Complete Home Guide to Mental Health (Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons)

A comprehensive reference for the layperson describes all aspects of mental health problems and their treatments, providing scientific background on each disorder, insight into different therapies, and self-help suggestions. 20,000 first printing.

This volume is intended to be "comprehensive, interesting, and, above all, useful." It succeeds on all counts. Four broad sections cover mental illness assessment and treatment, common problems and disorders among adults, common problems and disorders among children and adolescents, and special issues and problems. Chapters are written by experts and contain an impressive amount of accessible information. Subjects include, but are not limited to, the therapeutic use of drugs, eating and sleep disorders, aging, suicide, AIDS, and ethical issues. The only other comparable guide available is Frank J. Bruno's Family Mental Health Encyclopedia ( LJ 9/1/89), which is not as accessible as this. Many people will find this work useful, from those who want more than brief explanations of the various aspects and personnel involved in the mental health field to those trying to choose the best therapy and therapist for a particular problem. Strongly recommended.
- January Adams, Somerville P.L., N.J.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.