New Hope for People with Bipolar Disorder : Your Friendly, Authoritative Guide to the Latest in Traditional and Complementary Solutions, Including: Proper Diagnosis of Depression & Manic-Depressive ...
Author: Jan Fawcett, Bernard Golden, Nancy Rosenfeld, Frederick K. Goodwin
List Price: $18.95
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ISBN: 0761530088
Publisher: Prima Lifestyles (14 September, 2000)
Sales Rank: 823
Average Customer Rating: 3.83 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 5 out of 5
A Wealth of Information
New Hope For Bipolar Disorder offers a wealth of information for those with this disorder, their family and friends and any reader who wants a comprehensive understanding of this challenging illness. Written in language that is fluid, easy to understand and well organized, this book offers the reader a format that combines three different perspectives; each shedding light on the topic from their unique experiences. Information is comprehensive and presented in a manner that is packed with facts and yet easy to follow. This book provides a thorough discussion of symptoms, treatment and a solid basic understanding of the biology of the disorder. It offers good guidelines regarding attention to suicide. What makes this book different than other books on this topic is attention to the human side of the illness. These are clearly evidencedby Nancy's personal account, discussions of stigma, an examination of the subjective experience of optimism and pessimism, and a chapter that explores the stress in the relationships of those with bipolar disorder. Finally, New Hope for Bipolar Disorder presents a solid and focused discussion of psychotherapies that can be useful in treatment with those with this disorder and helping their loved ones. It details a discussio of cognitive-behavioral therapy with depression, and identifies the various strengths of couples therapy, individual therapy (for those with the disorder and/or those living with them), family and multiple family therapy. One of my closest friends was diagnosed with this disorder several years ago. This book has helped me tremendously to better understand her, to be more empathic with her and to better understand and be sensitive to my own reactions in our friendship. This book offers a wealth of information regarding bipolar disorder.
Rating: 5 out of 5
New Hope offers an excellent introduction to a complex topic
A collaboration of three writers, New Hope for People With Bipolar Disorder speaks to a broad audience. Coming from three perspectives, the book sometimes speaks *to* the bipolar sufferer and sometimes speaks *for* the afflicted individual or family. While providing advice to the manic-depressive, to people in intimate relationships with manic-depressives (parents and spouses) and to friends, acquaintances and colleagues of manic-depressives, the book also makes appeals to the medical profession and other service providers, to the insurance industry and to the general public.Speaking to the individual suffering from bipolar disorder or related afflictions, three chapters on the biological and medical aspects serve as an up-to-the-moment primer for the lay person. A solid backgrounder, this section prepares the patient for a more informed and engaged relationship with his or her doctors and other medical providers.
Likewise for the sufferer himself or herself, chapters on psychotherapy, self-help and support groups compile the best advice and guidance the field has offered over the past decade.
While much of the information useful to the patient himself or herself is also useful to family and friends, chapters on living with afflicted people and on suicide prevention speak more directly to individuals in these positions.
Finally, chapters on stigma and on bipolar disorder in children and adolescents address the larger community. Doctors and medical providers are asked to keep current with improving treatment options and regimes. Insurance providers are implored to grasp the essentially medical nature of these illnesses and handle coverage as other medical coverage is handled. And, finally, the authors entreat the general public to engage a sense of compassion and understanding to reduce the stigma associated with these and other emotional illnesses.
Written in a remarkably fluid, readable style, New Hope For People With Bipolar Disorder deserves a place on many a bookshelf.
Rating: 1 out of 5
Please double-check before taking this book to heart
If you are interested in this book because you or someone you know has bipolar disorder, please read the book review at www.draga.org/store/bookreviews_newhope.html before buying it. DRAGA is Depression and Related Affective Disorders Ass'n, and is affiliated with Johns Hopkins University . . . I don't know enough about this area to say which is right, but DRAGA has reservations that are worth looking into before you rely on this book. I just wanted to point this out for interested readers. Similar Products
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