Part psychiatric textbook and part self-help manual for patients and clients, Fatal Flaws reviews comprehensively the course, treatment, genetics, biology, psychology, and destructive consequences of hysterical (histrionic), narcissistic, antisocial, paranoid, obsessive-compulsive, addictive, borderline, and schizotypal personality disorders.
I read this book while I was taking a class in Psychopathology. It provided a much needed bridge from theory to practice. Yudofsky writes with deep empathy and compassion for his clients and humanizes the struggles of people who are suffering from personality disorders.
This book provides a psychoanalytical discussion of personality and character flaws. In particular, it delves into the destructive consequences of hysterical (histrionic), narcissistic, antisocial, paranoid, obsessive-compulsive, addictive, borderline, and schizotypal personality disorders.
An extremely well put together series of explanations and studies which I recommend to students of psychology. Unfortunately the DSM has moved on in edition since this was written, but the outlines are still highly instructive for the reader to achieve understanding of process.
An alternate title would be "Psychiatric Care for the Rich and Famous." While the case studies may read like People magazine, Yudofsky does manage to present the modules in a highly organized, easy-to-understand manner.
This is a comprehensive explanation of character disorders. It is appropriate for Laymen, as well as professionals. It explains how to recognize character disorders in people around you, and also how to interact with difficult people showing certain characteristics.