Richard McCarty is Professor of Psychology at Vanderbilt University, where he previously served as Dean of the College of Arts and Science and as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost. He received his PhD from The Johns Hopkins University, then completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institute of Mental Health, where he was a Fellow in the Pharmacology Research Associate Training Program. He later received a National Research Service Award to support sabbatical research at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. His research interests have focused on physiological and behavioral adaptations to stress using a variety of animal models.

"This is an extremely useful resource for any professional working in the mental health field. What is particularly strong about the book is that it covers all the mental health research needed for deciding what treatments are to be considered empirically supported. Highly recommended. Graduate students, faculty, and professionals." -- D. C. Marston, CHOICE

"McCarty provides a well-written and comprehensive deep-dive into the evidence for interactions between stress and mental illness, stressing the importance of research into biological mechanisms in animal models. The volume presents a thorough, balanced and accessible review of a complex and continually evolving field, exploring plausible roles for stress in schizophrenia, autism, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression and PTSD. This is a must-read for those interested in understanding the link between stress and disease."-James P. Herman, PhD, Flor van Maanen Professor and Chair, Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

"A comprehensive and readable overview of emerging knowledge about how stress affects the brain of vulnerable individuals to precipitate mental disorders. Particularly important is the discussion of the contributions as well as limitations of animal models to this new knowledge."-Bruce S. McEwen, PhD, Alfred E. Mirsky Professor and Head, Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, Rockefeller University

"McCarty's book is an insightful exploration of the historical underpinnings of our current understanding of the scientific concept of stress. He provides a thoughtful and detailed description of how we came to our current understanding of the role of stress in mental disorders. This book challenges us to think more deeply about the role of stress in mental health, and is informative not just for the newcomer but also for those engaged in the study of stress in mental health. Each chapter brings richness and details not only about the science behind our understanding of stress in mental health but also about the individuals that drove the science and the forces that drove them."-Seema Bhatnagar, PhD, Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania