Dimensional Diagnosis
Practical and Conceptual Issues in the Integration of Personality and Psychopathology
Edited by Christopher J. Hopwood and Carla Sharp
Hardcover
Hardcover
pre-orderApril 3, 2026
ISBN 9781462562381
Price: $65.00 341 Pages
Size: 6" x 9"
Despite a general consensus that the mental health field is shifting from categorical toward dimensional diagnosis, important questions remain about exactly how this transition should occur—both practically and conceptually. This book brings together leading scholars to discuss how personality is related to psychopathology, how this changes our understanding of mental disorders, how dimensional models can be applied in varied clinical settings, and implications for training and research. The volume is uniquely structured to address 15 core challenges identified by the editors. Within each chapter, two author teams weigh in with different perspectives on the questions posed, offering a window into critical debates at the cutting edge of clinical science and practice.
This title is part of The Guilford Series in Personality and Psychopathology, edited by Christopher J. Hopwood.
“The move from categorical to dimensional models of psychopathology is perhaps the most significant change in psychiatric nosology in the past quarter century. This outstanding volume is the first to explore the implications of this shift with such clarity, realism, and depth. The editors—two of the field's most innovative scientist-clinicians—have brought together leading international experts to address the urgent clinical questions arising from the DSM and ICD revisions. The volume combines conceptual sophistication with remarkable pragmatism. It offers realistic, implementable guidance for clinicians, while at the same time illuminating the broader intellectual significance of the dimensional approach. This is a rare achievement—a book that is both indispensable for daily practice and transformative in its influence. Destined to become a classic.”
—Peter Fonagy, CBE, FMedSci, FBA, FAcSS, Head, Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, United Kingdom
“This scholarly yet very accessible book is a 'must read' for anyone involved in assessment and treatment in mental health. While it is now widely accepted that mental health problems fall along continuous dimensions rather than fitting into discrete categories, clinical implementation of this new understanding of psychopathology remains challenging. Bringing together dozens of experts with varying perspectives, this groundbreaking book launches a much-needed discussion of dimensional diagnosis. Topics include not only assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, but also epidemiology, clinical training, genetics, neurobiology, stigma, overlap and distinctions between personality and psychopathology, and incorporating more diverse and underrepresented populations into work in this area.”
—Lee Anna Clark, PhD, William J. and Dorothy K. O’Neill Professor Emerita, Department of Psychology, University of Notre Dame
“Dimensional diagnosis sounds good, in principle. Finally, here is a volume that helps make it practical. This book is a go-to resource for all. It addresses everything from the conceptual basis of dimensional diagnoses to measurement considerations to clinical implications—and even how to train the next generation of scientists and practitioners.”
—Avshalom Caspi, PhD, Edward M. Arnett Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University; Professor of Personality Development, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, King’s College London, United Kingdom
About the Editors
Christopher J. Hopwood, PhD, is Professor of Personality Psychology at the University of Zurich, Switzerland. Dr. Hopwood is Associate Editor of the Journal of Personality Assessment and the Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science, and Editor-in-Chief of the journal Psychology of Human–Animal Intergroup Relations. He is the 2018 recipient of the Theodore Millon Grant in Personality Psychology from the American Psychological Foundation, among other honors. Dr. Hopwood's research interests include personality assessment and development, interpersonal processes, psychopathology, and human–animal relations.Carla Sharp, PhD, is John and Rebecca Moores Professor of Clinical Psychology and Associate Dean for Faculty and Research at the University of Houston, where she is also Director of the Adolescent Diagnosis Assessment Prevention and Treatment (ADAPT) Center and the Developmental Psychopathology Lab. Dr. Sharp holds adjunct positions at University College London in the United Kingdom and the University of the Free State in South Africa. Her work has significantly advanced scientific understanding of personality pathology in youth. She is a recipient of the Mid-Career Investigator Award from the North American Society for the Study of Personality Disorders and the Award for Achievement in the Field of Severe Personality Disorders from the Borderline Personality Disorder Resource Center.