Neuroscience for the Mental Health Clinician

American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis,  Apr 2003  by Hammond, D Corydon

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For this quarter's publication, the Journal's book review section features books on pain management, behavioral medicine, and the treatment of chronic health conditions. Although these topics are highly relevant to the practice settings of a large percentage of our readers, it is noteworthy that very few of these mainstream professional titles include hypnotic interventions. In fact, many of our reviewers point out that the titles they evaluated do not even mention the word "hypnosis." This is an eye-opening phenomenon. Our society might want to consider this factor even more strongly when planning the scope of annual meetings and training programs. Casting a wider net for outreach into the broader waters of rehabilitation medicine, health psychology, and the neurosciences, is an obvious need made even more apparent by the diminutive portrayal of hypnosis offered by most of this edition's book selections.

We begin with a review by D. Corydon Hammond, Ph.D., of Neuroscience for the Mental Health Clinician, authored by Steven Pliszka. Designed to simplify neuroanatomy and its interface with numerous mental health disorders, this book is viewed as a useful reference for the clinician's library, despite its obvious slant toward pharmocological treatment. This is followed by Stress Response Syndromes, written by Mardi Horowitz, and critiqued by Harriet Hollander, Ph.D. Based on a psychodynamic-- cognitive model, this publication attempts to integrate psychoanalytically oriented therapy and cognitive strategies into the treatment of stress disorders caused by traumatic life crises and loss. Dr. Hollander points out that this may be a helpful volume for readers who treat survivors of the 9/11 tragedy, as well as patients affected by the continued unfolding of traumatizing world events.

The second grouping of books concerns concepts relevant to physical and mental health professionals who work in medical settings. The first of these is Mental Health Professionals in Medical Settings: A Primer, which is written by JoEllen Patterson, Ph.D., and colleagues. Mark Weisberg, Ph.D., the reviewer, applauds the authors for their intent to mend the divide between physical and mental health care. He concludes, however, that their efforts are flawed by a number of problems, not the least of which is the one-dimensional position they appear to take toward the therapist's role in the medical setting. The next book, Innovative Approaches to Health Psychology: Prevention and Treatment Lessons from AIDS, edited by Margaret Chesney and Michael Antoni, is evaluated by Lynne Hornyak, Ph.D. Dr. Hornyak determines that this book ably achieves its goal of applying some of the research and treatment lessons learned from HIV and AIDS to other challenging chronic health conditions. The third book in this series is Faith and Health: Psychological Perspectives, edited by Thomas Plante and Allen Sherman, and explored by Dabney Ewin, M.D. Recent studies of the impact of religion and spiritual practice on the process of healing medical conditions are outlined in this work. Dr. Ewin's commentary highlights some of the book's more interesting points.

The third set of titles is perhaps more practical for the clinician and features books on pain management issues. Pain Management Psychotherapy: A Practical Guide by Bruce Eimer, Ph.D., and Arthur Freeman, Ph.D., is examined by Moshe Torem, M.D. This selection is followed by two books written for the general public. Marlene Hunter's book on Making Peace with Chronic Pain: A Whole-Life Strategy, is reviewed by Dan Handel, M.D., and Donald Lynch, M.D., evaluates The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain by James Sarno, M.D.

The final two books focus on chronic illness. The first selection is written for professionals. A Clinican's Guide to Controversial Illnesses: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Feibromyalgia, and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities by Rene Taylor, Fred Friedberg, and Leonard Jason, is critiqued by Lillian Gross, M.D. The last book is written for the patient with chronic illness by Patricia Fennell and entitled The Chronic Illness Workbook: Strategies and Solutions for Taking Back Your Life. Jean Olson, MSN, who reviews the book, notes that it may be an appropriate resource in the individual counseling process for patients and for practitioners just starting out in the health care field.

We invite you to continue to contact us with your recommendations for review, including your own publications, via email to: mphillips@lmi.net. Hopefully, the book review section in the journal will introduce you to a wide spectrum of titles you might not otherwise encounter and inspire you to add some of them to your bookshelves.

Neuroscience for the Mental Health Clinician. Steven R. Pliszka. New York: Guilford Press (2002). 280 pages, $35.00. Reviewed by D. Corydon Hammond, Ph.D., ABPH, University of Utah.

There are a plethora of textbooks on neuroanatomy, neuroscience, neurochemistry, physiological psychology, neurology, and psychopharmacology. Most of these volumes, however, are not written for clinicians and can be daunting in their complexity and size. The author, a psychiatrist and Associate Professor at the University of Texas in San Antonio, has sought to fill this need with the current, relatively small book.