each learning module. Though there was some redundancy (classification covered in module 1 and 3).

Modularity rating: 5

I found the various sections and content to be relatively will encapsulated and students would be able to review content in small chunks, if thats of their choosing, without disrupting flow of learning. However, I prefer a bit more scaffolding where the content builds up to other information.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Organization and structure were quite aligned with other Abnormal Psychology textbooks I've reviewed and used.

Interface rating: 5

The web format used for this textbook worked just fine for me and figures and tables were viewable without any issue.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammatical issues found on my end.

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

Would like to see more on cultural factors in various areas, including chapter 1 (societies), and the sociocultural model covered in module 2. Again, as I mentioned, the absence of a chapter on sexual/gender disorders takes away an opportunity to discuss more sociocultural factors. This seemed to be an area that the authors could focus on in a revision.

Comments

Overall an interesting book, very similar to other (costly) Abnormal psychology textbooks, and a good option for students. However, I was put off in module 2 where WebMD was cited as a source; this was disconcerting as I always encourage my students to use primary sources in their work. This was very offputting to me.

Reviewed by Angela Duncan, Lecturer, Washburn University Institute of Technology on 6/9/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

For many instructors' purposes, this abnormal psychology text will suffice or maybe exceed expectations given its depth regarding introductory material (i.e biopsychosocial model and models of abnormality). It offers an excellent introduction to abnormal psychology without being cumbersome for the student. However, it is not an ideal option if you are wanting to cover childhood, sexual and gender identity disorders or health psychology-related topics such as sleep disorders as these topics are not included.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

Overall, the information is consistent with other abnormal psychology textbooks and the scientific literature.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 3

On page 90, the authors discuss the upcoming release of ICD-11 in 2018. This statement should be updated. I would also like to see updated statistics on the prevalence of mental disorders in the “current views/trends” section (pages 31-32) as the most recent citation is dated 2014. In addition, the information about who seeks treatment could use an update as the newest citation is 2013 (page 91). I would also recommend updated empirical citations reflecting the latest research in the field. However, all texts fall prey to the challenge of staying relevant in some respects so this text is not an anomaly in that regard.

Clarity rating: 5

Descriptions of symptoms and diagnostic criteria are very clear and presented in simple language. Language overall is easy to understand.

Consistency rating: 5

The text's terminology and framework seems internally consistent.

Modularity rating: 5

The text is divided into six sections that can easily be reordered as desired, and the chapters make sense as arranged in each module. I appreciate the merging of somatic symptom disorders with anxiety and OCD.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

At the end of each section, the authors include helpful “key takeaways” to summarize what was addressed, and “review questions” to assess comprehension. Additionally, they include a “module recap” summarizing key points from the entire module.

Interface rating: 4

Images/charts are minimal, but those that are present are helpful and easy to see and interpret. The only image that may pose a clarity issue for some is figure 2.5 illustrating Pavlov’s classical experiment.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text is well-written, without grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The authors provide an important section on stigma and its relevance to mental disorders as well as a section on multicultural psychology.

Comments

This is the only open access abnormal psychology text that I am aware of, and I commend the authors for a valuable first edition that is easy to read and offers an effective introduction to abnormal psychology. My criticism of this text is minor compared to the accolades. I would highly recommend this text for instructors looking for an abnormal psychology text without the excessive detail but instead concise information palatable to most students.

Reviewed by Ruth Anthony, Faculty, Portland Community College on 6/7/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

The content was appropriate and covered a wide range of disorders that are either interesting and/or common in the practicing field. I am also a clinician and found the particular disorders to be the most prevalent while working in community mental health.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

Overall, it appeared to be accurate and error-free. Unbiased, is difficult to measure as this text still pertains to the medical model which is a dominant culture lens and perspective.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

It is relevant to today's standards. It will need to undergo revision as the DSM-5 is updated. It does lack a bit in cultural relevance (see culture review below). As someone who practices as a clinician, it has some nice definitions/summaries in the disorders section. However, it lacks some in application for someone who is unfamiliar with these disorders and how they manifest. Incorporating examples of what this might look like in real life scenarios or as a presenting concern would be helpful for students. It doesn't have to be in this book, it could be something that the educator adds to further enrich students' understanding.

Clarity rating: 5

The text is straightforward, however, a bit dry as most textbooks are. I would recommended this textbook/abnormal phycology class to students who have already completed basic psych courses to have a bit of framework prior to increase their familiarity with the jargon. However, the terminology is well organized with definition for reference.

Consistency rating: 5

The entire text stayed consistent in flow, voice, and framework. The tone is similar to that of many textbooks in the field when provided information or definition. The example case studies are nice break and provide a nice reference to work with throughout.

Modularity rating: 4

The modules were outlined clearly in the table of contents and could easily be broken up into sections for class assignments. Some images to break up each module at the beginning would be nice for some added aesthetics and flare. The interface (see below) could have been a bit better though.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

I was most impressed by the organization as it was clear and straight-forward. It is formatted exactly how I would which is a more technical writing style. This however makes me a bit bias due to the personal preference in organization.

Interface rating: 4

The text could have been organized a bit better. The section breakage for a more aesthetically appealing read was not there. It was reminiscent of strict APA or MLA guidelines in the breakage of section. It felt a big awkward with a title heading being at the end of a page and the accompanying content being on the next page.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I did not notice any grammatical errors while reading. At least any that stood out enough to make the read difficult or awkward in flow.

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

I would have liked to have seen a more in-depth look into cultural difference in applying these disorders. There was brief recognition and consideration, however, at the minimum that I see in most Western texts. There are references to build cultural understanding and humility as part of the standard in practice; a good list of sources would be beneficial. I would use this resource along with several other resources with a more in-depth cultural lens.

Reviewed by Ann Tamulinas, Adjunct Professor, Massachusetts Bay Community College on 5/24/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

It covers most topics and more than adequate background as well. I like that it includes at the end of each section specific takeaways.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

Topics appear to be accurate and references abundant.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

Content is very relevant and includes biological information that is accurate and up to date and not prone to become obsolute.

Clarity rating: 4

Clear language, but a bit dull. Authors managed to make a fascinating subjects not so!

Consistency rating: 5

Text is extremely structured with precise sections and clear language and many definitions.

Modularity rating: 5

Text is divided into many sections and vocabulary defined and grouped in each section.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Again the text is extremely organized from beginning to end. The numbering of the sections is very precise.

Interface rating: 3

Sometimes the text is cut off on the bottom of lines. The look and feel is not appealing--does not grab. More visuals needed and perhaps a better font.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The entire book is well written, but gain not in an interesting style. Too clinical.

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

The text is quite neutral in cultural bias. I didn't see any race, ethnicity inclusiveness of any kind.

Comments

I usually teach Computers and Technology and was unable to find a suitable text. I have taught abnormal psychology in the past so I chose this text. I had an excellent textbook (I can't remember the title, though) which was easy to follow as well as informative and interesting to read. While this one is well organized and well written, I would not recommend this text to use other than a reference.

Reviewed by Xin Zhao, Assistant Professor, Salt Lake Community College on 2/24/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

Excellent content offering, comparable to traditional publisher's. The chapters are narrative driven in the beginning. With updated 2nd edition, excellent glossary, references, index, and adequate content.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The content is very up to date and accurate, which I compared chapter by chapter during lecture with the DSM-V. Also did a good job noting significant changes from DSM-V-TR and in comparisons with ICD-11.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The authors did a good job incorporating culturally appropriate updates and timely changes, however, the information in this domain is a little bit thin. I find it helpful to incorporate some more updated changes in the field and current events to supplement the text.

Clarity rating: 5

The written text is excellent. Very easy to read and engaging for the reader, even without technical background. Very appropriately done, especially for psychology students who most likely have been exposed to some of these content in lower level psychology classes. Language and terminology are up to the latest standard.

Consistency rating: 5

Terminology and framework consistent throughout the textbook and in line with DSM-V standards.

Modularity rating: 5

The updated 2nd edition improved on the organization of modules, making the different disorder information easily accessible according to appropriate diagnostic areas.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Perhaps one of the significant strength of this textbook is the organization. Very easy to find relevant disorder and learn about them from a student perspective. With the updated version, it follows closely with how DSM-V is organizing the diagnoses.

Interface rating: 5

Both the Pressbook and pdf versions are clear and displayed correctly.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammatical errors detected.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

The textbook made attempts to introduce cultural factors in each respective chapters. However, I would like to see later versions build upon this interest and facilitate more in depth discussions about multiculturalism.

Comments

The ancillary material offered were excellent, including visual-based powerpoint slides, and learning objective based test banks. Highly recommend reaching out to authors to supplement teaching.

Reviewed by Angela Mar, Lecturer, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on 11/13/20

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The textbook does an adequate job of covering the essential topics of the field, and additionally provides a glossary and index that would help a reader find key concepts quickly and efficiently.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

To the extent of this review, the text is accurate and error-free. The textbook states facts, so bias should not be an issue.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The topic of abnormal psychology is going to be one that is studied for generations to come. Although, the diagnostic manual (DSM) is already in its 5th edition and was created in a way to allow for evolve with times and society, so this textbook will need to be updated to adhere to the newest diagnostic guidelines.

Clarity rating: 4

Students who take an abnormal psychology course are usually in their fourth year, almost ready to graduate. Given this, the textbook's clarity should be on par with that of the students' level.

Consistency rating: 5

The terminology is consisten throughout the text and is in line with the DSM diagnostic guidelines.

Modularity rating: 5

I like who the textbook is divided into diagnostic blocks to help the student become familiar with diagnostic guidelines.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

I like how the book reads like the DSM diagnostic manual. The same class of disorders are paired together to better understand the disorders and the similarities between them, which is helpful because of the incidence of comorbidity.

Interface rating: 5

No problems while reviewing.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No grammatical errors were encountered during the review of this textbook.

Cultural Relevance rating: 3

The textbook does a fair job of including cultural awareness and sensitivity into the relaying of demographic information about the incidence of each disorder.

Reviewed by Mary Ann Woodman, Adjunct Professor, Rogue Community College on 8/10/20

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

Bridley and Daffin provide one of the most comprehensive treatments of mental health and illness offered in an open textbook. The authors cover nearly every subject and learning objective required for a college introductory course on Abnormal Psychology. They begin with a story to capture the reader’s interest and lay out the intention and format so that it is uncomplicated and clearly understood. The writing style appears easy to read, full of useful, insightful information. There is a significant glossary, list references and an index at the end.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The content of the text seems quite accurate and up to date. The authors present subject matter in an unbiased and objective manner. The subject matter as well as the notes on changes in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual and International Classification of Diseases are devoid of errors.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The content seems current and relevant especially to college students who are preparing to work in human services careers. The authors interface statistics, modern research articles and web sites to support the concepts. The text is arranged in a way that new additions could be easily added in the future. The book could use more stories, narratives and visuals supporting the content especially case studies which students may encounter in their lives. Examples of how to apply what one learns to real life would greatly enrich the textbook and easy to coalesce.

Clarity rating: 5

The text is written in lucid, intelligible, easy to read prose. Brief introductions and summaries are offered throughout the book which enhances clarity. No part of the written material seems confusing to the reader. The language and terminology are standard in terms of the learning objectives and information. It may need to be made accessible to students with learning disabilities and thus easily utilized in online course platforms such as Blackboard.

Consistency rating: 5

The text is internally consistent in terms of terminology and framework. The authors might consider spelling out terms in headings such as BDD, BED and FBT. However, the format is totally consistent throughout the entire book.

Modularity rating: 5

The outline of the book is most impressive. The text is readily divisible with reading sections and sub- headings that are precise and uncomplicated. There are no areas with large blocks of text that require further subdivision. The learning objectives are implemented with ease and flow. Having the learning objectives explained is an advantage for college curriculum purposes. There are no sections with an overload of written material nor is there overly self-referential material in the book.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The written material is presented in a logical, explicit and clear fashion. The six modules are laid out with titles and each module subdivided into sections. The authors begin “setting the stage” by introducing the notion of what it means to be normal and move into definitions of abnormality citing the traditional criteria: dysfunction, distress, defiance and danger. They integrate positive psychology with abnormal psychology, so the reader has a broader vision of the field. The history of mental illness, various theories and brief descriptions of the major research methods establish a foundation for the study. Concepts are backed up with research and website references. Clinical assessment, diagnosis and treatment contains just the right amount of information. The remainder of the modules treat most of the psychiatric disorders listed in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual, with a concise introduction and focus on clinical presentation, epidemiology, comorbidity, etiology, and treatment options. The authors refer the students back to modules 1-3 for reminders of theory and causality. The book includes some information on psychopathology, law, ethics and leaves the reader wondering if gaming is an addiction. It is missing sexual and sleep disorders. Finally, each module is recapped at its close.

Interface rating: 4

The visuals interfaced in the text regarding the nervous system and classical conditioning support the written material. There does not seem to be any distortions, navigation problems or display features that confuse or distract the reader. The remainder of the book contains very few graphs, tables or visuals which would be very useful learning tools to add in the future.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text contains no grammatical or spelling errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

The authors state that “culture-sensitive therapies have been developed increasing awareness of cultural values, hardships, stressors, and/or prejudices, the identification of suppressed anger and pain; and raising the client’s self-worth.” Here is one example: “Individuals from non-Western countries (China and other Asian countries) often focus on the physical symptoms of depression- tiredness, weakness, sleep issues, and less of an emphasis on the cognitive symptoms. Individuals from Latino and Mediterranean cultures often experience problems with “nerves” and headaches as primary symptoms of depression (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Multi-cultural psychology appears somewhat integrated into the text material. Naturally, more examples inclusive of race and ethnicity could be employed in the future including Native American and other indigenous cultures.

Comments

The book includes common treatments used for mental illness: CBT, IPT, Modeling, Biofeedback, Rational-Emotive Therapy, EMDR, Exposure and Desensitization, Hypnosis, Relaxation Training, Aversion Therapy, Emotional Regulation and others. It would be helpful to expand treatment options to include Naturopathy (homeopathy, acupuncture, herbal medicine etc), Orthomolecular Medicine (Nutritional Therapy, and Energy Psychology such as EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique, Reiki, Neuro-linguistic Programming, and Group Therapy Workbooks, such as Anger and Stress Management, Drug and Alcohol Programs or SAMHSA Trauma Informed Care Manual that lists numerous programs for Post Traumatic Stress for example. The authors could provide at least one study on the benefits of spiritual practices such as prayer, ritual, mindfulness, music, tribal dance, yoga etc. The significance of spirituality and religious practices is overlooked. A more comprehensive list of various treatments could be included as an appendix.

In the section on the history of mental illness, there could be a comment on the fact that former methods of treatment are still employed today and have been improvised to meet the challenges of modernity. ECT, still used in psychiatric hospitals and exorcism/deliverance therapy employed in various religious traditions are merely two examples.

Another option would be to place pharmacology at the end of the treatment list instead of the first, primary one in the sections of each module. Then comment about how prescription drugs have side-affects and are sometimes abused by the recipient.

A graph of specific phobias, list of common “stressors” with reference to various stress inventories, and examples of adjustment disorders related to college students would enrich the text . The section on suicide could be expanded further as well as additional treatments and current programs for neurocognitive disorders.

Overall, Bridley and Daffin have accomplished a major task in edition one. It would be a welcomed text for a college course in Abnormal Psychology.