Facts and Fictions in Mental Health (eBook)

Hal Arkowitz, Scott O. Lilienfeld (Autoren)

eBook Download: PDF

2017
John Wiley & Sons (Verlag)
978-1-118-31133-2 (ISBN)

Infos

Written in a lively and entertaining style, Facts and Fictions in Mental Health examines common conceptions and misconceptions surrounding mental health and its treatment. Each chapter focuses on a misconception and is followed by a discussion of related findings from scientific research.

• A compilation of the authors' 'Facts and Fictions' columns written for Scientific American Mind, with the addition of six new columns exclusive to this book
• Written in a lively and often entertaining style, accessible to both the undergraduate and the interested general reader
• Each chapter covers a different 'fiction' and allows readers to gain a more balanced and accurate view of important topics in mental health
• The six new columns examine myths and misconceptions of considerable interest and relevance to undergraduates in abnormal psychology courses
• Introductory material and references are included throughout the book

Hal Arkowitz is Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Arizona. He has published widely in the areas of anxiety, depression, resistance to change, and psychotherapy. A past editor of the Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, he maintains an active clinical practice as well as teaching courses on abnormal psychology, psychopathology, and psychotherapy at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Scott O. Lilienfeld is Professor of Psychology at Emory University in Atlanta. Dr. Lilienfeld has published over 200 articles, book chapters, and books on personality, personality assessment, anxiety disorders, psychiatric classification and diagnosis, pseudoscience in psychology, and evidence-based practices in clinical psychology. In addition, he has appeared on ABC's 20/20, CNN, the CBS Evening News, and National Public Radio.

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Written in a lively and entertaining style, Facts and Fictions in Mental Health examines common conceptions and misconceptions surrounding mental health and its treatment. Each chapter focuses on a misconception and is followed by a discussion of related findings from scientific research. A compilation of the authors' "e;Facts and Fictions"e; columns written for Scientific American Mind, with the addition of six new columns exclusive to this book Written in a lively and often entertaining style, accessible to both the undergraduate and the interested general reader Each chapter covers a different "e;fiction"e; and allows readers to gain a more balanced and accurate view of important topics in mental health The six new columns examine myths and misconceptions of considerable interest and relevance to undergraduates in abnormal psychology courses Introductory material and references are included throughout the book

Inhalt

Title Page 5
Copyright Page 6
Contents 9
Notes on Authors 13
Preface 15
Acknowledgments 19
Section 1 Anxiety-Related Disorders 21
Introduction 21
Chapter 1 Why Do We Panic? 25
From Normal Anxiety to Crippling Fear 26
Further Reading 28
Chapter 2 Does Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Require Trauma? 29
Shell Shock 30
Immune to Trauma? 31
Emotional Triggers 32
Further Reading 33
Chapter 3 Clutter, Clutter, Everywhere: The Problem of Hoarding 34
Distinct Pathology 35
Deadly Business 36
Help for Hoarders 37
Further Reading 37
Chapter 4 Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for Anxiety: Taking a Closer Look 38
The Evidence 39
Further Reading 41
Chapter 5 The Down Sides of Anti-Anxiety Medication 42
Side Effects and Withdrawal 43
New Options 44
Further Reading 45
Chapter 6 Is Mindfulness Good Medicine for Anxiety and Depression? 46
Openness and Acceptance 47
Averting Relapse 48
Further Reading 49
Chapter 7 Can Herbs Ease Anxiety and Depression? 50
Kick Back, Relax 51
Weeding Out Despair 52
Further Reading 53
Section 2 Mood Disorders 55
Introduction 55
Chapter 8 Bipolar Disorders and Creativity: Psychological Truth or Urban Legend? 57
On Top of the World 58
Tortured Geniuses 58
A Complex Link 59
Manic Mechanisms 60
Further Reading 61
Chapter 9 Grief Without Tears? 62
Bouncing Back 62
Working It Out 63
Further Reading 65
Chapter 10 Is Depression Just Bad Chemistry? 66
Are Your Chemicals out of Balance? 67
This is Your Brain on Depression 68
Seeing the Elephant 69
Further Reading 70
Chapter 11 Four Myths About Suicide 71
How Well Can Suicidal Tendencies Be Detected? 73
Can Suicide Be Prevented? 74
Further Reading 74
Chapter 12 What Is the Best Treatment for Depression: Drugs, Psychotherapy, or Both? 75
Antidepressants: Pros and Cons 76
The Scoop on Psychotherapy 78
Putting it Together 80
Further Reading 82
Chapter 13 Can Antidepressants Cause Suicide? 83
The FDA Acts 84
Advice About Antidepressants 84
Conflicts of Interest? 86
Further Reading 89
Chapter 14 The Truth About Shock Therapy 90
Cuckoo Conceptions 91
Minimal Risk 91
Mysterious Mechanisms 92
Further Reading 93
Section 3 Child and Adolescent Disorders 95
Introduction 95
Chapter 15 Are Doctors Diagnosing Too Many Children With ADHD? 99
Medicalizing Normality 100
Pill Pushers? 101
A Peek at the Future 102
Further Reading 102
Chapter 16 Autism: An Epidemic? 103
Problem Shots? 104
Changing Criteria 105
Numbers Analyzed 106
Further Reading 107
Chapter 17 What Do We Know About Tourette’s Disorder? 108
Myths and Realities 109
Hope for Tourette’s Sufferers 111
Further Reading 112
Chapter 18 Do Children Get Bipolar Disorder? 113
Tale of Two Manias 114
Bad Diagnosis, Bad Treatment 115
Mood Shift 116
Further Reading 116
Chapter 19 Kid Gloves for Young Offenders? 117
You’re in the Army Now 118
Perils of Punishment 119
Further Reading 120
Chapter 20 Is Divorce Bad for Children? 121
Rapid Recovery 121
Grown-up Concerns 123
Bouncing Back 123
Further Reading 124
Section 4 Addictions 125
Introduction 125
Chapter 21 The Truth About Pot 127
How Many Get Hooked? 128
Possible Perils 129
Further Reading 131
Chapter 22 Does Alcoholics Anonymous Work? 132
A for Abstinence? 134
Constructive Combination 135
Further Reading 136
Chapter 23 Self-Help for Addictions 137
Rates of Success 138
Next Steps 139
Further Reading 140
Chapter 24 How Destructive Is Internet Porn? 141
The Price of Consumption 142
Addicted to Porn? 143
Further Reading 144
Chapter 25 Just Say No? 145
Rehearsing Refusal 146
Good Intentions that Backfire 147
Further Reading 148
Section 5 Externalizing Problems 149
Introduction 149
Chapter 26 Road Rage: What Is It and What Can We Do About It? 151
Who are these People? 152
Prevention and Treatment 153
Further Reading 154
Chapter 27 Once a Sex Offender, Always a Sex Offender: Maybe Not 155
Repeat Offenders 156
Treatment Realities 157
Further Reading 158
Chapter 28 Are Men the More Belligerent Sex? 159
Mad Men 159
Evening the Score 161
Biology to Blame? 162
Further Reading 162
Section 6 Personality Disorders 163
Introduction 163
Chapter 29 A Dose of Narcissism can be Useful 167
Calling all Narcissists 168
The Mirror has Two Faces 169
Further Reading 170
Chapter 30 The Truth About Borderline Personality 171
Fuzzy Borders 172
Once Borderline Always Borderline? 173
A Continuing Challenge 174
Further Reading 174
Chapter 31 What “Psychopath” Means 175
Charming but Callous 175
Three Myths 177
Further Reading 178
Section 7 Shattered Selves: Schizophrenia and Dissociative Identity Disorder 179
Introduction 179
Chapter 32 Can People Have Multiple Personalities? 181
Dramatic Differences 182
Putting the Pieces Together 183
Further Reading 185
Chapter 33 How Violent are People with Mental Illness? 186
A Tenuous Tie 187
Victims, Not Perpetrators 188
Further Reading 189
Chapter 34 Can People with Schizophrenia be Helped? 190
From Desperation to Hope 192
Improved Treatments 193
Further Reading 193
Section 8 Popular Myths About the Brain and Behavior 195
Introduction 195
Chapter 35 Uncovering “Brainscams” 197
We Use Only 10 Percent of Our Brain’s Capacity 198
Some People Are Left-Brained Others Are Right-Brained
We Can Achieve a Deeper Sense of Consciousness and Relaxation by Boosting Our Alpha Waves 199
Further Reading 200
Chapter 36 Is Hypnosis a Distinct Form of Consciousness? 201
The Consciousness Question 202
Brain Changes 203
Further Reading 204
Chapter 37 Memory in Old Age: Not a Lost Cause 205
Memory Divided 206
Fit Body, Fit Mind 207
Further Reading 208
Section 9 Psychotherapy and Other Approaches to Change 209
Introduction 209
Chapter 38 Are all Psychotherapies Created Equal? 213
Tale of the Dodo Bird 214
Is the Dodo Bird Extinct? 215
Further Reading 216
Chapter 39 Do Self-Help Books Help? 217
Further Reading 220
Chapter 40 The “Just Do It!” Trap: Why Dr. Phil and Dr. Laura Won’t Solve Your Problems 221
Blaming the Victim 222
Breeding Resistance 223
Further Reading 224
Chapter 41 Can Animals Aid Therapy? 225
Easing Stress? 226
Leisure Versus Therapy 227
Hidden Costs 228
Further Reading 229
Chapter 42 Psychotherapy in the Public Eye 230
Popular Misinformation 231
Media Misportrayals 231
Therapy Stereotypes 233
Reason for Hope? 233
Further Reading 234
Chapter 43 Why Don’t People Change? 235
Confused about Change 236
Further Reading 238
Section 10 Other Myths 239
Introduction 239
Chapter 44 Do Psychological Disorders Differ Across Cultures? 241
Similar Syndromes 242
Distinct Disorders? 243
Further Reading 245
Chapter 45 Can Positive Thinking Be Negative? 246
Pluses of Pessimism 247
Too Much of a Good Thing? 248
Further Reading 249
Chapter 46 Does a Full Moon Really Trigger Strange Behavior? 250
Water at Work? 251
Where Belief Begins 253
Further Reading 254
Chapter 47 Do the Eyes Have It? Eyewitness Testimony Is Often Inaccurate 255
Reconstructing Memories 257
Expert Testimony 258
Further Reading 258
Chapter 48 The Insanity Defense on Trial 259
Origins of a Plea 260
Judicious Use? 261
Further Reading 262
Chapter 49 How Much Does the Environment Contribute to Obesity? 263
Obesity Myths 264
Toxic Environment 264
Further Reading 266
Chapter 50 When Eating Becomes an Illness 267
Further Reading 270
Chapter 51 Self-Harm: The Cutting Edge 271
Deliberate Destruction 272
Coping and Changing 274
Further Reading 275
Postscript: A Reader’s Guide to Baloney Detection 276
A Misunderstanding Mind 277
Misled by the Messenger 278
Further Reading 279
Index 280
EULA 290

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 25.1.2017
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Psychologie ► Allgemeines / Lexika
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Psychologie ► Klinische Psychologie
• Schlagworte: Bipolar, schizophrenia, ADD, ADHD, mental health problems, insanity, insane • Clinical psychology • Klinische Psychologie • Psychologie • Psychology
• ISBN-10: 1-118-31133-7 / 1118311337
• ISBN-13: 978-1-118-31133-2 / 9781118311332