Historical and Geographical Influences on Psychopathology

This book begins with the assumption that a deep understanding of the origins of psychopathology, human dysfunction, and their course is fundamental to the quest for the good society, and perhaps, even to our survival as a species. The studies presented compare prevalences and risk factors across time and place, and make use of concepts and methods from history, geography, sociology, anthropology, economics, psychology, social and medical services research, social policy, psychiatry, and epidemiology. Collectively, they illustrate the methods and methodological difficulties involved in the effort to achieve a deep understanding and provide important insights into the disorders and dysfunctions that are investigated.

Contents: Preface. P. Cohen, C. Slomkowski, L.N. Robins, Introduction: Time, Place, and Psychopathology. Part I: The Impact of History. J. McCord, Crime: Taking a Historical Perspective. L.N. Robins, A 70-Year History of Conduct Disorder: Variations in Definition, Prevalence, and Correlates. S. Hodgins, N. Lalonde, Major Mental Disorders and Crime: Changes Over Time? S. Karstedt, Early Nazis 1923-1933--Neo-Nazis 1980-1995: A Comparison of the Life Histories of Two Generations of German Right-Wing Extremists. E. Fombonne, Time Trends in Affective Disorders. H.Z. Reinherz, R.M. Giaconia, M.S. Wasserman, A.B. Silverman, L. Burton, Coming of Age in the 1990s: Influences of Contemporary Stressors on Major Depression in Young Adults. H. Kaplan, X. Liu, Explaining Transgenerational Continuity in Antisocial Behavior During Early Adolescence. S. Kasen, P. Cohen, C. Slomkowski, J.S. Brook, Maternal Disciplinary Practices and Offspring Temperament Across Two Generations. J.B. Ullman, M.D. Newcomb, I Felt the Earth Move: A Prospective Study of the 1994 Northridge Earthquake. Part II: Comparison of National and Geographical Cohorts. M. Zoccolillo, R. Price, T.H.C. Ji, H-G. Hwu, Antisocial Personality Disorder: Comparisons of Prevalence, Symptoms, and Correlates in Four Countries. E.J. Costello, E.M.Z. Farmer, A. Angold, Same Place, Different Children: White and American Indian Children in the Appalachian Mountains. D.P. Farrington, R. Loeber, Transatlantic Replicability of Risk Factors in the Development of Delinquency. M. DeSisto, C.M. Harding, R.V. McCormick, T. Ashikaga, G.W. Brooks, The Maine and Vermont Three-Decade Studies of Serious Mental Illness: Longitudinal Course Comparisons. D. Gorman-Smith, P.H. Tolan, D. Henry, The Relation of Community and Family to Risk Among Urban-Poor Adolescents.