In Sweden, refugee children fall asleep for months and years at a time. In upstate New York, high school students develop contagious seizures. In the US Embassy in Cuba, employees complain of headaches and memory loss after hearing strange noises in the night.

These disparate cases are some of the most remarkable diagnostic mysteries of the twenty-first century, as both doctors and scientists have struggled to explain them within the boundaries of medical science and – more crucially – to treat them. What unites them is that they are all examples of a particular type of psychosomatic illness: medical disorders that are influenced as much by the idiosyncratic aspects of individual cultures as they are by human biology.

Inspired by a poignant encounter with the sleeping refugee children of Sweden, Wellcome-Prize winning neurologist Suzanne O’Sullivan travels the world to visit other communities who have also been subject to outbreaks of so-called ‘mystery’ illnesses.

From a derelict post-Soviet mining town in Kazakhstan, to the Mosquito Coast of Nicaragua via an oil town in Texas, to the heart of the Maria Mountains in Colombia, O’Sullivan hears remarkable stories from a fascinating array of people, and attempts to unravel their complex meaning while asking the question: who gets to define what is and what isn’t an illness?

Reminiscent of the work of Oliver Sacks, Stephen Grosz and Henry Marsh, The Sleeping Beauties is a moving and unforgettable scientific investigation with a very human face.

The Sexually Transmitted Infections and Sexually Transmitted Diseases workbook is a self-directed assessment for medical professionals to learn, apply, and demonstrate competency in the evaluation for sexually transmitted infections and diseases. Readers will have the opportunity to assess case histories and accompanying full-color photographs for reference. Each case history includes a series of evaluation exercises designed to refine and reinforce readers' skills in sexually transmitted infection identification, treatment recommendation, and follow-up care.

Domestic Violence/Strangulation Assessment will teach readers the language of evidence-based evaluative methods of care for strangulation patients. It is designed to standardize anatomic nomenclature, as it relates to the head and neck, for both new and experienced sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) and sexual assault forensic examiners (SAFEs), first responders, medical residents and physicians, nursing students, and nurse practitioners, including nurse midwives, women's health nurse practitioners, pediatric nurse practitioners, and forensic nurse practitioners. Ten new strangulation case studies with a clear history, photographic representation, and confirmation of anatomic landmarks and injuries, along with discussions about existing conditions and their influence, identification of injury, evidence-based collection techniques, and treatment based on current standards of practice. Chapters will also include best practice recommendations and other tools to support evaluation and documentation. Offering this workbook to first responders and health care providers will help fulfill their need for basic, peer-reviewed information and will contribute to continuing competence in care for strangulation patients.

Medical Response to Child Sexual Abuse, Second Edition is specifically developed to equip physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals with the necessary tools to identify cases of child sexual abuse. This new edition is revised and updated to reflect contemporary best practices for the pediatric approach to childhood sexual abuse and effectively treat and examine sexually abused patients. Professionals who work with sexually abused children face a great challenge in not only treating the immediate outcomes of sexual abuse but also safeguarding their patients' long-term recovery. To meet their needs and the needs of those in their care, Medical Response to Child Sexual Abuse, Second Edition offers a wealth of evidence-based research and practical guidelines to the evaluation of childhood sexual abuse.

Child Sexual Abuse Assessment provides self-directed exercises that guide readers through the process of identifying documented injuries and developing a plan of action for evidence collection and subsequent medical care unique to each case. Readers will have the opportunity to analyze case histories of child sexual abuse and accompanying photographs of the patients' physical examinations. Features and Benefits: Portable and convenient Authored by nationally recognized experts in forensic nursing Ideal for self-directed study or group instruction Diverse case history and full-color exam photos for a broad survey of sexual assault response Written for sexual assault examiners at every level of experience, from novice to advanced