Attachment Theory and Psychosis: Current Perspectives and Future Directions edited by Katherine Berry, Sandra Bucci and Adam N. Danquah, published for  The International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis (ISPS), Routledge, 2020,  300 pages, ISBN: 978-1-138-95675-9 (paperback)

This is an important, timely, and much needed book which should be included in the curriculum of most if not all clinical psychotherapy trainings. Especially those seeking to train therapists to work with those who may present with psychosis and needing to prepare therapists for the possibility that psychosis may emerge during treatment. It is much needed because some psychotherapy trainings might not prepare trainees enough for these situations, or make the links between trauma, insecure attachments, and a person's psychotic symptoms clearly enough. Those who suffer from psychosis might be incorrectly considered “unsuitable for therapy”, or suffering from a biological illness with a pharmacological treatment. This book is the antidote to this belief, and a “how to” of building therapeutic relationships with those suffering with psychosis.

The book chapters are co-authored by some of the greatest contemporary attachment theorists, clinicians, and researchers into psychosis such as Richard Bentall, Peter Fonagy, Gwen Adshead, and Andrew Gumley. Every chapter is of a consistently high quality, and the depth of all the authors clinical and research experience is evident in abundance.

The timely nature of this book is made explicit throughout the book:

In light of the Winterbourne View case and the Mid Staffordshire Public Inquiry (Francis, 2013a), there is no better time to think about how attachment theory can be applied in the design and delivery of mental health services offering support and interventions to vulnerable populations. At its heart, attachment emphasises the importance of safe and secure relationships. (Bucci et al., 2020, p. 237)

The book is divided into three parts, the first section is about symptoms, functioning, and aetiology. The second section is on therapeutic approaches. The third is on individual and organisational perspectives. This is a very helpful structure as the three aspects of psychosis will be inextricably intertwined, as Bowlby stated:

Wi