1st Edition

Cognitive Vulnerability to Emotional Disorders

By Lauren B. Alloy, John H. Riskind Copyright 2006

    Emotional disorders such as anxiety, depression, and dysfunctional patterns of eating are clearly among the most devastating and prevalent confronting practitioners, and they have received much attention from researchers--in personality, social, cognitive, and developmental psychology, as well as in clinical psychology and psychiatry. A major recent focus has been cognitive vulnerability, which seems to set the stage for recurrences of symptoms and episodes. In the last five years there has been a rapid proliferation of studies.

    In this book, leading experts present the first broad synthesis of what we have now learned about the nature, of cognitive factors that seem to play a crucial role in creating and maintaining vulnerability across the spectrum of emotional disorders. An introductory chapter considers theory and research design and methodology and constructs a general conceptual framework for understanding and studying the relationships between developmental and cognitive variables and later risk, and the difference between distal cognitive antecedents of disorders (e.g. depressive inferential styles, dysfunctional attitudes) and proximal ones (e.g. schema activation or inferences). Subsequent chapters are organized into three sections, on mood, anxiety, and eating disorders. Each section ends with an integrative overview chapter that offers both incisive commentary and insightful suggestions for further systematic research.

    A rich resource for all those professionally concerned with these problems, Cognitive Vulnerability to Emotional Disorders advances both clinical science and clinical practice.

    Contents: Preface. J.H. Riskind, L.B. Alloy, Cognitive Vulnerability to Emotional Disorders: Theory and Research Design/Methodology. Part I: Mood Disorders. L.B. Alloy, L.Y. Abramson, S.M. Safford, B.E. Gibb, The Cognitive Vulnerability to Depression (CVD) Project: Current Findings and Future Directions. R.E. Ingram, J. Miranda, Z. Segal, Cognitive Vulnerability to Depression. L.B. Alloy, N.A. Reilly-Harrington, D.M. Fresco, E. Flannery-Schroeder, Cognitive Vulnerability to Bipolar Spectrum Disorders. J.W. Pettit, T.E. Joiner, Jr., Cognitive Vulnerability to Suicide. S.K. Traill, I.H. Gotlib, Cognitive Vulnerability to Mood Disorders: An Integration. Part II: Anxiety Disorders. J.H. Riskind, N.L. Williams, A Unique Vulnerability Common to All Anxiety Disorders: The Looming Maladaptive Style. N.B. Schmidt, K. Woolaway-Bickel, Cognitive Vulnerability to Panic Disorder. S.J. Rachman, R. Shafran, J.H. Riskind, Cognitive Vulnerability to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders. D.R. Ledley, D.M. Fresco, R.G. Heimberg, Cognitive Vulnerability to Social Anxiety Disorder. N.C. Feeny, E.B. Foa, Cognitive Vulnerability to PTSD. A. Wells, G. Matthews, Cognitive Vulnerability to Anxiety Disorders: An Integration. Part III: Eating Disorders. L.Y. Abramson, A.M. Bardone-Cone, K.D. Vohs, T.E. Joiner, Jr., T.F. Heatherton, Cognitive Vulnerability to Bulimia. D.M. Garner, C. Magana, Cognitive Vulnerability to Anorexia Nervosa. P.K. Keel, Cognitive Vulnerability to Eating Disorders: An Integration.

    Biography

    Alloy, Lauren B.; Riskind, John H.

    "'Cognitive Vulnerability to Emotional Disorders' deserves a prominent place in the library of every researcher and serious student of the cognitive sources and treatment of emotional disorders....the editors and other contributors to this excellent resource are to be commended for this volume. It is perhaps in the nature of excellent work that the audience comes away wanting more."
    PsycCRITIQUES

    " 'Cognitive Vulnerability to Emotional Disorders' a fascinating and thought-provoking experience with many new ideas, insights, and questions."
    Psychiatric Services