Is the use of adversive treatment an inhumane intervention for psychologically disordered individuals? -- Is gender identity disorder a mental illness -- Is forced treatment of seriously mentally ill individuals justifiable? -- Should individuals with anorexia nervosa have the right to refuse life-sustaining treatment? -- Is psychological debriefing a harmful intervention for survivors of trauma? -- Are blocked and recovered memories valid phenomena? -- Is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) a real disorder? -- Should MDMA (ecstasy) be prohibited, even for therapeutic use? -- Is addiction a brain disease? -- Should memory-dampening drugs be used to alleviate the symptoms of trauma? -- Is Ritalin overprescribed? -- Should psychologists prescribe medication? -- Is it unethical for psychologists to be involved in coercive interrogations? -- Is it ethical to support the wish for healthy limb amputation in people with body integrity identity disorder (BIID)? -- Does exposure to media violence promote aggressive behavior? -- Would legalization of virtual child pornography reduce sexual exploitation of children? -- Must mentally ill murderers have a rational understanding of why they are being sentenced to death? -- Does research confirm that abortion is a psychologically benign experience?

This volume presents current controversies that surround abnormal psychology in a debate-style format designed to stimulate student interest and develop critical thinking skills. Abnormal psychology is the branch of psychology that studies unusual patterns of behavior, emotion and thought, which may or may not be understood as precipitating a mental disorder. These topics are framed with a general summary and introduction, and a postscript or challenge questions. This work features an annotated listing of selected World Wide Web sites and an online instructor's resource guide with testing material available.