Mindfulness and Psychotherapy Review

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(More customer reviews)As a psychotherapist for 30 years and a mindfulness practitioner for nearly 10 years, I have read a lot of good books and articles on both subjects. "Mindfulness and Psychotherapy" is as clear and helpful in both disiplines as any I have encounted. The editors have done a 'mindful' job in selecting from an array of perspectives. Mindfulness is defined and contextualized for our western psychotherapeutic practice, while also placed in an historical and cultural framwork that informs and enlightens our understanding. Indeed the more philosophical essays are perhaps the strongest pieces in this marvelous compendium. We are reminded that the Buddah saw himself as a physician who sought to diagnose and find a cure for human suffering. Out of his own intimate encounter with suffering, he devised and revised a program that we in western psychological science are just now testing and finding curative-both for our clients and for ourselves.
There is much here to be considered by all schools of psychotherapy. Paul Fulton presents an intriguing chapter on Mindfulness as Clinical Training. There are concise chapters on teaching mindfulness skills to clients (even children)with varying disorders, including panic,anxiety, depression, and psychophysiological problems. There is a comprehensive while managable 'Resources for the Clinician" appendix.
Andrew Olendzki deserves special mention for his piece on "The Roots of Mindfulness." I had to stop highlighting as each page was yellowed with brightness.
If you are a psychotherapist, a meditator, or thinking of practicing either, you will do well to read this wonderful book.

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Responding to growing interest among psychotherapists of all theoretical orientations, this practical book provides a comprehensive introduction to mindfulness and its clinical applications. The authors, who have been practicing both mindfulness and psychotherapy for decades, present a range of clear-cut procedures for implementing mindfulness techniques and teaching them to patients experiencing depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and other problems. Also addressed are ways that mindfulness practices can increase acceptance and empathy in the therapeutic relationship. The book reviews the philosophical underpinnings of mindfulness and presents compelling empirical findings. User-friendly features include illustrative case examples, practice exercises, and resource listings.

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The Practical Art of Suicide Assessment: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals and Substance Abuse Counselors Review

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(More customer reviews)Shawn Shea's The Practical Art of Suicide Assessment: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals and Substance Abuse Counselors is one of the most valuable professional texts I have read in the past decade. The book combines scholarship, practical guidelines and a literary quality that renders it a truly exceptional book in the field. I found the case examples used to illustrate clinical problems invaluable; these vignettes bring the theoretical material "alive" in a way that encourages clinicians from various disciplines and theoretical orientations to meaningfully incorporate the concepts. Shea elucidates such critical issues as risk factors and risk predictors in such a way as to make constructs that are often reifed once again meaningful. As part of my professional responsibilities, I am responsible for training/teaching mental health emergency clinicians aspects of clinical interviewing and suicide assessment. I have incorporated many of the principles in this book into these trainings. The CASE approach to suicidal assessment is perhaps the best approach to this complex task that I have found. The discussion on "contracting for safety/no suicide contracts" is relevant, congruent with current ethical and legal principles, and reflects the difficult reality of working with suicidal patients. I regularly recommend both this book and Shea's book on psychiatric interviewing to participants in the workshops.
In summary, I highly recommend this text for clinicians from all disciplines and at all phases of professional development. It is a rich text, full of clinical wisdom and scholarship, that both the novice and the seasoned clinician will find themselves reaching for repeatedly. Perhaps the best assessment of the book is the fact that I've tried to keep it on my bookshelf, but it keeps getting borrowed by my colleagues. I've resolved the problem by keeping a separate copy at home. THAT constitutes a valuable book!

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Penned with a compelling elegance and charm, the "Practical Art of Suicide Assessment" is brimming with clinical wisdom, enlightening case illustrations and a vibrant sense of compassion. Viewed as one of the classics in the field of mental health, and acclaimed by both beginning students and experienced clinicians alike, it describes in a step-by-step fashion exactly how to make a sound suicide assessment. Dr. Shea explores the causes of suicidal ideation as well as the nuances of risk actors, protective factors, and the complexities of the clinical formulation of risk. He skillfully integrates all of this information for the reader by using real-life case examples and addressing daunting clinical challenges head-on such as assessing suicide risk with clients coping with borderline personality disorder or psychotic process.In addition Dr. Shea brings to life the highly acclaimed interview strategy for uncovering suicidal ideation, planning, behavior and intent the "Chronological Assessment of Suicide Events (CASE Approach)". Dr. Shea, the originator of the CASE Approach, shows exactly how to creatively and flexibly use its innovative interviewing techniques to match the unique needs of every client. The CASE Approach has been described by the noted suicidologist and past President of the American Association of Suicidology, David Jobes, Ph.D. as follows: "The CASE Approach moves the clinician almost imperceptibly into the secret internal workings of the mind and soul of the patient tormented by suicidal ideation. I believe that the CASE Approach is a remarkable conceptual and clinical contribution to the field of suicidology. It should be taught to any front-line clinician. It has the power to meaningfully save lives." Dr. Shea concludes the book with a no-nonsense approach to documenting a suicide risk assessment that can both help to save a client's life as well as keep the clinician out of court. Respected across the globe, the Practical Art of Suicide Assessment has been translated into languages as diverse as French and Japanese. Mental Health Presses is pleased to re-issue this classic in contemporary suicide prevention (originally published in 2002).

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Autopsy of a Suicidal Mind Review

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(More customer reviews)Edwin Shneidman, one of the keenest minds on suicide, offers an outstanding "autopsy" of a suicidal mind, Arthur, a miserable physician-attorney. Arthur, it seems, had a knack for having to be perfect and for communicating his pain in letters. Given his suicide letter (and many drafts that preceded it), Shneidman and a team of suicidologists interview several people who knew Arthur well (they thought) to try to figure out just why Arthur chose death over life.
The book is outstanding. It is hard to stop reading as each expert and interviewee offers his or her own unique views of Arthur's life and death. Unfortunately, if you're looking for one correct answer, it's not in this book. Shneidman does an excellent job of showing how ultimately all psychological questions can be answered with just two words: "It depends!" Depending upon your own perspective, you could argue convincingly that Arthur kills himself because he was, for example, mildly autistic (and untreated), clinically depressed (and inappropriately treated), selfish and narcissistic (attention seeking), controlling and dominant (had to have the last word through his own death), or traumatized as a child by rigid, unloving parents that divorced young.
Overall, if you want to see first hand how some of the premier suicidologists in the world can honestly, yet amicably, disagree, check this excellent, quick read text. It won't give you the answers, but it sure will help you understand better that suicide and psychological health are complex matters that we may never truly understand.

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Autopsy of a Suicidal Mind is a uniquely intensive psychological analysis of a suicidal mind. In this poignant scientific study, Edwin S. Shneidman, a founder of the field of suicidology, assembles an extraordinary cast of eight renowned experts to analyze the suicidal materials, including a ten-page suicide note, given to him by a distraught mother looking for insights into her son's tragic death. The psychological autopsy centers on the interviews conducted by Shneidman with Arthur's mother, father, brother, sister, best friend, ex-wife, girlfriend, psychotherapist, and attending physician.To gain some understanding of this man's intense psychological pain and to examine what may have been done to save his tortured life, Shneidman approached the top suicide experts in the country to analyze the note and interviews: Morton Silverman, Robert E. Litman, Jerome Motto, Norman L. Farberow, John T. Maltsberger, Ronald Maris, David Rudd, and Avery D. Weisman. Each of the eight experts offers a unique perspective on Arthur's tragic fate, and the sum of their conclusions constitutes an extraordinary psychological autopsy.This book is the first of its kind and a remarkable contribution to the study of suicide. Mental health professionals, students of human nature, and persons whose lives have been touched by this merciless topic will be mesmerized and enlightened by this unique volume. An epistemological tour de force, it will speak to anyone who is concerned with human self-destruction.

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Oxford American Handbook of Psychiatry (Oxford American Handbooks of Medicine (Quality Paperback)) Review

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(More customer reviews)On the 1200+ razor-thin pages of tiny text, this book has something to say about every topic in psychiatry. This is its greatest strength. Some significant shortcomings are there as well: a good portion of this information is too vague, not clinical, or outright irrelevant. A few important things are missing. Also, the book has so much information it is often difficult to find something.
To give its due credit, the book is best pocket guide to psychiatry for residents. However, I can only say that because the authors managed to squeeze an inordinate amount of information in the 1200+ pages, and no other guides are available for a fair comparison.
Closer inspection of the massive amounts of information reveals some shortcomings.
#1 The book is too vague and not clinically oriented. (For an example of what a clinical guide should look like, open Pocket Medicine from Mass General.) Here, a lot of ink is wasted on introductions, history lessons, and extensive epidemiology information (nothing against public health, but this guide goes overboard). A clinical psych reference does not need musings on stigma of psychiatry, history, and the future of the field. The books is trying to talk about everything, and, with this misplaced focus, it misses its target audience (presumably residents, attendings). For example, authors of Chapter 4 on EBM have made an extensive use of diagrams and visual aids to explain different types of clinical studies and trials, roles of participants, etc over many pages. How about a visual diagram on something more clinically relevant like the decision steps in pharmacological management of ADHD or depression. Too little text is devoted to that. Another example: the section on personality disorders does a fair job describing each one; however when it comes to management, all PDs are suddenly grouped as one condition; that's not particularly useful especially when it comes to treatment and behavioral management. The short paragraph on psychopharmacology of PDs is nauseatingly inadequate.
Also some information is duplicated adding to an unwieldy tome that stretches a white-coat pocket: (e.g. Anxiety section (Chapter 9) contains a glossary of phobias; Chapter 3 glossary of psychiatric terms also lists some phobias, but not all).
#2 Some information is missing: ER psychiatry section should contain information on managing TCA overdose - I could not find it anywhere in the book.
More likely than not, a psychiatric resident will witness a few seizures during her training. No word on how to manage them, let alone Vfib/Vtach protocol.

#3 It may be difficult to find what you are looking for. Quick example: Let's say you have an acutely psychotic patient, and you want to know how much Haldol to give him. Trying to find the answer you realize that haloperidol does not appear in the index! (neither is QT prolongation!!). Looking up psychosis in the index will not send you to the right page either. The ER section is silent on this. (The answer is in the middle of the section on schizophrenia, impossible to find, unless you have 20 minutes free to browse through the book).
The bottom line, in an attempt to write a comprehensive text, the authors brought together a lot of information with little regard for its clinical relevance. The book may help medical students learn about psychiatry and study for the shelf exam, but it won't help residents manage TCA overdose, and it does not have specific enough information for an attending to manage outpatient meds. With all it's shortcoming it is the best out there (no one else bothered to write a guide). But this book requires commitment to be useful. It will take time to learn the book's cryptic way of organizing information, and to find hidden clinical answers. And always carry epocrates, pocket DSM-IV and ACLS card for backup.

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Written by leading American practitioners, the Oxford American Handbooks in Medicine each offer a pocket-sized overview of an entire specialty, featuring instant access to guidance on the conditions that are most likely to be encountered. Precise and prescriptive, the handbooks offer up-to-date advice on examination, investigations, common procedures, and in-patient care. These books will be invaluable resources for residents and students, as well as a useful reference for practitioners.The Oxford American Handbook of Psychiatry is a flexi-covered, pocket clinical book, providing practical guidance in quick reference, note form. The series' reputation is built on including the best clinical information, complemented by hints, tips and advice from the authors. Thin and light, it uses concise, bulleted text, quick reference tabs, four-color presentation, and bookmark ribbons to help provide fast answers on the ward. This new handbook is ideal for students, residents and anyone wanting a succinct, comprehensive, and affordable volume in the proven format of the Oxford Handbook Series.Why choose the Oxford American Handbook of Psychiatry?The design....The Handbook uses a unique flexicover design that's durable and practical.Compact, light, and fits in your pocket!Also has quick reference tabs, four-color presentation, and bookmark ribbons to help provide fast answers.The interior layout....The Handbook is a quick reference in a small, innovative package.With one to two topics per page, it provides easy access and the emergency sections are in red to stand out.Icons throughout aid quick reference. The information....The Handbook succinctly covers all the essential topics in a one ortwo-page spread format with colored headings that break up the text and provide a logical structure for readers of all levels.Common clinical questions are answered clearly and extensively.The history....Oxford University Press is known around the world for excellence, tradition, and innovation.These handbooks are among the best selling in the world.The price....You get an extremely useful tool at a great value!

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Borderline Personality Disorder (Facts) Review

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(More customer reviews)Self Help for Managing the Symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder
As one who has successfully recovered from the symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder, I greatly appreciate Wendy's perspective and passing along information on her experience.
Bravo!
Tami Green
[...]

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Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a psychiatric condition that affects nearly 2% of the general population, predominantly women. Symptoms of BPD include impulsivity, mood swings, unstable intense relationships and feelings of chronic emptiness. Research on BPD has lagged behind that on other mental health conditions, such as depression and psychosis, primarily due to the lack of evidence of effective treatment but also due to the stigma historically associated with the condition. Fortunately this situation is changing, with improved treatments now available and improved clinician/organizational willingness to engage with those with a diagnosis of BPD.This book provides people with BPD and their families and friends with an authoritative, user-friendly and easily-readable resource that is both informative about the condition and provides practical help in assisting improved outcomes. The authors draw from the latest research and decades of clinical experience to provide a compassionate understanding of BPD and treatments for the condition. Numerous case histories and patient perspectives have been included to help illustrate key points and bring the book alive for the reader. The book is balanced, integrated and respectful of patients, family and friends, and clinicians. In an area often associated with pessimism and negativity, this book provides patients and families with realistic hope.

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