The Language of Mental Health: A Glossary of Psychiatric Terms

by Narriman C. Shahrokh, Robert E. Hales MD MBA, Katharine A. Phillips MD, Stuart C. Yudofsky MD

Overview

For many years, the American Psychiatric Glossary has been the standard reference for psychiatrists, residents, psychiatric social workers, and other mental health professionals. Last published 8 years ago, it enjoyed unparalleled dominance in the mental health market. Now comes The Language of Mental Health: A Glossary of Psychiatric Terms, which is designed not only to replace its predecessor but also to improve upon its offerings and bring the content firmly into the twenty-first century.

This comprehensive, user-friendly reference boasts an abundance of features, both time-tested and new, as follows: • The number of Glossary definitions has been increased by 25%, and coverage has been expanded to include terms specific to newer psychiatric subspecialties, such as geriatric psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, psychosomatic medicine, and child and adolescent psychiatry.• The section on "Medications Used in Psychiatry" is expanded and up to date. Medications are organized by drug class (e.g., antidepressants), subclass (e.g., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), trade name (e.g., Prozac), and generic name (e.g., fluoxetine).• The section on "Psychiatric Measures" is robust and detailed. For example, the entry under "Neuropsychiatric Measures for Cognitive Disorders" lists nearly a dozen assessments, along with their acronyms or abbreviations.• The section on "Mental Health Resources" includes vital descriptions and current contact information for dozens of organizations. The Web addresses are especially useful for those seeking immediate assistance or access to information.

Although the reference maintains the level of theoretical, diagnostic, and therapeutic accuracy one would expect from a book for clinicians, it will also prove useful to advocacy groups, attorneys, and mental health patients and their families. Compact enough to slip into a pocket or briefcase, yet substantial enough to withstand frequent consultations and extended study, The Language of Mental Health is a worthy successor to the American Psychiatric Glossary and is the only reference of its caliber and completeness on the market.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781585629558
Publisher:	American Psychiatric Publishing, Incorporated
Publication date:	03/07/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	346
File size:	3 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Narriman C. Shahrokh is Chief Administrative Officer in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine in Sacramento, California.

Robert E. Hales, M.D., M.B.A., is Joe P. Tupin Chair and Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry, University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, and Editor-in-Chief, Books, American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.

Katharine A. Phillips, M.D., is Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Butler Hospital and the Alpert Medical School of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

Stuart C. Yudofsky, M.D., is D.C. and Irene Ellwood Professor and Chairman of the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.

Table of Contents

PrefaceGlossaryBibliographyChapter 1. Commonly Used AbbreviationsChapter 2. Medications Used in PsychiatryChapter 3. Psychiatric MeasuresChapter 4. Legal TermsChapter 5. Mental Health Resources

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Steven T Herron, MD (CPI/Assurance Health and Wellness)
Description: Composed to define terms "currently relevant to the mental health field," this book attempts to clarify meanings of concepts through "definitions, examples, and qualifications."
Purpose: The authors note that the book "is meant to be a resource for anyone who needs concise but thorough explanations of terms that have pertinence to the practice and study of mental health." Its secondary purpose seems to be to solidify a consistent language and understanding among practitioners in the field.
Audience: Though primarily directed at those involved in the field of mental health, this book also might be useful for those without the training or experience of clinicians in the trenches. The authors also note "many of the definitions and examples have been edited to allow for those outside the field to grasp the meanings more easily."
Features: In addition to over 250 pages of definitions and examples, the book also has sections covering commonly used abbreviations, medications used in psychiatry, psychiatric measures, legal terms, and mental health resources.
Assessment: This book is unique to the field and there are few comparable publications. Although there are limited glossaries in many psychiatric/psychological books, few are as comprehensive and inclusive as this one. The authors have attempted to address virtually all relevant psychiatric terms, including brief but complete definitions of psychiatric diagnoses. The section regarding legal terms could be particularly enlightening, especially since many clinicians do not have a familiarity with the justice system and its many interactions with mental health. Additionally, the chapter on mental health resources is very valuable, as it includes physical addresses, web addresses, and phone numbers. Overall, this is a nice contribution to the field.

Doody's Review Service