Diagnostic Essentials of Psychopathology: A Case-Based Approach by Cheree Hammond brings together dozens of fictional cases which represent a range of human experiences, featuring people of different ages, ethnicities, genders, ability levels, and religions. Each disorder has several cases associated with it to capture the truly unique nature of working with various client intersections, and half of the cases provide the correct "answers" or diagnosis to allow students to check their understanding of this process. Some cases focus on a diagnosis, others with analysis, and others let the student practice on their own as a way to further student reflection and learning.

This casebook is specifically written for disciplines that are grounded in a humanistic approach (Counseling, Social Work, Counseling Psychology). The author provides a framework for using the medical model that is presented in the DSM-5.