The Encyclopedia of Mental Health (Facts on File Library of Health & Living) [Hardcover]

Ada P. Kahn (Author), Jan Fawcett M.D. (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Because society emphasizes "everyday emotions and overall mental health," claim the authors, they wrote this book to define for lay readers terms associated with various problems, feelings, and treatments. Entries range in length from several sentences to several columns of text, and the book concludes with an appendix of organizations and a bibliography, both categorized by type of disorder or mental health concern. Though the effort to treat such common terms as anger, grief, and mood reflect the authors' regard for simplicity, entries on medicines and some medical terminology tend to be difficult to understand. In a similar work, The Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons' Complete Home Guide to Mental Health ( LJ 9/15/92), concepts are explained not by entry but in chapters based upon broad subject areas. Both approaches are effective, and both books are excellent reference sources required by most library collections.
- Ina M. Wise, Daley Community Coll. Lib., Chicago
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Accessible information about mental health is always in demand. People are interested in everything from serious disorders and the psychological effects of physical conditions to phobias and stress management. The Encyclopedia of Mental Health provides an overview of this vast field. The authors are a medical administrator and a psychiatrist.

The alphabetically arranged entries range in length from one sentence to several pages. They cover all aspects of mental health: major illnesses (Schizophrenia, Affective Disorders); psychiatric aspects of physical diseases (Alzheimer's Disease, Korsakoff's Syndrome); social problems affecting mental health (Euthanasia, Sexual Harrassment); phobias and compulsions (Agoraphobia, Shopaholism); therapies (Behavioral Therapy, Transactional Analysis); and drugs (Amphetamines, Tranquilizers). There are also entries for notables in the field (Sigmund Freud and Ivan Pavlov, but, oddly, none for Carl Jung or B. F. Skinner) and such minor disorders as Headache and Bruxism. Many of the articles have bibliographies of popular and medical literature. See and see also references facilitate access to relevant material. A list of organizations with addresses for referral, a lengthy classified bibliography, and an index complete the work.

The Encyclopedia of Mental Health offers more information than the Longman Dictionary of Psychology and Psychiatry (Longman, 1981), but it does not provide detailed coverage of the diagnosis and treatment of specific conditions. The Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Complete Home Guide to Mental and Emotional Health (Holt, 1992) is an outstanding source for this information. This latter work along with the Encyclopedia of Mental Health makes a fine ready-reference collection for all libraries.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: Facts on File (October 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816026947
• ISBN-13: 978-0816026944
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,200,000 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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