The SAGE Encyclopedia of Abnormal and Clinical Psychology
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When students, clinicians, and researchers need a single authoritative reference for the full scope of psychological science, multi-volume encyclopedias fill a gap that no textbook or journal article can.
This reference work covers the theories, disorders, assessment instruments, psychotherapeutic interventions, and social, legal, and cultural frameworks that define the field, organized for efficient access across a comprehensive range of signed entries.
Book Overview
Edited by Amy Wenzel, Ph.D., ABPP, The SAGE Encyclopedia of Abnormal and Clinical Psychology is a seven-volume, A-to-Z reference work published by SAGE Publications in March 2017. It contains more than 1,400 entries written by expert contributors across clinical psychology, psychiatry, counseling, and related disciplines.
The scope of the work reflects the breadth of the field itself. Entries address fundamental theories and psychological approaches, the full range of mental health disorders, assessment instruments and tools, psychotherapeutic interventions, and the broader social, legal, and cultural issues that shape how clinicians understand and treat psychological distress.
A Reader's Guide helps users navigate the encyclopedia thematically. Cross-references, a detailed index, a chronology, and a general bibliography support thorough academic research and classroom use.
Key Features of the Encyclopedia
The encyclopedia was designed with structured access and cross-disciplinary usefulness in mind. Its core features include:
Seven volumes covering the complete A-to-Z range of topics in abnormal and clinical psychology
More than 1,400 signed entries authored by subject-matter experts in the relevant subfields
A Reader's Guide that groups entries by theme for structured navigation
Cross-references connecting related entries across volumes
A detailed index and general bibliography supporting academic research and citation
A chronology placing key developments in the field in historical context
Both print and electronic formats are available, making the encyclopedia accessible for individual researchers and institutional library collections.
Book Details
Editor: Amy Wenzel, Ph.D., ABPP
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Publication date: March 16, 2017
Volumes: 7
Total pages: Approximately 4,200
Entries: 1,400+
Print ISBN: 978-1-4833-6583-1
Electronic ISBN: 978-1-5063-5323-4
Format: Hardcover and electronic
Subject areas: Abnormal psychology, clinical psychology, psychopathology, psychological assessment, psychotherapy
Who This Reference Work Is For
This encyclopedia serves a wide range of readers across academic, clinical, and professional settings:
Undergraduate students encountering abnormal and clinical psychology for the first time
Graduate students and doctoral candidates building theoretical and clinical foundations
Faculty and course instructors seeking a credible reference for course development and supplementary reading
Academic and institutional libraries requiring a comprehensive reference work in the psychological sciences
Clinicians and practitioners in psychology, psychiatry, counseling, and social work who need reliable reference material
Researchers seeking organized access to the theoretical and empirical landscape of the field
Editorial reviews from CHOICE and ARBA describe the work as useful across readership levels, from lower-division undergraduates through faculty and clinical professionals.
About the Editor: Amy Wenzel, Ph.D., ABPP
Dr. Amy Wenzel's biography details a career built on the integration of rigorous scholarship and clinical practice. She is internationally recognized for her contributions to cognitive behavioral therapy, perinatal mental health, and suicide prevention.
Dr. Wenzel has authored and edited more than 25 books and more than 125 peer-reviewed works. Her publications span foundational CBT texts, specialized clinical handbooks, and works addressing perinatal distress and therapeutic relationship-focused CBT.
Her editorial role on this encyclopedia reflects a long-standing commitment to bringing high-quality, research-grounded resources to students, clinicians, and scholars across the discipline.
Critical Reception
The SAGE Encyclopedia of Abnormal and Clinical Psychology received strong recognition from academic review sources upon publication. CHOICE, a review publication serving academic libraries, characterized the work in terms that affirmed its usefulness across readership levels. ARBA (American Reference Books Annual) similarly described it as a resource appropriate for students, the general public, and professionals, confirming its breadth and accessibility.
SAGE describes the encyclopedia as a tool for helping readers understand and apply current thinking in the field, from foundational theoretical frameworks through practical clinical applications.
Purchase Options
The encyclopedia is available for individual and institutional purchase through:
Institutional library access may also be available through SAGE's electronic platform. Contact your library's acquisitions team to confirm access options.
Explore More Resources from Dr. Amy Wenzel
The work represented in this encyclopedia reflects a broader body of scholarship and clinical practice spanning more than two decades.
Whether you are a student building foundational knowledge, a clinician refining your practice, or someone seeking individualized evidence-based therapy, the resources below offer direct access to that work.
For Those Seeking Therapy
If you are looking for structured, research-informed psychotherapy in the Bryn Mawr and Main Line area, the practice offers individualized CBT for anxiety, depression, perinatal distress, and a range of related concerns. Learn more about the clinical approach and background on the biography page, or contact the practice to inquire about next steps.
CBT: Foundational and Clinical Texts
These books address the theory, techniques, and strategic application of cognitive behavioral therapy across clinical settings.
Handbook of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: A comprehensive reference covering CBT theory and clinical frameworks for practitioners and researchers.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Techniques and Strategies: A practical guide to applying CBT methods in real clinical work.
Innovations in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Strategic Interventions for Creative Practice: Explores advanced and creative applications of CBT beyond conventional frameworks.
Strategic Decision Making in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Addresses case conceptualization and clinical decision-making within a CBT model.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Beginners: An Experiential Learning Approach: Designed for students and trainees encountering CBT concepts for the first time.
Exploring Three Approaches to Psychotherapy: Compares CBT with other major therapeutic modalities to support clinical education and informed practice.
Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Shared Decision-Making Toolkit for Mental Health Providers: A practical resource for clinicians integrating shared decision-making into evidence-based practice.
Therapeutic Relationship-Focused CBT: Dr. Wenzel's newest work, presenting TRF-CBT as an approach that integrates the therapeutic relationship into CBT without sacrificing evidence-based rigor.
Perinatal Mental Health and Women's Concerns
These titles address the psychological experiences of women during pregnancy, the postpartum period, reproductive loss, and related life transitions.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Perinatal Distress: A clinician's guide to applying CBT for anxiety, depression, and distress during the perinatal period.
The Oxford Handbook of Perinatal Psychology: A scholarly handbook covering the full range of psychological experience during pregnancy and early parenthood.
The Routledge International Handbook of Perinatal Mental Health Disorders: An international reference addressing perinatal mental health disorders across clinical and cultural contexts.
Dropping the Baby and Other Scary Thoughts, 2nd Edition: A clinician and consumer resource addressing intrusive thoughts in new parents, grounded in CBT principles.
Anxiety in Childbearing Women: Examines anxiety across the perinatal period, with assessment and treatment considerations for clinicians.
Coping with Infertility, Miscarriage, and Neonatal Loss: Finding Perspective: A compassionate, research-informed resource for individuals and clinicians navigating reproductive loss.
Tokens of Affection: Addresses relationship strain and the emotional impact of perinatal experiences on couples and partnerships.
Specialty Populations and Clinical Applications
These works extend CBT principles to specific clinical presentations and underserved populations.
Cognitive Therapy for Suicidal Patients: A rigorous clinical guide to applying cognitive therapy frameworks in the assessment and treatment of suicidal patients.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depressed Veterans and Military Servicemembers: Adapts CBT for depression to the specific clinical and contextual needs of veterans and active military personnel.
Group Cognitive Therapy for Addictions: Applies cognitive therapy principles to group-based treatment for addictive behaviors.
Reference Works and Encyclopedias
SAGE Encyclopedia of Mood and Anxiety Disorders: A reference encyclopedia covering the full range of mood and anxiety disorders for students, researchers, and clinicians.
Scholarly Publications, Videos, and Audiobooks
Beyond her books, Dr. Wenzel's scholarly output includes more than 125 peer-reviewed articles and chapters, clinical training videos, and audiobook resources.
Publications: Browse peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and other scholarly contributions.
Videos: Access clinical training and educational video resources.
Audiobooks: Explore audio versions of select titles for flexible learning.
Connect with the Practice
If this work is relevant to a clinical inquiry, speaking engagement, training opportunity, or therapy referral, the contact page is the appropriate starting point.
