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Books > Social sciences > Psychology > Abnormal psychology
When readers first meet Ben, he is a sweet, intelligent, seemingly
well-adjusted youngster. Fast forward to his teenage years, though,
and Ben's life has spun out of control. Ben is swept along by an
illness over which he has no control one that results in runaway
episodes, periods of homelessness, seven psychotic breaks, seven
hospitalizations, and finally a diagnosis and treatment plan that
begins to work. Schizophrenia strikes an estimated one in a hundred
people worldwide by some estimates, and yet understanding of the
illness is lacking. Through Ben's experiences, and those of his
mother and sister, who supported Ben through every stage of his
illness and treatment, readers gain a better understanding of
schizophrenia, as well as mental illness in general, and the way it
affects individuals and families. Here, Kaye encourages families to
stay together and find strength while accepting the reality of a
loved one's illness; she illustrates, through her experiences as
Ben's mother, the delicate balance between letting go and staying
involved. She honors the courage of anyone who suffers with mental
illness and is trying to improve his life and participate in his
own recovery. Ben Behind His Voices also reminds professionals in
the psychiatric field that every patient who comes through their
doors has a life, one that he has lost through no fault of his own.
It shows what goes right when professionals treat the family as
part of the recovery process and help them find support, education,
and acceptance. And it reminds readers that those who suffer from
mental illness, and their families, deserve respect, concern, and
dignity."
Personality disorders are highly prevalent and cause a substantial
amount of human suffering and harm-not only to the individuals and
families directly affected, but also to the population at large.
These disorders generally have a heritability rate that is in
excess of fifty percent, strongly suggesting that the behavioral
disturbance they cause have a significant biomedical etiology.
However, knowledge about the biological nature of personality
disorders-and effective treatment of the latter-is significantly
lacking. Although basic biological principles have overall served
well in the foundation of psychiatry, they have received relatively
little attention with regard to the areas of personality,
temperament, and personality disorders. Neurobiology of Personality
Disorders is the first book to focus specifically on the
neurobiology of disturbed personality. It provides a thorough
outline of the principles of neural science that mediate
personality and describe what is currently known about how these
biological processes are impaired in individuals with personality
disorders. Its team of editors and authors are among the most
frequently published and highly renowned international
neuroscientists in the field of personality disorders, and its
coverage of topics is comprehensive, authoritative, and heuristic.
"The Lives They Left Behind is a deeply moving testament to the
human side of mental illness, and of the narrow margin which so
often separates the sane from the mad. It is a remarkable portrait,
too, of the life of a psychiatric asylum--the sort of community in
which, for better and for worse, hundreds of thousands of people
lived out their lives. Darby Penney and Peter Stastny's careful
historical (almost archaeological) and biographical reconstructions
give us unique insight into these lives which would otherwise be
lost and, indeed, unimaginable to the rest of us." --Oliver Sacks
"Fascinating...The haunting thing about the suitcase owners is that
it's so easy to identify with them." --Newsweek When Willard State
Hospital closed its doors in 1995, after operating as one of New
York State's largest mental institutions for over 120 years, a
forgotten attic filled with suitcases belonging to former patients
was discovered. Using the possessions found in these suitcases
along with institutional records and doctors' notes from patient
sessions, Darby Penney, a leading advocate of patients' rights, and
Peter Stastny, a psychiatrist and documentary filmmaker, were able
to reconstruct the lives of ten patients who resided at Willard
during the first half of the twentieth century. The Lives They Left
Behind tells their story. In addition to these human portraits, the
book contains over 100 photographs as well as valuable historical
background on how this state-funded institution operated. As it
restores the humanity of the individuals it so poignantly evokes,
The Lives They Left Behind reveals the vast historical inadequacies
of a psychiatric system that has yet to heal itself.
This great book offers an up-to-date overview of how gender and
sexuality affect mental health. It will help women to self-identify
and self-manage the symptoms of mental ill health. The book covers
a wide range of specific mental health disorders - many of which
are more common in women - and includes real-life case studies, the
latest treatments and where to find further help and support. It's
written in an easy-to-read format to give an invaluable guide for
women.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder can be a very disabling and
distressing problem. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been
shown to be very effective in helping people to overcome OCD.
However, OCD is a highly heterogeneous disorder, often complicated
by contextual factors, and therapists are often left wondering how
to apply their knowledge of treatment to the particular problems as
they face them in clinical practice. This book provides the reader
with an understanding of the background to and principles of using
CBT for OCD in a clear practical 'how to' style. It also elucidates
the particular challenges and solutions in applying CBT for OCD
using illustrative case material and guidance on formulation-driven
intervention. The book also addresses commonly occurring
complexities in the treatment of OCD, for example working with
comorbidity, perfectionism, shame and family involvement in
symptoms. Throughout the book, the authors provide tips on
receiving and giving supervision to trouble-shoot commonly
encountered problems, resulting in a guide that can help clinicians
at all levels of experience.
This timely reference examines the psychological and social
phenomena of mass and serial murder, bringing scholarly depth to a
frequently sensationalized subject. Its review of the literature
features case studies of serial and mass murderers to expand on
salient theories of evil, with biopsychosocial profiles
highlighting core personality traits, particularly malignant
narcissism, associated with psychopathy and its often deadly
outcomes. The author's insightful analysis separates misconceptions
from reality, poses questions for critical thinking and discussion,
and offers realistic suggestions for prevention. Public fascination
with these violent figures-the mystique of serial killers and their
popularity in the entertainment media-is explored as well. Included
in the coverage: * Public interest in mass and serial murder. *
Concepts of evil: where it comes from, and why people kill.* Mass
murder: classification, motivation, and typologies. * Serial
murder: motivation and typologies. * Current trends in prevention,
and areas for improvement. * Plus instructive case studies, both
famous and less-known. Mass and Serial Murder in America is
illuminating reading for undergraduate and graduate students and
practitioners in social science disciplines such as criminal
justice, criminology, social work, psychology, forensic psychology,
and related fields. It will also find an audience among educators
teaching courses in these areas, as well as interested laypersons.
In this compelling scientific detective story, a leading
neuroscientist looks for the nature of human kindness in the brains
of heroes and psychopaths (Wall Street Journal). At fourteen, Amber
could boast of killing her guinea pig, threatening to burn down her
home, and seducing men in exchange for gifts. She used the tools
she had available to get what she wanted, and, she didn't care
about the damage she inflicted. A few miles away, Lenny Skutnik was
so concerned about the life of a drowning woman that he jumped into
the ice-cold river to save her. How could Amber care so little
about others' lives, while Lenny cared so much? Abigail Marsh
studied the brains of both psychopathic children and extreme
altruists and found that the answer lies in our ability to
recognize others' fear. And as The Fear Factor argues, by studying
people who demonstrate heroic and evil behaviors, we can learn more
about how human morality is coded in the brain. A path-breaking
read, The Fear Factor is essential for anyone seeking to understand
the heights and depths of human nature.
From Dr. Martha Stout's influential work The Sociopath Next Door,
we learned how to identify a sociopath. Now she tells us what to
actually do about it. While the best way to deal with a sociopath
is to avoid them entirely, sometimes circumstance doesn't allow for
that. What happens when the time comes to defend yourself against
your own child, a boss, or ruthless ex-spouse? Inspired by the many
chilling and often heartbreaking emails and letters she has
received over the years, from her work with the victims of
sociopathy, Dr. Martha Stout uncovers the psychology behind the
sociopath's methods and provides concrete guidelines to help
navigate these dangerous interactions. Organized around categories
such as destructive narcissism, violent sociopaths, sociopathic
coworkers, and the sociopath in your family, Outsmarting the
Sociopath Next Door contains detailed explanation and commentary on
how best to react in these situations to keep the sociopath at bay.
Uniting these categories is a discussion of changing psychological
theories of personality and sociopathy and the enduring triumph of
conscience over those who operate without empathy or concern for
others. By understanding the person you're dealing with and
changing the rules of the game, you'll be able to gain the upper
hand and escape the sociopath's influence. Whether you're fighting
a custody battle against a sociopathic ex or being gaslighted by a
boss or coworker, you'll find hope and help within these pages.
With this guide to disarming the conscienceless, Dr. Stout aims to
give readers the tools to protect themselves while conducting a
broader examination of human behavior and conceptions of normality.
Breaking through Schizophrenia builds on the ideas of Jacques Lacan
who argued that schizophrenia is a deficient relationship to
language, in particular the difficulty to master the metaphoric
dimension of language, which children acquire by the Oedipal
restructuring of the psyche. This book is thus a countercultural
move to present a less damaging view and a more efficient treatment
method for schizophrenic persons. Through a collection of published
and unpublished articles, Ver Eecke traces the path of Lacanian
thought. He discusses the importance of language for the
development of human beings and examines the effectiveness of talk
therapy through case studies with schizophrenic persons.
People with Borderline or Narcissistic Personality Disorders have a
serious mental illness that primarily affects their intimate,
personal, and family relationships. Often they appear to be
normally functioning at work and in public interactions, and
Narcissists may even be highly effective, in the short term, in
some work or social situations. However, in intimate relationships,
they can be emotional, aggressive, demeaning, illogical, paranoid,
accusing, and controlling in the extreme. Their ability to function
normally or pleasantly can suddenly change in an instant, like
flipping a switch. These negative behaviors don t happen once in a
while, they happen almost continuously in their intimate
relationships and most often, and especially with their Caretaker
family member. Here, Margalis Fjelstad describes how people get
into a Caretaker role with a Borderline or Narcissist, and how they
can get out. Caretakers give up their sense of self to become who
and what the Borderline or Narcissist needs them to be. This
compromises the Caretaker s self-esteem, distorts their thinking
processes, and locks them into a Victim-Persecutor-Rescuer pattern
with the Borderline or Narcissist. The book looks at the underlying
rules and expectations in these relationships and shows Caretaker s
how to move themselves out of these rigid interactions and into a
healthier, more productive, and positive lifestyle with or without
the Borderline/Narcissistic partner or family member. It describes
how to get out of destructive interactions with the Borderline or
Narcissist and how to take new, more effective actions to focus on
personal wants, needs, and life goals while allowing the Borderline
or Narcissist to take care of themselves. It presents a realistic,
yet compassionate, attitude toward the self-destructive nature of
these relationships, and gives real life examples of how
individuals have let go of their Caretaker behaviors with creative
and effective solutions."
What is defiance, and when does defiant behaviour impede one's
ability to aim at flourishing? People who are defiant can present
perplexing challenges etiologically, diagnostically, and
responsively. But in order to understand accurately when defiant
behaviour is good, or bad, or neither (when it emerges out of
mental illness), a fresh perspective on defiance is needed. This
book offers a nuanced and complex look at defiance, taking
seriously issues of dysfunction while also attending to social
contexts in which defiant behaviour may arise. Those living in
adverse conditions such as oppression, systematic disadvantages,
and disability may act defiantly for good reasons. This perspective
places defiance squarely within the moral domain; thus, it should
not be assumed that when professionals come across defiant
behaviour, it is a sign of mental dysfunction. Potter argues that
defiance sometimes is a virtue, meaning that a disposition to be
ready to be defiant when the situation calls for it is part of
living a life with a realistic understanding of the aim of
flourishing and its limits in our everyday world. Her work also
offers theoretical work on problems in knowing that can impede
understanding and responsiveness to those who are, or seem to be,
defiant. Clinicians, teachers, social workers, nurses, and others
working in helping professions are invited to engage in different
ways with defiance so as to better understand and respond to people
who express that defiance. Case studies, a framework for
differentiating different forms of defiance, a realistic picture of
phronesis-practical reasoning-and an explanation of how to give
uptake well are some of the topics covered. The voices of service
users strengthen the author's claims that defiance that is grounded
in phronesis is just as much a part of moral life for those living
with mental disabilities as for anyone else.
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