Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Attachment theory and research have greatly enhanced our understanding of the role of parent-child relationships in the development of psychopathology. Yet until now, little has been written on how an attachment perspective can be used to actively inform psychotherapeutic practice. In this invaluable work, Karl Heinz Brisch presents an attachment-oriented framework for assessing and treating patients of all ages. Rich, extended case examples form the core of the book. Demonstrated are the ways attachment-oriented interventions can effectively be used to treat a wide range of patients: couples trying unsuccessfully to conceive, women with severe postpartum depression, children and adolescents with behavioral and emotional disturbances, adults with relationship difficulties and work problems, and others. Applications in short- and long-term psychotherapy are discussed, as well as use of the model in such other contexts as prevention in infant mental health, family therapy, and group work. A vital resource for practitioners, this book is also a compelling text for graduate-level psychotherapy courses.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Section I Attachment Theory and Its Basic Concepts
• Historical Overview
• The Development of the Concepts of Attachment Theory
• Section II Attachment Disorders
• Attachment and Psychopathology
• The Theory of Attachment Disorder
• Attachment Classification in Diagnostic Manuals
• The Diagnosis and Typology of Attachment Disorders
• Section III Attachment Therapy
• Therapeutic Theory
• Treatment Technique
• Section IV Treatment Cases from Clinical Practice
• Manifestations of Attachment Disorders Prior to Conception
• Prenatal Attachment Disorders
• Postnatal Attachment Disorder
• Attachment Disorders in Childhood
• Attachment Disorders in School-Age Children
• Attachment Disorders in Adolescence
• Attachment Disorders in Adults
• Summary
• Section V Prospects for Further Application
• Family Therapy
• Group Psychology
• Education
• Critical Issues
• Afterword
• Appendix: Brief Precis of the Adult Attachment Interview Protocol

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

Brisch's outstanding integration of John Bowlby's theory of attachment and analytic practice is fascinating to read. Following a brief summary of attachment theory, Brisch (specialist in child and infant attachment) presents numerous intriguing case histories that speak clearly to the need for and potential effectiveness of this integrative effort and thus serve to support his argument that attachment-oriented therapy is a crucial complement to the more traditional clinical approaches. As Inge Bretherton points out in her afterword, it is important to know that Brisch disassociates himself from what has been called "holding therapy." The author arranges the discussion in six sections: the first provides a brief introduction to Bowlby and a concise description of attachment theory; the second offers descriptive summaries of attachment disorders and the research conducted to understand them; the third reviews therapeutic theory and treatment based on Bowlby's work and Brisch's own experiences; the fourth presents cases of attachment-oriented therapeutic interventions that cover the life-span, from pre-conception to old age, and range in treatment length from weeks to many years. The remaining two sections offer suggestions for, respectively, inpatient intensive treatment of early developmental disorders and preventive programs to support parents in helping their children develop secure attachments. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. R. B. Stewart Jr. Oakland University

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Karl Heinz Brisch, MD, is a training psychoanalyst at the Psychoanalytic Institute and head of the Department of Pediatric Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy at the Children's Hospital at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Germany