What Every Patient, Family, Friend, And Caregiver Needs To Know About Psychiatry

Despite tremendous strides in knowledge gained in the field, psychiatric disorders continue to present challenges to patients, caregivers, those with family histories of mental illness, and even physicians. This layperson's guide is filled with essential, comprehensive information on the gamut of adult psychiatric disorders.

Aimed at patients and caregivers& mdash;including family, friends, professional caregivers& mdash;this down-to-earth volume provides clear, in-depth advice on understanding and dealing with stress and difficult patient behaviors. Noted psychiatrist Richard W. Roukema covers such topics as heredity's role in alcohol and drug dependency, marital troubles, psychiatric problems common among the elderly, and stress management, as well as emotional illness versus mental illness (for example, he helps readers recognize the difference between acute anxiety prompted by temporary stress and more serious conditions that require psychiatric treatment). In explaining a wide range of illnesses, Dr. Roukema makes this work reader-friendly by including definitions of psychiatric terms and explaining the effects and uses of the myriad of medications now available.

The second edition has been extensively updated with new findings on the genetics of mental illness, diagnostic techniques and brain scans, medications, psychotherapeutic techniques& mdash;and an expanded section on Alzheimer's disease, its effect on caregivers, and what caregivers can do to help. It also examines the effects of events since 9/11 on the occurrence of psychiatric disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder.

If you care for someone with a mental illness& mdash;whether as a family member, friend, or practitioner& mdash;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& mdash;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& mdash;and learn how to choose a psychotherapist.

This second edition has been extensively revised and updated with new information on diagnostic techniques and brainscans, 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.