Psychopathology in the Workplace: Recognition and Adaptation

Mental illness in the workplace is the fastest growing source of disability claims made by employers according to a recent Federal Survey. Recently, there is increasing recognition that it is in both employer's and employee's interests to keep the employee on the job even if this involves making accommodations to the employee's disability, in terms of time off for treatment, work schedule, placement in low stress position and so forth. As a result, employers are making accommodations and employees are seeking treatment for mental disorders. The idea of this book is as a text for graduate and continuing education courses that provides resources to students and mental health professionals on work related treatment of psychopathology. Psychopathology in the Workplace: Recognition and Adaptation provides students and professionals with the background knowledge they need to contribute to this new aspect of clinical practice. The book is divided into three parts: Part I, Overview lays the foundation of theinterface of psychopathology, and the workplace; presents a model of mental illness, work, and life stressors; and the basics of assessing psychopathology. Part II, Categories of Dysfunction describes the major forms of mental illness, which are apt to be found in work settings. Each chapter in this section will follow a consistent format that includes a description of the disorder, epidemiology, case illustration, assessment, referral strategies, trigger stressors at work or home, empirically based treatment plan, relapse prevention and summary. Part III, Environmental and Managerial Interventions is made up of chapters that detail what organizations can do to accommodate those with mental health needs, motivate dysfunctional employees, promote mental health in the workplace, and develop employee assistance program strategies. The book can stand alone or as an adjunct in a one-semester course or serve as the background reference for a continuing education course.

Jay C. Thomas, Ph.D., ABPP, holds a diplomate in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology and is currently Director of the Counseling Psychology Program at Pacific University Michel Hersen, Ph.D., ABPP, is Dean and Professor of the School of Professional Psychology at Pacific University