Science is a constantly evolving fiels, but every now and then somting ground-breaking occurs that alters that alters our way of thinking. For example, evolutionary biologists, who long assumed that the process of evolution was gradual, suddenly had to adjust to evidence that it happens in fits and starts in response to such cataclysmic environmental events as meteor impacts. Similarly, geology has been revolutionized by the discovery of plate tectonics.
Until several years ago, the scoence of psychopathology had been compartmentalized, with psychopathologists examining the separate effects of psychological, biological, and social influences. This approach is still reflected in popular media accounts that describe, for example, a newly discovered gene, a biological dysfunction (chemical imbalance), or early chilhood experiences as a "cause" of a psychological disorder. This way of thinking still dominates discussions of causality and treatment in some psychology textbooks: "The psychoanalytic views of this disorder are…," "the biological views are…," and, often in a separate chapter,"psychoanalytic treatment approaches for this disorder are…," "cognitive behavioral treatment approaches are…," or "biological trratment approaches are…"
1. Abnormal Behavior in Historical Context
2. An Integrative Approach to Psychopathology
3. Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis
4. Research Methods
5. Anxiety Disorders
6. Somatoform and Dissociative Disorders
7. Mood Disorders and Suicide
8. Eating and Sleep Disorders
9. Physical Disorders and Health Psychology
10. Sexual and Gender Identity Disorders
etc.