Recognition and Prevention of Major Mental and Substance Use Disorders

by American Psychopathological Association, Ming T. Tsuang MD PhD DSc (Editor), William E. Stone MD (Editor), Michael J. Lyons PhD (Editor)

Overview

Recognizing that favorable clinical outcomes are associated with earlier initiation of treatment -- and even more ideally with prevention -- this volume addresses the current status of early intervention in, and prevention of, major mental and substance use disorders. A team of distinguished participants addresses this problem at many levels -- from the DNA molecule to public policy -- in order to show how prevention efforts should be informed by a better understanding of etiology and by a knowledge of indicators of vulnerability.

In considering the current standing of etiological knowledge, Recognition and Prevention of Major Mental and Substance Use Disorders addresses issues that are critical precursors to the prevention of mental disorders and offers an understanding of factors that contribute to the disorders' development. The contributors review genetic methodologies and current findings in mental disorders, with an emphasis on schizophrenia, and then show how biological and psychosocial environmental variables may affect vulnerability. Chapters devoted specifically to lessons in prevention drawn from recent research into schizophrenia discuss the implications of prodromal studies and relationships between stress, critical periods, and the development of the disorder. The book includes contributions from NIH representatives on how basic scientific understanding of mental disorders can be translated into public policy. It also features chapters that describe cutting-edge projects in prevention research for Alzheimer's disease, drug dependence, antisocial behavior, and posttraumatic stress disorder -- each providing compelling accounts of how existing knowledge can be adapted to promising prevention efforts. Among the volume's contributions: • New data on the role of substance abuse -- particularly marijuana and psychostimulants -- in increasing vulnerability to schizophrenia• Review of vulnerability factors for several relevant disorders, examining stress and its concomitant psychobiological responses and the contribution of cognitive factors to vulnerability to depression• Intriguing approach for translating successful treatment methods for schizophrenia into efforts to prevent the transition from the prodrome of the disorder to the full-blown illness• Program for prevention of antisocial behavior that can be implemented as early as the first grade• Secondary prevention efforts for posttraumatic stress disorder, with a focus on pharmacological interventions

Each chapter reviews clinical implications of the research presented, contributing to a volume that will benefit clinicians and researchers who share the goal of preventing these debilitating conditions. This multidimensional, interdisciplinary work represents a major step toward cutting the social costs of these disorders -- and, more important, their untold cost in human suffering.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781585627080
Publisher:	American Psychiatric Publishing, Incorporated
Publication date:	05/03/2007
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	429
File size:	4 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Ming T. Tsuang, M.D., Ph.D, D.Sc., is University Professor at the University of California; Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Center for Behavioral Genomics in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, in La Jolla; Adjunct Professor and Director of the Harvard Institute of Epidemiology and Genetics in the Department of Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts; and Senior Lecturer at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center Academic Division of Public Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts.

William S. Stone, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts Mental Health Center Academic Division of Public Sector Psychiatry; Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center; and Harvard Medical School Training Coordinator at the Harvard Institute of Psychiatric Epidemiology and Genetics in Boston, Massachusetts.

Michael J. Lyons, Ph.D., is Professor and Director of Clinical Programs in the Department of Psychology at Boston University; and Chief of Twin Studies at the Harvard Institute of Psychiatric Epidemiology and Genetics in Boston, Massachusetts.

Table of Contents

ContributorsIntroductionPart I: Etiology of Major Mental and Substance Use DisordersChapter 1. Genetic Risk Factors for Mental Disorders: General Principles and State of the ScienceChapter 2. Environmental Determinants of Psychosis: A Focus on Drug AbuseChapter 3. Social Environment and Psychiatric Disorders: A Historical Review Presented on Receipt of the Paul H. Hoch AwardPart II: Vulnerability to Major Mental and Substance Use DisordersChapter 4. Psychobiology of Resilience to Stress: Implications for Prevention of AnxietyChapter 5. Cognitive Vulnerability to Depression: Implications for PreventionChapter 6. Vulnerability to Alcohol and Drug Use DisordersPart III: Prevention: Lessons From SchizophreniaChapter 7. Treatment of the Schizophrenia ProdromeChapter 8. Adolescent Neurodevelopment: A Critical Period for Preventive InterventionChapter 9. Toward Prevention of Schizophrenia: Early Detection and InterventionPart IV: NIH Perspectives on PreventionChapter 10. Prospects for the Prevention of Mental Illness: Integrating Neuroscience and BehaviorChapter 11. Drugs and Alcohol: Treating and Preventing Abuse, Addiction, and Their Medical ConsequencesChapter 12. Alcoholism: Developmental Patterns of Drinking and Prevention of Alcohol Use DisordersPart V: Challenges for the Near FutureChapter 13. Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease: Principles and ProspectsChapter 14. Five Facts About Preventing Drug DependenceChapter 15. Prevention of Aggressive Behavior Through Middle School Using a First-Grade Classroom-Based InterventionChapter 16. Conceptually Driven Pharmacological Approaches to Acute TraumaIndex

Editorial Reviews

I found this to be an intriguing book, helpfully focusing a large body of work that I would not likely other wise have been able to digest. The articles are clearly written, in the main, and with mindfulness of the audience, which includes clinicians not familiar with the details of much of the basic science recounted here. It is a commendably useful text, to be read for its evident importance to our understanding of a critical and expanding area of investigation.

The American Journal of Psychiatry

Overall, this is a nice review of research into the still young field of prevention in psychiatric illness. The overarching clinical emphasis is on improving outcomes through earlier interventions. The book is probably essential reading for anyone in this field of research, but it provides less practical clinical guidance on the topic than one might desire.

Doddy Enterprise

Generally speaking, the chapter authors have done a careful job, considering the multiple factors leading to the manifestation of each disorder covered. They take an analytic approach and are conscientious about reporting studies in enough detail to allow the reader to see how changing one contributing factor influenced outcomes. Many of the chapters employ or report the results of meta-analyses in the service of examining patterns of data across studies. They note areas in which the results are consistent and other areas in which consensuses among outcomes has not been reached. The authors are also careful to make distinctions among theories for which data are still being evaluated, and theories with mixed support. More impressive, they accomplish this in a writing style that is engaging.

Psycnet

Reviewer: Jeffrey Rado, MD (Rush University Medical Center)
Description: This book, written by leading researchers, reviews the current state of research into prevention of psychiatric illness, including depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, and substance use disorders. The format is modeled after a 2005 meeting of the American Psychopathological Association that addressed the same range of topics.
Purpose: The purpose is to help researchers and clinicians in the goal of preventing mental and substance abuse disorders.
Audience: The audience is practicing psychiatrists and researchers in the area of mental illness prevention. It is too detailed for medical students.
Features: The book systematically reviews what is known about early intervention and prevention of psychiatric disorders. It reviews epidemiological and genetic studies with the overall emphasis on predisposing factors that make individuals vulnerable to illness, including cognitive factors, genes, stress, psychosocial issues, and neurodevelopmental contributors. Each chapter has a clinical implications section, but these consist mostly of noting the need for more research. The emphasis is on not only on preventing illness but also preventing progression or worsening of the illness course. There is an interesting discussion on cognitive interventions aimed at children with the goal of preventing illness onset during adolescence. Considerable time is spent discussing the schizophrenia prodrome as an opportunity for early intervention. Additionally, there is an entire section by leaders of the NIH that discusses how basic science can be translated into policy.
Assessment: Overall, this is a nice review of research into the still young field of prevention in psychiatric illness. The overarching clinical emphasis is on improving outcomes through earlier interventions. The book is probably essential reading for anyone in this field of research, but it provides less practical clinical guidance on the topic than one might desire.

Doody's Review Service

I found this to be an intriguing book, helpfully focusing a large body of work that I would not likely other wise have been able to digest. The articles are clearly written, in the main, and with mindfulness of the audience, which includes clinicians not familiar with the details of much of the basic science recounted here. It is a commendably useful text, to be read for its evident importance to our understanding of a critical and expanding area of investigation.

The American journal of psychiatry