The field of psychology is large and diverse, with many different perspectives, theories, and branches. One particularly interesting branch is abnormal psychology, which deals with psychological disorders and other abnormal patterns of thoughts and behaviors. If you are looking for more information on this subject, the library’s new Abnormal Psychology LibGuide is a great place to start.

This new LibGuide provides plenty of resources for various psychological disorders, including sections on Depressive and Bipolar Disorders, Dissociative Disorders, Eating Disorders, Personality Disorders, Schizophrenia, and more. You can navigate these sections by clicking on the tabs on the top of the page. Each section has a box located on the left side of the screen which gives a brief description of the disorders located in that section. The LibGuide includes general collection books (physical books you can check out from the library), eBooks, journal articles, videos, and websites relevant to the disorders listed on each page.

If you are unable to find what you are looking for in any of the main categories of the LibGuide, other disorders and mental health issues may be found in the Other section. If you are not sure where to begin, or if you are looking at abnormal psychology more broadly, you can find general resources for psychological disorders and the subject of abnormal psychology in the General Texts section. One helpful resource listed on this page is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), a physical copy of which can be checked out from the library. Published by the American Psychiatric Association, this manual includes the descriptions and diagnostic criteria for each psychological disorder, and is a very useful tool both for research and for professionals in the field.

This LibGuide also provides the links to relevant databases you can search for more sources for abnormal psychology, located under the Databases tab. There is also a tab for resources to help with Citations (remember that psychology uses APA style). If you would like any additional assistance conducting your research or navigating the LibGuide, you can find our 24/7 chat, where you can chat live with a librarian, on every page.

All LibGuides can be accessed by going to the library homepage and selecting LibGuides from the drop-down menu under “Find.”

Originally posted in the Freeman/Lozier Library’s quarterly newsletter, More Than Books, V. 26 No. 4, Fall 2023.