As women, we know how important it is to take charge of our health care-to be informed and proactive. But too often we forget that our mental wellness is an integral part of our overall health. The Complete Guide to Mental Health for Women is the definitive resource for women looking for answers to their mental health questions, whether those questions concern a disorder like depression or adjusting to major life changes like motherhood or divorce. Drawing on the latest thinking in psychiatry and psychology, written for women of diverse backgrounds, The Complete Guide to Mental Health for Women begins with Part One, the life cycle, helping women understand the major issues and biological changes associated with young adulthood, middle age, and old age. Specific entries address the psychological importance of women's sexuality, relationships, motherhood, childlessness, trauma, and illness and discuss how social contexts, such as poverty and racism, inevitably affect mental health. Part Two explores specific mental disorders, including those, like postpartum depression, related to times when women are particularly vulnerable to mental illness. Part Three takes a closer look at biological treatments-including the use of antidepressants, and various types of psychotherapy-from cognitive behavioral treatments to EMDR and beyond. The Complete Guide to Mental Health for Women ends with a section on life enhancements-because the activities that help us live fuller, more vital lives are also essential to our mental health. The Complete Guide to Mental Health for Women * Draws on the knowledge and practical experience of more than fifty psychologists and psychiatrists * Helps women think through the psychological challenges inherent in the life cycle, from young adulthood through old age * Focuses on key life issues, from sexuality and relationships to trauma and racism * Provides important information on mental disorders, their biological treatments, and psychotherapeutic interventions * Includes a comprehensive list of psychotropic medications, targeted reading suggestions, crucial online resources, and support groups The Complete Guide to Mental Health for Women covers what every woman should know about: * Aging. What should I expect from menopause? What do I need to know about the benefits and risks of hormone therapy? * Pregnancy. How will becoming a mother change me? How do I overcome postpartum depression? * Childlessness. What if I don't want to be a mother? * Sexuality. Is a "female Viagra" the solution to women's sexual complaints? How does societal ambivalence about women's sexuality affect me? * Body Image and Eating Disorders. Are all eating disorders a reaction to societal pressures to be thin? * Polypharmacy. Why are some patients prescribed more than one type of psychotropic drug? Is this overmedicating? * Finding a Psychotherapist. How do I know if a therapist is right for me? And how do I know what type of therapy I need? * Anger. Why is it the most difficult emotion for many women to express? * EMDR. What exactly is EMDR? Is it a reputable therapy? * Depression and Anxiety. What do I need to know about psychopharmaceuticals? Does talk therapy help? * Complementary Treatments for Depression and Anxiety. Does St. John's Wort really work? What else might help?

Named a 2013 Doody's Core Title! 2012 Third Place AJN Book of the Year Award Winner in Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing! "This is a great resource for any nurse working with women."--Score: 94, 4 Stars. Doody's Medical Reviews This is a quick-access clinical guide to the range of mental health issues and diagnoses that commonly affect women across the life span. It focuses on the unique biopsychosocial factors that make women especially vulnerable to psychological disorders and emphasizes key stressors specific to women that are precursors to mental illness. Frequent headings and bulleted, concise presentation of information facilitates reading. In addition to discussing mental health issues specific to women, the guide covers unique populations such as disabled women, lesbian and transgendered women, female veterans, women with forensic health concerns, and women who have been the object of violence. Chapters also address childbearing issues, including menstruation-related problems, infertility and its psychological implications, and antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum psychological disorders. Developmental milestones, the impact of culture on mental illness, and global health issues are covered as well. Tables and charts present key facts in an easy-to-read format. Key Features: Provides a concise, easy-to-use guide to womenís mental health issues across the life span for new and seasoned nurse practitioners Focuses on stressors unique to women as precursors of mental illness Delivers commonly occurring DSM-IV disorders in women, using a consistent format that includes etiology, assessment, and drug and behavioral therapeutic approaches Discusses preconception and childbearing issues, the impact of violence, female veterans, disabled women, lesbian women, and transgendered women

This comprehensive reference and text synthesizes a vast body of clinically useful knowledge about women's mental health and health care. Coverage includes women's psychobiology across the life span--sex differences in neurobiology and psychopharmacology and psychiatric aspects of the reproductive cycle--as well as gender-related issues in assessment and treatment of frequently encountered psychiatric disorders. Current findings are presented on sex differences in epidemiology, risk factors, presenting symptoms, treatment options and outcomes, and more. Also addressed are mental health consultation to other medical specialties, developmental and sociocultural considerations in service delivery, and research methodology and health policy concerns.

This comprehensive update of the popular second edition of the authors' Concise Guide to Women's Mental Health provides the latest evidence-based medical and psychiatric facts related to the assessment and treatment of women with psychiatric disorders -- particularly as women pass through reproductive transitions or experience hormonal challenges -- reviewing the ways in which these times are integral to gender-sensitive case formulations, diagnoses, and treatment planning. The Clinical Manual of Women's Mental Health emphasizes evidence-based medicine and reflects the authors' expanding clinical experience. Key features include Extensively revised chapters on the use of psychiatric medications during pregnancy and breast-feeding, abortion and contraception, and the use of hormones during menopause. A meticulous review of the use of psychopharmacological agents to treat women at important reproductive transition points. Numerous and thorough references and citations from the latest peer-reviewed journals. More than 50 carefully annotated tables and charts -- especially those on the use of psychiatric medications in pregnancy and breast-feeding. Summary passages that enable readers to quickly gain access to important evidence-based data that will inform their practice. Asserting that a multidisciplinary, comprehensive approach -- one that incorporates both psychotherapy and careful attention to social needs -- is integral to successful treatment, the authors of Clinical Manual of Women's Mental Health discuss the latest data on women's mental health, including premenstrual dysphoric disorder, hormonal contraception and effects on mood, mood/anxiety/psychotic disorders during pregnancy and postpartum, the effect of breast-feeding on the treatment of postpartum disorders, perimenopause and menopause, postmenopause, psychological implications of infertility, abortion and miscarriage, female-specific cancers, and gender issues in the treatment of mental illness. Easily accessed by clinicians at every level of medicine, psychiatry, obstetrics-gynecology, psychology, and social work, the Clinical Manual of Women's Mental Health is best used as an ancillary text for students, interns, residents, and graduated clinicians and researchers in psychiatry, family medicine, internal medicine, internal medicine subspecialties, and obstetrics-gynecology. Finally, lay women with psychiatric conditions who wish to better understand how they can make wise decisions regarding their care and well-being as they face important issues such as pregnancy, breast-feeding, and hormone therapy will welcome this updated edition of the Clinical Manual of Women's Mental Health.

TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN YOUR MENTAL HEALTH Both easy to use and highly informative, The Complete Guide to Psychiatric Drugs is an indispensable reference for both patients and professionals. Now in a revised and expanded edition, this up-to-date handbook supplies current information on the newest and most commonly used psychiatric drugs as well as the latest details regarding side effects, dosages, and precautions. Drawing upon his years of experience helping patients understand their illnesses and take charge of their treatments, top expert Dr. Edward Drummond covers vital topics that include: * Is medication for you? * What to discuss with your doctor before starting medication * Do psychiatric drugs pose extra risks for you? * How to start, monitor, and stop your medication * Psychiatric syndromes and their treatment The book also explores non-drug therapies such as dietary treatments, exercise, relaxation techniques, meditation, and self-hypnosis as well as information on how to combine drug, non-drug, and alternative therapies for maximum benefit. The Complete Guide to Psychiatric Drugs: Straight Talk for Best Results, Revised and Expanded Edition gives you the facts so you can get better, with straight talk on the best new treatments for: * Anxiety * Panic Attacks * Agoraphobia and Phobias * Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder * Generalized Anxiety Disorder * Posttraumatic Stress Disorder * Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder * Bipolar Disorder and Mood Swings * Depression * Asperger's Syndrome * Autism * Pervasive Developmental Disorder * Drug Dependence * Anorexia * Bulimia * Binge-Eating Disorder * Insomnia * Acute Psychosis * Schizophrenia * Schizoaffective Disorder * Delusional Disorder * Alzheimer's Disease

“Skillfully crafted, thoughtful, and expertly written.” —Sheryl Denise Jones, MD “Comprehensive and educational . . . from a practical and relatable point of view." —Napoleon Higgins, MD “A well needed resource! . . . It allows us to better understand and support the people we care about, but who struggle with mental illness.” —Thomas Kerrihard, MD Get the straight facts about mental illness from two Harvard trained psychiatrists. More than 40 million people in the US suffer from mental health problems—yet less than half receive adequate care and treatment. Even in the 21st century with the most advanced medical care in the world, social stigma still surrounds psychiatric problems, and this, combined with a lack of understanding, perpetuates a national mental health crisis affecting those in need and their families. Ignoring and/or being unaware of a problem can have devastating effects in our families and for society at large—many people living with mental illness go untreated, and as a result, people with untreated mental illnesses make up one third of the nation’s homeless population and can be imprisoned. To meet these challenges, Dr. Carlin Barnes and Dr. Marketa Wills have written this necessary and comprehensive, practical guide to educate and help everyone better understand mental health. Each chapter offers insights and wisdom concerning a variety of psychiatric conditions, including: Mood disorders Anxiety disorders Personality disorders Substance abuse issues Eating disorders Women’s mental health issues Suicide in America Geriatric mental health Professional athletes and mental health And more Armed with this knowledge, you and your loved one can better appreciate the real struggles at hand, and as a result, seek the proper care needed.

All the tips and tools you need to build a successful mental health practice from the ground up Many mental health professionals currently working for group practices, hospitals, and private or government agencies have both the skills and the drive to become solo practitioners. But how and where do you begin? Getting Started in Private Practice is a reliable reference that offers the comprehensive information and armchair motivation you need to establish and build your own practice from the ground up. User-friendly and full of helpful tips, this handy book provides you with tools and techniques for starting and maintaining a thriving private practice, including information on: * Discovering your ideal practice * Creating a business plan * Financing your start-up * Setting fees * Setting up shop and measuring results * Minimizing risk * Managing managed care * Marketing your practice * Generating referrals * Utilizing additional print, Web, and organizational resources From major concerns such as ethics and liability to day-to-day matters like selecting stationery and business cards, Getting Started in Private Practice puts the best solutions at your fingertips. Whether you're a recent graduate or a seasoned pro, this invaluable resource will help you minimize the uncertainty of establishing a solo practice while maximizing the rewards.