Psychological Assessment of Adult Posttraumatic States: Phenomenology, Diagnosis, and Measurement

This is far from being an exciting book, but it is a useful nuts-and-bolts review of available assessment instruments for PTSD and related disorders. Those who have worked with sufferers from the disorder are likely to have strong opinions about various aspects of it--Briere does not give much space to controversies about the adequacy (or lack thereof) of the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD, but does discuss other proposed disorders of extreme stress and ways of assessing them. His conclusion (which should be no surprise to anyone) is that trauma assessment is in its infancy and there is no "gold standard" yet. Nevertheless, he does make useful recommendations, and psychologists working with trauma victims ought to have this book on their shelves.

Anyone interested in the assessment of PTSD must own this title. The book provides practical information about the many aspects of PTSD. Briere provides clear discriptions of specific PTSD symptomatology such as flash backs, dissociation, depersonalization, and derealization. He also discusses theoretical conceptualizations of PTSD such as complex PTSD. This book walks the reader through multiple assessment instruments and discusses both the complexities and subtlties of PTSD and associated disorders. Easy to read, complete, and full of information. Useful for the beginner or the seasoned veteran. No psychological library is complete without this title. Like Exner's Rorschach and Caldwell's MMPI literature, this book will take it's rightful place in the psychological assessment elite.