Essentials of Clinical Psychology

Essentials of Clinical Psychology: An Indian Perspective offers a comprehensive, user-friendly introduction to the theory and practice of clinical psychology within an Indian cultural, social, and educational context.

The book starts with an introduction of what Clinical Psychology is and what it looks like in practice, giving a review of its history and contemporary traditions with an essential emphasis on its development from both a global as well as the Indian perspective. The following chapters cover a range of topics such as research methods, mental health and hygiene, and clinical psychology functions and training. The second half of the book then focuses on the classification of mental disorders for knowledge in diagnosing and treating patients, with chapters devoted to the description of various types of behavioral and mental disorders appearing in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Disorders examined include eating disorders, sleep disorders, degenerative disorders, psychotic disorders, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Each chapter ends with chapter summaries, review questions, and recommended readings. Each chapter has its sectionwise summaries and ends with review questions and cited references.

This textbook will serve as a must-have reference for all undergraduate and postgraduate students interested in Clinical Psychology, as well as for candidates selecting Psychology as their optional paper in competitive examinations. The book is designed according to Indian university course syllabi but also provides a guide to anyone looking to understand the current state of study and practice within Indian Clinical Psychology.