The Art of Frenzy presents a masterful analysis of public madness from the Renaissance to the Industrial Age. Frenzy--the most flagrant and political form of madness--is the madness of warrior-heroes, kings, scolds, and the possessed. Its representation incorporates a range of traditional characters and figures, from Hercules and Orlando to Medea and Britannia. Understood as abusive power and belligerence out of control, and described in terms drawn equally from definitions of tyranny and liberty, frenzy has always been articulated with a significant degree of political meaning. Integrating art history with cultural studies, political history, and the history of medicine, Jane Kromm draws on a wide range of mediums and contexts--from asylum sculpture to political broadsheets, medical texts, the imagery of revolution, caricature and medical illustrations--to clarify the importance of this interpretative pattern.

How do you define good mental health? This controversial, counterintuitive, and altogether fascinating book argues that "psychological normality" is neither a desirable nor an acceptable standard. Normality Does Not Equal Mental Health: The Need to Look Elsewhere for Standards of Good Psychological Health is a groundbreaking work, the first book-length study to question the equation of psychological normality and mental health. Its author, Dr. Steven James Bartlett, musters compelling evidence and careful analysis to challenge the paradigm accepted by mental health theorists and practitioners, a paradigm that is not only wrong, but can be damaging to those to whom it is applied-and to society as a whole. In this bold, multidisciplinary work, Bartlett critiques the presumed standard of normality that permeates contemporary consciousness. Showing that the current concept of mental illness is fundamentally unacceptable because it is scientifically unfounded and the result of flawed thinking, he argues that adherence to the gold standard of psychological normality leads to nothing less than cultural impoverishment. Multiple descriptive examples of ways in which the equation of psychological normality with good mental health leads us astray An account of the principal contributors who have urged that psychological normality is not a desirable or justifiable standard of good mental health A historical account of the main psychological factors that have led to our current failing model and practice of higher education

This volume explores service users' lived experiences of mental health recovery within a day centre setting where creative activity and social support were key aspects of the service. These two facets, creative activity and social support are established as conducive to mental health, particularly when in partnership with one another and when there is a venue in which to gather on a regular and frequent basis. McDonnell argues that the uplifting effects of creative activities such as art, music, and creative reading and writing, alongside the communality incorporated into the general ethos and social setting of many of the projects cited, are a positive force for change and that resource allocation and integrated care models should reflect this new paradigm.

Compulsive buying is a serious, often secretive affliction, with profound emotional, social, occupational, and financial consequences. As many as a quarter of us have problems with buying, and studies suggest that between one and six percent of the population are full-fledged compulsive buyers. I Shop, Therefore I Am: Compulsive Buying and the Search for Self brings together, for the first time, the most important thinking about this disorder. As more and more therapists encounter compulsive buying (whether as a presenting problem or revealed in the course of ongoing therapy), the need for an in-depth clinical understanding of the disorder has grown. Dr. Benson has responded admirably to that need with a practical, comprehensive, and wonderfully readable work. While the book focuses a wide-angled lens on the many aspects of compulsive buying, it emphasizes understanding the disorder as a desperate search for self in people whose identity is not securely established. It defines the syndrome of compulsive consumption, examines the range and variations within it, discusses assessment and associated disorders, and delineates successful treatment modalities. Offering insights from a broad spectrum of therapies psychopharmacology, psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral treatment, couples and group therapy, self-help, and financial counseling this book is an indispensable toolbox for the increasing number of therapists who see patients with shopping, buying, or debting problems. A Jason Aronson Book"

In her latest book, Dr. Louise Kaplan, author of the groundbreaking "Female Perversions, "explores the fetishism strategy, a psychological defense that aims to tame, subdue, and if necessary, murder human vitalities. Through an exploration of such cultural phenomena as footbinding, reality television, and the construction of robots, Kaplan demonstrates how, in a technology-driven world, an understanding of the fetishism strategy can help to preserve the human dialogue that is the basis of all human relationships. Kaplan writes from the heart as well as from the intellect.

Nearly six million Americans suffer from the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, which can manifest itself in many ways: paralyzing fear of contamination; unmanageable "checking" rituals; excessive concern with order, symmetry, and counting; and others.
"Freedom from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder" provides Dr. Jonathan Grayson's revolutionary and compassionate program for finally breaking the cycle of overwhelming fear and endless rituals, including:
Self-assessment tests that guide readers in identifying their specific type of OCD and help track their progress in treatment Case studies from Dr. Grayson's revolutionary and profoundly successful treatment program Blueprints for programs tailored to particular manifestations of OCD Previously unexplored manifestations of OCD such as obsessive staring, Relationship OCD (R-OCD), obsessive intolerance of environmental sounds and chewing sounds Therapy scripts to help individuals develop their own therapeutic voice, to motivate themselves to succeed New therapies used in conjunction with exposure techniques "Trigger sheets" for identifying and planning for obstacles that arise in treatment Information on building a support group And much more

Demystifying the process of OCD assessment and treatment, this indispensable book helps sufferers make sense of their own compulsions through frank, unflinching self-evaluation, and provides not only the knowledge of how to change--but the courage to do it.

Problem gambling is a perennial issue frequently reported in the media. This book is a comprehensive and up-to-date resource on problem gambling research. It describes the state of the art of the subject and presents the latest developments such as computer modelling of gambling behaviour and risk profiles of gambling products.

What did it mean to be mad in seventeenth-century England? This book uses autobiographical accounts of mental disorder to explore the ways madness was identified and experienced from the inside. Looking at contemporary ideas about mental illness alongside a range of spiritual autobiographies from the period, it asks how certain people came to be defined as insane, and what we can learn from the accounts they wrote. These narratives, with their vivid and immediate descriptions of anxieties, delusions and desires, illuminate not only madness in early modern culture, but also sanity, and demonstrate the fragility of the boundary between the two.

Contributors to this unique book explain and compare major theories drawn from several academic fields to uncover the root causes of deviance. In this unparalleled exploration of antisocial and aberrant behavior, criminologists and other experts examine the theoretical perspectives of 15 classical psychological, political science, and economics scholars to shed light on the impetus for deviant behaviors. Murder, mayhem, robbery, sexual assault, and sexual activity with minor children are among the degenerate behaviors cited. Each chapter focuses on the effectiveness of a specific theory, and considers conundrums such as "Does the Darwinian approach explain sexual assault as a drive to procreate?" "Can B.F. Skinner's theoretical perspective explain pedophilia?" and "Can an individual be incompetent at the time of an offense and competent at the time of the trial?" The book reveals how the major psychological, social, and environmental doctrines can explain the behaviors and patterns of a nonconforming mindset. The work addresses the theories of well-known thinkers like Karl Marx, Charles Darwin, Travis Hirschi, and Sigmund Freud, among others. Addresses classical theory in relationship to deviance Interprets, integrates, and synthesizes classical theory regarding deviance from different disciplines Examines the etiology of pedophilia Discusses competency and culpability