From Kirkus Reviews
paper 0-8018-6118-7 An exhaustive, scientific, yet compassionate assist for sufferers of ``the chameleon of psychiatric disorders'' and their families. Psychiatrist Mondimore (Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) looks first at the symptoms and diagnosis of bipolar disorder, or manic-depression: the disease wears many masks that can make diagnosis difficult. Mondimore concedes that at present psychiatrists are generally working with the same diagnostic tools that were used in the 19th century: their eyes and ears. He goes on to discuss treatment. Medications are first and foremostprimarily mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and antipsychotics. He follows with a thoughtful considerations of electroconvulsive therapy, counseling, and psychotherapy. Mondimore is especially clear on medication side effects (and how to avoid them), how various treatments have been used and misused, and what a reasonable standard should be. In part three, Mondimore considers how bipolar disorder affects children, adolescents, and women; and how it is affected by alcoholism and drug abuse, seasonal affective disorder and chronobiology, genetics, and other medical conditions such as stroke and hormonal problems. In part four, Mondimore offers real, detailed help for living with the disease. The key is to recognize that bipolar disease is relentless and that the way to keep it at bay is for the patient to be relentless, tooabout getting needed treatment and sticking to it''. Illustrative case studies here make it clear this can be done, but it isn't easy. An absolute gold mine, then, for those with the disorder and their families: thorough, candid, and up-to-date advice, full of new possibilities for help. --
Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
Exhaustive, scientific, yet compassionate... An absolute gold mine for those with the disorder and their families: thorough, candid, and up-to-date advice, full of new possibilities for help.
(
Kirkus Reviews 2007)
I highly recommend it for patients and their family members and friends as an enlightened, pragmatic, and empathic resource for this very complex and challenging illness.
(
Journal of Clinical Psychiatry )
This is an excellent book for patients with bipolar illness. I recommend the first edition frequently and will do so now with the second. It gives patients and their families enough information without being overwhelming and overly technical. The tone is practical but compassionate toward patients and family members suffering through this difficult illness. Good resource sections provide more extensive reading and online data. I would highly recommend this book.
(
Doody's Review Service )
A concise guide to bipolar disorders. Written in a nontechnical jargon, this guide is ideal for patients and their families who wish to gain an understanding of bipolar disorders... Offers advice on how to live with the disorder, and how not to become its victim.
(
Large Print Reviews )
An excellent guide to both counseling and drug options.
(
Library Bookwatch )
The marvel of this book is its ability to present information in a detailed, understandable manner, while avoiding pitfalls of being overly weighted in professional jargon, or skimpy in specific neurological and behavioral detail.
(
Journal of Psychosomatic Research )
An excellent guide to a painful and difficult yet treatable illness. Dr. Mondimore's outstanding abilities as clinician and teacher are put to good use in this indispensable book.
(Kay Redfield Jamison, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and author of
An Unquiet Mind )
