Customer Reviews

Making the Connection Between Brain and Behavior: Coping with Parkinson's Disease

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Parkinson described the Shaking Palsy in 1817 as a motor disorder without significant effect on the mind. Charcot agreed in his analysis half a century later. Only recently has it been appreciated that depression, dementia, and other mental problems can be the most disabling features of this disease. As a neurologist who developed Parkinsonism myself I have in vain been searching for a comprehensive review of these problems, and now I have found it in Dr. Joseph Friedman's Making the Connection Between Brain and Behavior--Coping with Parkinson's Disease. It is filled with common sense practical suggestions related to subjects such as driving, caregiver stress, appropriate and inappropriate use of the emergency room, and every conceivable neuropsychological symptom.Patients and their families as well as physicians and nurses will find this text invaluable. I recommend it most strongly and thank Dr. Friedman for giving hope and optimism to those of us who must do battle with the Shaking Palsy every day of our lives.

As I read this book, I felt that it was written from inside my experience as a person with Parkinson's disease. It provides insights for the patient in a style that a non-medical person can understand. It would be especially valuable for someone who knows a Parkinson's patient. I was able to hand this book to my wife and say "this is me." Thanks, Dr. Friedman, for a significant contribution to the Parkinson's literature.

This Book written by Joseph Friedman would be the most valuable book for some who like myself has come up against the the battle of Living and coping parkinson's diesease. at 38 year i was diagnosed with this progressive illness ..and now at 45 ... finding this Book has just allowed me to understand how the life i live and that its not me thats creating these problems .. reading this Book has certainly eased my mind with the knowledge the Joseph Friedman has shared in his book ..Certainly has made things a lot clearer and now can share this information to others.to help adn make my life easier by reading this book .
thankyou so much
this book for me is worth more than words can describe ..
I RECOMEND THIS BOOK TO ALL WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE TO READ ..EARLY ONSET AGE WOULD HIGHLY RECOMEND
ONCE AGAIN THANKS ive order 2 more coppies ..to share with others ..

DIANNE OLIVER

I am a PWP (5 years) and HIGHLY recommended this compassionately written and experience- based book.

I often turn to it when things are going on with the PD that I don't understand or can't identify using accepted medical terminology. For example, I find myself simply not caring about things I can't change anymore, even though in the past I have been a wise crackin' firebrand.

As Dr. Friedman points out, such "apathy" can be protective-- a brilliant insight on his part- protecting the PWP from possible depression related to the realization & constant reminders that PD gives us that we are not able to do things we used to love.

What is the difference between psychologically useful, protective PD apathy and apathy that is not useful for a PWP? Read this book to find out!

Just finished Making the Connection Between Brain and Behavior Coping with Parkinson's Disease by Joseph H. Friedman. One of my favorite Parkinson's books so far. My mom has Parkinson's and I can't wait for her to read this. She continually feels guilty because she thinks she should be handling it better and I hope this book will help. She handles it VERY well, but this book examines the connections between Parkinson's and feelings of guilt, depression, anxiety, indecisivessness (can't decide how to spell that!) and brain issues. That is, does PD itsel fcause the guilt and depression, or are they a reaction to dealing with the physical symptoms. Great book and I hope it will be helpful for many. If you or someone you care about has Parkinson's, check it out. oh wait wait! Especially intersting - it addresses the fact that some people with PD who have been lifelong readers, like my mom, no longer enjoy reading - such a big loss at a time when she can rarely get out. - some associated problems effecting reading - tremors, difficulty turning pages, difficulty staying awake, soft speech that makes it hard to discuss your reading with others (there are book groups where she is living). Now THAT hurts!

This could be called, "Parkinson's for Dummies" because it's definitely written for the layman. It gives an excellent overview of the illness - and deals with caregivers, medications and what to expect as the illness progresses.

One of a kind. This is the only book I have found that explains what is happening in the mind of the PWPD and is so helpful for families.