Demystifying psychiatry : a resource for patients and families /

Zorumski and Rubin, faculty members at the Washington University School of Medicine, provide a nonmedical readership with a clear description of psychiatry. The authors acknowledge their preference for and commitment to a "medical model" of psychiatry, a strong doctor-patient relationship, and a reliance on evidence-based treatment, including medications, psychotherapies, and brain stimulation. They illustrate how problems of the mind develop and can be treated and share ways that patients and families can become informed consumers. While the book is accessible, some sections, especially the discussions of brain development, are somewhat technical. Verdict If you believe that psychiatric problems are just character flaws, read this book. If you are a mental health provider a, read this book. If you have a friend or family member suffering from psychiatric problems, reading this book will help you get them appropriate care.-Paula McMillen, Oregon State Univ. Libs., Corvallis (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.