Description
Book SynopsisIf you care for someone with a mental illness—whether as a family member, friend, or practitioner—this hands-on reference is for you. The acclaimed What Every Patient, Family, Friend, and Caregiver Needs to Know About Psychiatry is now available in a long-awaited second edition. Like the first, it is written in a simple, concise style for the layperson—and is packed with need-to-know information on adult psychiatric disorders, including their causes, approaches to treatment, and what caregivers can do to help. It is an excellent resource for therapist's waiting room.
What Every Patient, Family, Friend, and Caregiver Needs to Know About Psychiatry features a wealth of immediately usable guidance for caregivers. It's an excellent text for introduction to psychiatry classes in colleges and nursing schools for helping students develop valuable knowledge and skills to apply in practice.
This one-stop resource is the first place to turn for practical guidance for the latest research-based techniques. You'll
• Get a solid understanding of the causes of psychiatric disorders, including stress, genetics and heredity, and emotional and physical problems
• Develop hands-on skills for the full range of emotional and mental disorders, including psychosomatic disorders, anxiety, substance abuse, sexual problems, loss, personality and mood disorders, schizophrenia, and cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease
• Find out how the psychiatrist should function in the patient-caregiver-doctor relationship—and learn how to choose a psychotherapist.
This second edition has been extensively revised and updated with new information on diagnostic techniques and brain scans, the role of genetics, new medications and psychotherapeutic approaches, and more. In addition, it features a unique and illuminating look at mental health in our post-9/11 nation, including the rising incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder.
Whether you're a social worker or psychologist, nurse or other professional, friend or family member, you'll get a sound framework to help you achieve better results.
Caring for a person with mental illness requires knowledge, skill, understanding, and strength. What Every Patient, Family, Friend, and Caregiver Needs to Know About Psychiatry gives you a source of guidance and techniques that will make you more confident and successful in your role as practitioner or caregiver.
Trade ReviewI like the accessibility of this book, in its appearance, writing style, and organization. It is informative and thorough without patronizing the reader and should be recommended to families and friends of patients to enhance the support they offer. Patients especially will appreciate the respect the author shows for those who suffer from mental illness and the author's commitment to improving their lives.
-- Diana Marta, BSN, RN * Doody's Book Reviews *
Table of ContentsAbout the Author
Introduction
PART I: Background and Normal Variations in Stress
Chapter 1. A Day at the Office
Chapter 2. Normal Development and the Life Cycle
Chapter 3. Heredity, Parenting, and Society
Chapter 4. Stress and Common Emotional Reactions
Chapter 5. Managing Stress
PART II: How Emotional Illness Differs From Mental Illness
Chapter 6. Adjustment Disorders and Psychosomatic Disorders
Chapter 7. Anxiety Disorders, Somatoform Disorders, and Dissociative Disorders
Chapter 8. Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
Chapter 9. Sexual Problems in Our Culture
Chapter 10. Eating Disorders
Chapter 11. The Emotional Effects of Loss
Chapter 12. Personality Disorders
Chapter 13. Unusual Psychiatric Disorders
PART III: Mental Illness: The Psychoses
Chapter 14. Mood Disorders: Depression and Manic States
Chapter 15. Schizophrenia
Chapter 16. Other Psychotic Disorders
Chapter 17. Delirium, Dementia, and Amnestic and Other Cognitive Disorders
PART IV: Treatment of Emotional and Mental Illnesses
Chapter 18. How a Psychiatrist Helps
Chapter 19. Psychotherapy: Who, What, When, and How?
Conclusion
Suggested Readings
Index
