Schizotypy and Schizophrenia:
The View from Experimental Psychopathology

Mark F. Lenzenweger, PhD
Published by
Guilford Press.
New York, NY (2010)
[ISBN 978-1-60623-865-3]

This compelling book argues that all people with schizophrenia share a personality organization known as schizotypy. Presented is a novel framework for understanding schizophrenia through the study of individuals who may never develop the disorder, but who nonetheless harbor a liability for it. Mark F. Lenzenweger comprehensively reviews current knowledge about schizotypy while exploring broader questions of how to think about and conduct psychopathology research, making the book useful and relevant for both researchers and students. He demonstrates state-of-the-art strategies for combining clinical observations, psychometric and psychophysiological measures, neuroimaging, and genetic analyses, and for analyzing the results using advanced statistical techniques.

"Written by an internationally recognized authority, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in the complexities of schizophrenia and psychopathology research. Meticulous scholarship, accumulated wisdom, and personal anecdotes are combined into an engaging and highly readable text. In addition to highlighting classic findings and the most up-to-date research, Lenzenweger provides the reader with the benefits of his vast knowledge and unique perspective. Everyone from the beginning graduate student to the experienced researcher will find true gold in these pages."

--Jill M. Hooley, DPhil, Department of Psychology, Harvard University

"Standing proudly on the shoulders of such giants of quantitative clinical psychology as Meehl and Maher, Lenzenweger offers us an unsurpassed view of the terrain called schizotypy and schizophrenia. The breadth and depth of his work are just plain amazing. No wishy-washy prose here; he tells readers that received wisdom may not be wise, and that the reception of such wisdom can arrive with distortions. He easily goes from psychometrics to endophenotypes to psychodynamics, all in a relaxed, user-friendly style. Reading this book is like listening in on a professor's chat with bright students in an advanced psychopathology seminar. Even the footnotes contain probing questions that imply future dissertation topics. Looking for an exciting psychopathology textbook? Stop looking—it has arrived."

--Irving I. Gottesman, PhD, Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, University of Minnesota

"Lenzenweger, a world-class scholar, teacher, and clinician, has produced a spectacular volume. This book is unique in conveying the adventures, joys, and dilemmas of thinking about and doing clinical research related to mental illness. Lenzenweger thoughtfully considers multiple psychological and biological methods and approaches, teaching about each of them in ways that stick with the reader. Centered on schizotypy and schizophrenia, the book contains valuable lessons that apply to all clinical areas. A tour de force, equivalent to having a very knowledgeable, curious, and likeable mentor at your elbow."

--Jack D. Barchas, MD, Chair, Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College

"For over 25 years, Lenzenweger has led the field in the laboratory study of schizotypy. In this book, Lenzenweger not only provides the tools, theory, and methodological approach for a sophisticated view of schizotypy, but also invites readers to explore the scientific challenges in this complicated research domain from his richly creative and uncompromisingly rigorous perspective. Clearly written, compelling, and replete with elucidating examples, Lenzenweger's book is a tour de force. This book should be read and reread by any serious student of psychopathology."

--Dante Cicchetti, PhD, McKnight Presidential Chair of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Institute of Child Development and Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota