by Max Fink (2009)
From the Publisher: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), despite its controversial history, may well represent the only viable treatment for severe psychiatric illness in those for whom medication is not an option. In Electronconvulsive Therapy, Dr. Max Fink draws on over 50 years of clinical experience to describe this safe, painless, and often life-saving treatment. Extensively revised and restructured since its original publication a decade ago, the book provides readers with a detailed explanation of the ECT procedure, helping them to better understand and prepare for treatment. Discussions of the mechanisms of actions have been updated and sections have been added on the use of ECT in pediatric populations and to treat movement disorders such as Parkinson's. Case studies of ECT patients illustrate its often dramatic success in relieving depression, mania, catatonia, and psychosis. Clarifying the many misconceptions surrounding the treatment, Dr. Fink reveals how anesthesia and muscle relaxation techniques reduce discomfort and risks to levels lower than those associated with psychiatric drugs. He then provides a historical perspective of the treatment, from the discovery of ECT and its widespread use beginning in the 1930s, to the 1950s when it was replaced by psychotropic drugs, to its revival in the last 30 years as a viable psychiatric treatment. Dr. Fink concludes with a straightforward discussion of the ethical issues surrounding ECT use, and on its similarities to and differences from other modern brain stimulation techniques. The classic text on the subject, written by a renowned researcher and physician, Electroconvulsive Therapy is an excellent resource for patients, their families, and mental health professionals.
Lesley Cotterill and Wally Barr
Mental health reforms continue the trend in targeting people with severe and enduring mental illness (SEMI) for specialist intervention. No book has focused exclusively on this topic - until now.
Sergio E. Starkstein, Marcelo J. Merello
"Emotional and cognitive disorders are common in Parkinson's disease, but are frequently overlooked or undertreated. This book provides a comprehensive account of these aspects of Parkinson's disease, based on the neurologic and psychiatric assessment of hundreds of patients by the authors. It also offers a thorough survey of the published literature on the topic." "Readers will find a complete and helpful overview of the clinical features and treatment of Parkinson's disease, followed by discussion of associated depressive disorders, anxiety, phobias, apathy, hallucinations, delusions and sleep disorders. Specific cognitive deficits are also discussed, and the mechanisms for these disorders explored. In addition, the book addresses the psychiatric and cognitive side-effects of antiparkinsonian medications and new surgical treatments." "Offering sufficient scientific detail for the specialist in neurology and psychiatry, the clear practical guidelines, case studies and rating scales will meet the needs of all clinicians working with Parkinson's disease patients."--BOOK JACKET.
Len Sperry
Psychopharmacology and Psychotherapy: Strategies for Maximizing Treatment Outcomes is designed to provide mental health professionals with the skills they need to effectively combine appropriate treatment modalities, particularly when medications are involved. Whether the clinician prescribes the medication or is providing psychotherapy to a patient taking prescribed medication, this book offers numerous strategies and guidelines for maximizing treatment outcomes. Specific strategies are provided for combining treatment and for collaboration between the prescribing clinician and the psychotherapist. Four overlapping therapeutic strategies designed to assist the clinician in understanding and providing tailored treatment are then examined. These include combining treatment modalities, enhancing compliance, incorporating psychoeducational interventions, and preventing relapse and recurrence. . Psychopharmacology and Psychotherapy will be a valuable resource for all mental health professionals who face the exciting challenge of providing treatment outcomes that are effective, affordable, and long lasting. It may be the most practical and user-friendly book on clinical practice published in some time.
Donna M. Womble
"This full-color, paperback book is an introductory-level textbook for students enrolled in a practical/vocational nursing program and taking a course in mental health nursing. The book is written in an engaging and simple to understand format, specifically for the LPN/LVN level, with many innovative features to enhance comprehension of material. Highlights of this edition include expanded coverage of dementia care and an enhanced art program"--