A Nurse's Guide to Women's Mental Health

Named a 2013 Doody's Core Title!

2012 Third Place AJN Book of the Year Award Winner in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing!

This is a great resource for any nurse working with women."--Score: 94, 4 Stars. Doody's Medical Reviews

This is a quick-access clinical guide to the range of mental health issues and diagnoses that commonly affect women across the life span. It focuses on the unique biopsychosocial factors that make women especially vulnerable to psychological disorders and emphasizes key stressors specific to women that are precursors to mental illness. Frequent headings and bulleted, concise presentation of information facilitates reading.

In addition to discussing mental health issues specific to women, the guide covers unique populations such as disabled women, lesbian and transgendered women, female veterans, women with forensic health concerns, and women who have been the object of violence. Chapters also address childbearing issues, including menstruation-related problems, infertility and its psychological implications, and antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum psychological disorders. Developmental milestones, the impact of culture on mental illness, and global health issues are covered as well. Tables and charts present key facts in an easy-to-read format.

• Provides a concise, easy-to-use guide to women's mental health issues across the life span for new and seasoned nurse practitioners
• Focuses on stressors unique to women as precursors of mental illness
• Delivers commonly occurring DSM-IV disorders in women, using a consistent format that includes etiology, assessment, and drug and behavioral therapeutic approaches
• Discusses preconception and childbearing issues, the impact of violence, female veterans, disabled women, lesbian women, and transgendered women

Michele R. Davidson, PhD, CNM, CFN, RN, is Associate Professor of Nursing and affiliate faculty member, Women’s Studies Program, George Mason University.