This brief text offers the same sociocultural focus, multicultural emphasis, topical coverage, and engaging style of its parent text in a condensed, student-friendly format. The wealth of visuals, case studies, and examples combine with thorough new research, making the text a comprehensive tool for students of abnormal psychology. Engaging pedagogical aids help students grasp and retain material. Coverage also features proposed changes in the APA's DSM-5 definition of mental disorders and its implications, including its change of focus from a categorical to a dimensional system of personality assessment. Chapter outlines provide a topical overview while Focus Questions guide students to seek their own answers as they read the chapter. Case studies highlight issues of mental health and mental disorders, using actual clinical files to illuminate topics. With more than 1,600 new references, this edition is thoroughly updated in its research and coverage. The fresh design makes the text even more approachable and appealing to students. It is accompanied by a helpful support package for instructors and students.