Attention is a key psychological construct in the understanding of human cognition, and the target of enormous efforts to elucidate its physiological mechanisms, as the wealth of literature-both primary and secondary-attests (for recent compilations see Itti, Rees, & Tsotsos, 2005; Paletta & Rome, 2008; Posner, 2004). But in addition to asking what attention actually is, decomposing and analyzing its varieties, or delimiting its neurobiological mechanisms and effects, in this volume we want to explore attention somewhat differently. We believe that a full-fledged theory of attention must consider its workings in the context of motivated, goal-directed, and environmentally constrained organisms. That attention is related to goal-directed behavior is not news. What the contri- tions to this volume do suggest, however, is the existence of fundamental links between attention and two key processes that are crucial for adapted conduct: go- directed behavior and cognitive control. Importantly, they show that these relations can be explored at multiple levels, including neurodynamical, neurochemical, evo- tionary, and clinical aspects, and that in doing so multiple methodological challenges arise that are worth considering and pursuing. The reader will find here, therefore, a selection of contributions that range from basic mechanisms of attention at the n- ronal level to developmental aspects of cognitive control and its impairments. Another trend that will become evident is that, in different ways, the authors stress the need to understand these issues as they unfold in natural behavior (both healthy and pathological), thus arguing for a more ecological approach to these questions.

The study of the effects of gonadal hormones in the brain focussed mainly on reproductive actions for a long time. Meanwhile, however, it is well known that gonadal hormones, in particular estrogens, also have neuroprotective and psychoprotective properties. They modulate many brain functions such as cognitive functions, pain regulation, motor coordination, and epilepsy, as well as affective and psychotic disorders, to name just a few. In fact, during the past few years we have experienced a major change in our understanding of the endocrinologic aspects of psychiatric disorders. Endocrinologic irregularities in psychiatric patients are no longer viewed as pure epiphenomena but rather discussed as part of the pathomechanism of the disorders. How exactly estrogens affect various disorders is a fascinating and intriguing aspect of this emerging field of non-reproductive brain actions of gonadal hormones. Among the estrogens, especially estradiol appears to play an important and multimodal role in the brain. Which of estradiol s many membrane, intracellular, and genomic actions matters most in psychiatric disorders, remains to be discovered. The aim of this volume is to summarize the role estrogens play in major psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression, and dementia, and to provide a state-of-the-art overview of current knowledge, but also of questions that are still open. It is intended to be a resource for clinicians and readers who are interested in contemporary research developments in this field.

This volume brings to life the nature of resilience and adaptation to change by describing turning points, or critical experiences, in the lives of people with disabilities. People with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, or attention deficit disorder are interviewed. They describe events and experiences that changed their lives and pinpoint which factors helped or hindered their adaptation. Interweaving these compelling stories with popular thought and research evidence, the authors show how understanding the resilience of people with disabilities may help all readers create meaning in life and become resilient.

Rich in personal detail, yet strong in its presentation of academic literature and other non-fiction works related to resilience, this volume will appeal to a wide variety of readers, from people who wonder about the meaning of life, to the parents of children with disabilities and organizations that deliver services to them, to students and professors in the fields of psychology, education, social work and occupational therapy.

This volume tries to put current therapy - achievements, shortcomings, remaining medical needs - and emerging new targets into the context of increasing knowledge regarding the genetic and neurodevelopmental contributions to the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Some of the chapters also deal with respective experimental and clinical methodology, biomarkers, and translational aspects of drug development. The volume concentrates on reviewing the ongoing research attempting to identify novel treatments for the cognitive deficits and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, which are not treated adequately by current antipsychotic medications.

-- Are patients aware of the fact that pharmacological therapies stress the brain in ways which may prevent or postpone symptomatic and functional recovery ? ==================================================== Rethinking Psychiatric Drugs: A Guide for Informed Consent is a critical appraisal of the medications which an estimated 20% of Americans consume on a regular (and sometimes involuntary) basis. It is the philosophically, epidemiologically, and scientifically supported revelation of how and why psychiatry's drug therapies have contributed to a standard of care which frequently does more to harm than to cure. Extensively researched and documented, the book addresses: -- the process by which psychiatric drugs reach the market -- the history and philosophy of Evidence Based Medicine -- the common flaws in research methodologies which negate the validity of the psychiatric RCT (Randomized Controlled Trial) -- the problem of allostatic load (how drugs stress the body) -- the history, long term effects, and utility of the drugs used to suppress symptoms of depression, psychosis, inattention and hyperactivity -- the effectiveness of alternatives to medication Rethinking Psychiatric Drugs: A Guide for Informed Consent exposes the current crisis in medical ethics and epistemology, and attempts to restore to psychiatry an authentically informed consent to care.

This book is an ideal resource for general readers who want a clear understanding of people suffering with chaotic emotions, and for clinicians treating patients for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). The patterns of behavior of those with borderline personality disorder (BPD) are often frustrating and mystifying to both clinicians and family members, despite several decades of study and research on this form of distress. Borderline Personality Disorder: New Perspectives on a Stigmatizing and Overused Diagnosis presents a thorough critical and historical review of the diagnosis of BPD and explores-through academic and clinical narratives-the different processes that occur in borderline behavior patterns. The authors offer new perspectives that emphasize the whole person rather than a diagnosis, addressing the emotional storms and mood instability of BPD, providing guidance on managing emotional chaos in the therapeutic relationship, and explaining how to use one's own feelings as a clinical tool. Their approach gives an intimate experiential feel for the interpersonal processes that occur in psychotherapy for both the patient and therapist. The result: readers will better understand who the person behind the diagnosis is, and comprehend what it really feels like to be someone struggling with these difficult interpersonal patterns. Provides a historical exploration of how the diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder emerged Explains what causes Borderline Personality Disorder Presents case vignettes that give readers an unprecedented look into the lived experience of persons suffering from emotional chaos

Psychiatric disorders in adolescents are an important social problem which is relevant to almost all healthcare professionals. According to the results of The National Comorbidity Survey-Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A), the lifetime prevalence of anxiety, behavior, mood, and substance use disorders among adolescents was 31.9%, 19.1%, 14.3%, and 11.4%, respectively. Approximately 40% of participants in this survey with one class of disorder also met criteria for another class of lifetime disorder. Comorbidity is increasingly recognized as a key feature of mental disorders among adolescents. Female adolescents are more likely than males to have mood and anxiety disorders, but less likely to have behavioral and substance use disorders. Regretfully, medical professionals are not sufficiently trained about adolescent psychiatric disorders. For example, primary care providers correctly identify less than a fourth of youth with a depressive or anxiety disorder. Also, many clinicians underestimate the importance of the problem of adolescent psychiatric illnesses and suicidal behavior. Lack of skilled medical providers impedes the delivery of needed services to adolescents with mental health issues. This coupled with a lag in the ability of primary health care services to incorporate psychiatric interventions, and a failure of public health initiatives to pay attention to adolescent mental health problems has led to continuing gaps in care over decades despite the public pronouncements of needs. In this book you will find relevant information for health professionals, since we believe that the mental health of adolescents is essential for sustaining healthy and productive societies.

The papers included in this volume highlight research and practice in child and adolescent mental health from around the world. As systems of care are different across countries and cultures, it is imperative that knowledge is shared and lessons learned. The biennial Elsevier conference on Child and Adolescent Mental Health is designed to provide a forum for mental health and educational experts from various disciplines and countries.

This volume is the proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Cognitive Neurodynamics (ICCN2013) held in Sweden in 2013. The included papers reflect the large span of research presented and are grouped in ten parts that are organized essentially in a top-down structure. The first parts deal with social/interactive (I) and mental (II) aspects of brain functions and their relation to perception and cognition (III). Next, more specific aspects of sensory systems (IV) and neural network dynamics of brain functions (V), including the effects of oscillations, synchronization and synaptic plasticity (VI), are addressed, followed by papers particularly emphasizing the use of neural computation and information processing (VII). With the next two parts, the levels of cellular and intracellular processes (VIII) and finally quantum effects (IX) are reached. The last part (X) is devoted to the contributions invited by the Dynamic Brain Forum (DBF), which was co-organized with ICCN2013.

An in-depth overview, this book examines major current problems faced by today's adolescents. Authored by 16 leading international experts, the book presents some of the latest research on the depressed and suicidal adolescent, assessment procedures, psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological treatments, eating disorders, and violence. Scholarly, yet practical, this volume will be a vital source of information to all scholars, mental health professionals, and students concerned with adolescent behavior.

The book commences with a broad array of developmental issues in normal and pathological adolescents ranging from self-esteem, gender-identity disorders, attachment and detachment, borderline psychodynamics, psychosexual trauma, and finally, dynamic factors in the resilient adolescent. Next, the book focuses on depression, the suicidal adolescent, and a study of double suicide attempts. The aggressive adolescent is addressed from the broad array of sociological, psychological, biological, and psychopharmacological aspects of aggressive behavior, as well as an interesting study of parents battered by adolescents. Finally, an integrated approach to adolescents with eating disorders and anorexia nervosa is discussed. This book will be a source of information for all scholars, mental health professionals, students, and allied professionals concerned with the problems of adolescents.

The need to take the spiritual experience during illness into account is part of a broader trend in Western societies-a fascination with the practical uses of spirituality and its contribution to individual wellbeing, whether through a religious or a humanist tradition. This understanding of spirituality differs from traditional views embedded in religious traditions. This book takes a critical point of view at the biomedical representation of the function of spirituality in care. Medicine reorders notions such as life, death, health, sickness, and spirituality. This process is called here "sapientialization", i.e. the spiritual experience is expressed and understood under the auspices of and in terms of wisdom. This view tends to identify spirituality and ethics. I propose an alternate understanding of spirituality, grounded on its subversive power. Inspired by the work of the theologian John D. Caputo, it is critical of some problems that are associated with the sapientialization of spirituality in biomedicine, such as the medicalization of spiritual experiences or the instrumentalization of spirituality. It provides an understanding of spirituality that honours both the medical interest in it and its capacity to resist to instrumentalization.

Leading authorities examine the possible role of brain lipids in the development of conditions such as schizophrenia, depression, Alzheimer's disease and personality disorders and violence. A better understanding of the underlying causes of these debilitating medical disorders is of utmost importance and may contribute towards a means of prevention, amelioration and cure. The book is intended to stimulate further interest and lead to increased research in this important development area.

Personal stories and professional research findings make this highly readable book a ready summary of the current knowledge surrounding autism. Recent coverage in popular media has increased awareness and understanding of this condition, creating the need for access to current scientific research and reports of common experiences with it. Directed toward parents and professionals, this book explains what research has revealed and supports it with personal accounts written by people with autism and the parents of autistic children. The focus of the book encompasses the wide spectrum of characteristics and ability levels that exist within autism and their implications for individuals as children, older adolescents, and adults.

From the first diagnosis of autism by Leo Kanner in 1943 to the most recent research by neurologists Isabelle Rapin and Robert Katzman, the study of autism has shed increasing light on the mysteries of this disorder. This book summarizes research findings as it explores the dilemmas faced by parents and individuals with autism in their search for early diagnosis, professional help, and suitable services. Chapters include discussions of co-existing conditions, causes of autism, and its relationship to Asperger Syndrome. Appendices include a glossary of related terms and an international directory of support organizations and publications.

The number of geriatric psychiatrists, specialty fellowships, and practices has been declining relative to the increase in the number of older adults in the United States; critical shortages in care are the new norm. Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia was designed to address this predicament by enabling primary care providers to access a solid knowledge base and the clinical experience required to meet the needs of their patients with dementia. The author has written a concise yet comprehensive book that covers the full range of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) encountered by patients, families, caregivers, and primary care providers. In addition, the book provides the necessary foundation for distinguishing the different types of dementia, critical elements of patient history needed to develop an appropriate treatment approach, and the basic medical examinations and lab work that should be performed. Each chapter begins with a brief precis; well-written descriptions of the major topic follow. The chapters explore the common types of behavioral and emotional symptoms and the important associated system issues relevant to dementia care, including elder abuse reporting, creation of advance directives and power of attorney arrangements, safety planning, and caregiver support.The book's strengths are many * Carefully chosen, realistic case examples bring the material to life in a vivid, compelling way.* An up-to-date review of the literature is presented, striking an appropriate balance between new and promising findings and current standard-of-care practices. The book also identifies significant gaps in the literature.* Standard-of-care pharmacological and psychosocial approaches in the management of BPSD are offered with a realistic understanding of the benefits and difficulties of implementing each.* Relevant information on complementary medicine is included, and the book covers personality, cultural, and spiritual domains so that the reader is cognizant of the whole-person approach in delivering dementia care.* Each chapter includes key points for quick and easy reference and resources to share with patients, families, and caregivers-a boon to the busy clinician. * Although intended as a practical guide for clinicians in a variety of fields, those in academia who specialize in geriatric medicine or psychiatry will find the book a useful way to organize and teach this material to students, residents, and fellows. Pragmatic and clinically oriented, Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia will help primary care practitioners provide informed, compassionate care to older adults at risk for, or exhibiting, BPSD.

Assessment and Therapy is a derivative volume of articles pulled from the award-winning Encyclopedia of Mental Health, presenting a comprehensive overview of assessing and treating the many disorders afflicting mental health patients, including alcohol problems, Alzheimer's disease, depression, epilepsy, gambling, obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobias, and suicide
According to 1990 estimates, mental disorders represent five of the ten leading causes of disability.* Among "developed" nations, including the United States, major depression is the leading cause of disability. Also near the top of these rankings are bipolar depression, alcohol dependence, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. In addition, mental disorders are tragic contributors to mortality, with suicide perennially representing one of the leading preventable causes of death worldwide.
Assessment and Therapy describes the impact of mental health on the individual and society and illustrates the factors that aid positive mental health. Twenty-six peer-reviewed articles written by more than 40 expert authors include essential material on assessing and treating schizophrenia, manic-depressive illness, major depression, anxiety disorders, and other mental illnesses. Professionals and libraries will find this timely work indispensable.

Making sense of such bewildering problems as hallucinations, paranoia, depression, and anxiety seems as incredible challenge, but modern psychiatry is able to bring understanding and change to many of those whose lives are impaired by psychiatric problems. This is not accomplished through the application of one dominant psychological theory, but through the integration of perspectives of many such theories in this diverse field into a befitting approach-the biopsychosocial model.
Application of the biopsychosocial model will allow for understanding the patient in biological, psychological, and social terms simultaneously, and provide a holistic picture with multiple strategies for treatment.
In this book, the author takes a step back from the assessment to demonstrate to the student methods of the information gathered from the patient into a clinically useful whole, essentially showing exactly how and why the psychiatrist arrives at an intervention.

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Nuclear Medicine in Psychiatry showcases the combined expertise of renowned authors whose dedication to the investigation of psychiatric disease through nuclear medicine technology has achieved international recognition. Psychiatric disorders are discussed both from categorical and functional psychopathological viewpoint and the latest results in functional neuroimaging are detailed. Most chapters are written jointly by a psychiatrist and a nuclear medicine expert, and each contains a section "Clinical Aspects," to link research data with clinical routine. This state-of-the-art compendium will be valuable to anybody in the field of neuroscience, from the psychiatrist and the radiologist/nuclear medicine specialist to the interested general practitioner and cognitive psychologist.

The family, that most fundamentalof human groups, is currently perceived to be changing in response to social, biological, cultural and technological developments in our postmodernsociety. While the observed changes in families have been considered by some sociologists to be evidence of adaptation and, therefore, normal, the authors of this volume, consider them maladaptive. Viewing society from the point of view of clinical psychiatry, they point to greatly increased numbers of children born to single mothers, soaring rates of divorce, a statistically confirmed increase in mental disorders, increase in reported incest, high rates of depression in younger people and escalation of the amount of reported family violence as evidence that the family, as a social institution, is in crisis and can either move toward renewed vitality or continued deterioration. Perceiving a need to obtain information about family functioning that might lead to the increased stability and well-being of this critically important type of system, Dr. John Schwab and his associates designed and camed out a research program that began with a thorough review of relevant literature beginning with LePlay's study of 300 families in the 1850'sand including important recent statistical studies. They found that although these studies represent advances in understanding the family system, some serious problems with the research remain, one of which is confounding variables such as family function and mental or substance abuse disorders so that if a family member has a problem, such as drug abuse, the family is classifiedasdysfunctional.

Not only is depression among the elderly treatable but, given its increase in incidence and a rapidly aging population, it is a critical issue for the mental-health and medical communities. The authors review the range of late-life depressive syndromes and the strategies for assessing and treating them, and illustrate the problems and principles with fourteen extended case studies-rare in the geropsychology literature and the core of the book. They also provide a guide to medications, screening tools, innovative models, and supplementary resources, invaluable tools for mental-health professionals and medical practitioners alike.

Borderline personality disorder accounts for almost 25 percent of psychiatric hospitalizations in this country. Lost in the Mirror takes readers behind the erratic behavior of this puzzling disorder, examining its underlying causes and revealing the unimaginable pain and fear beneath its surface.