Review by Choice Review
Do you suffer from hypengyophobia (fear of responsibility)? How about batrachophobia (fear of frogs)? The authors of this updated encyclopedia, a professor of psychology and a psychological practitioner, estimate that more than 10 percent of the population experience phobias, fears, or anxieties. They describe common and rare phobias and fears; indicate behavioral, pharmacological, and complementary therapies; and offer biographical information about important individuals. The 2,000-plus alphabetically arranged entries range from one sentence ("glossophobia," the fear of speaking in public), to several pages ("agoraphobia," the most common phobia for which people seek treatment). Most entries are similar or identical to those in the first edition (CH, Mar'90), but many have been updated or are entirely new (e.g., "intimacy and fear of intimacy," "terrorism," "heartburn," "domestic violence"). Bibliographies follow about a third of the entries. The extensive cross-references, bibliography, index, and resource/association lists make this an easy reference source to use. All levels; recommended for health sciences, academic, and large public libraries. M. M. Adams; Swarthmore College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
Did you know that genuphobia is the fear of knees and that sesquipedalophobia is the fear of long words? These and the many other fears, phobias, and anxieties in this encyclopedia are not just potential spelling bee terms but recognized psychological disorders. There are over 2,000 entries in this new edition (the first was published in 1989) that describe things, feelings, and situations that impact people's lives in a negative way. There are a few biographical entries for professionals (Abraham Maslow, Rollo May) whose theories and research have influenced treatment of these conditions or have explained their origins. Some entries are single-sentence definitions. Others run for several pages and include examples of how the phobia is manifested, historical background, causation theories, and treatment approaches. Self-tests and self-help suggestions accompany some articles, as well as names and addresses of organizations offering information and support. A comprehensive subject-specific organization list appears at the end of the book. Most of the entries appeared in the first edition. A few have been expanded, but the reference citations have not been updated and most date from the 1970s and 1980s. References to the DSM are to the DSM-III rather than IV. New articles cover topics such as technophobia (fear of technology) and alternative therapies (Ayurveda, homeopathy). The encyclopedia is written for a general audience and is essentially jargon free, but there are exceptions. For example, the diagnostic criteria from DSM-III-R contain undefined terminology that may be unfamiliar to the general reader. There are other problems. Some see references are circular in nature rather than directed to a main entry. For example, the entry for homilophobia refers the reader to sermons, fear of, which is defined only as homilophobia with no additional explanation. Some references are confusing. Didaskaleinophobia, defined as "fear of going to school," directs the reader to School phobia, but the School phobia entry states that the condition is called scolionophobia. Despite its shortcomings the encyclopedia has become a core resource and appears on many college and university lists of important reference works. Public libraries will reach for it when the crossword customer calls asking for a 15-letter word meaning fear of nosebleeds (epistaxiophobia). Libraries owning a copy of the 1989 edition in good condition could pass on this one.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
Review by Booklist Review
