Reviewer: Michael Schrift, DO (University of Washington School of Medicine)
Description: The advances in our understanding of basic psychopathological phenomena have greatly accelerated over the last two decades due to research in cognitive neuroscience, brain imaging, neurophysiology, and genetics. These advances have led to a brain-based, rather than just mind-based, understanding of the processes involved in the experiences of hallucinations and delusions. This superb book summarizes the current research findings and their implications for understanding hallucinations. Written and edited by a group of internationally recognized researchers in the field, this exceptional book is a welcome addition to psychiatry.
Purpose: The purpose, according to the editors, is "to present a state-of-the-art overview of hallucinatory phenomena, ranging from visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, and bodily hallucinations to less well-known phenomena such as synesthesia, musical hallucinations, hallucinated pain, autoscopic phenomena, phantom sensations, sensed presences, and compound hallucinations attributed to djinns." Indeed, the authors have produced a top-notch review of the latest research in this fascinating area.
Audience: The intended audience includes anyone interested in hallucinations, "neuroscientists, neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, historians of science, and philosophers professionally involved in the diagnosis, treatment, and scientific study of hallucinations." Graduate students involved in research in this area would benefit from this timely and comprehensive review.
Features: Part I focuses on conceptual issues with fascinating chapters on topics such as the construction of visual reality, a network model of hallucinations, and the history and epistemology of hallucinations. Part II reviews the various phenomenological forms of hallucinations including visual, synesthetic, auditory verbal, musical, olfactory/gustatory, bodily sensation, pain, autoscopic, phantom limb, sensed presence, and djinns. In part III, treatment issues are discussed with interesting chapters on pharmacotherapy and ECT, transcranial magnetic stimulation, cognitive-behavioral therapy, a method of "first aid for patients who experience distressing voices," and a description of the hearing voices movement, which is an international movement for creating opportunities for voice hearers to exchange experiences and knowledge. All the chapters conclude with pertinent citations of the scientific literature. It also includes a bibliography of books on hallucinations and a listing of others books by the authors.
Assessment: This is a fascinating and comprehensive review of a heretofore scientifically opaque problem of hallucinations. All mental health professions who are involved in the care of individuals with severe mental illness should read this important book.
From the reviews:
“It covers a wide range of recent studies on various forms of hallucination and would be suitable for mental health professionals from both medical and nonmedical backgrounds. … Hallucinations: Research and Practice is an excellent reference book for students and mental health professionals … who are interested in the latest studies in the phenomenon of hallucinations. It covers a wide range of topics that may satisfy the needs and curiosities of practicing clinicians, researchers, instructors, and graduate students in related fields.” (Alex C. N. Leung, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 58 (15), April, 2013)
“This superb book summarizes the current research findings and their implications for understanding hallucinations. … this exceptional book is a welcome addition to psychiatry. … The intended audience includes anyone interested in hallucinations … . Graduate students involved in research in this area would benefit from this timely and comprehensive review. … All mental health professions who are involved in the care of individuals with severe mental illness should read this important book.” (Michael Joel Schrift, Doody’s Review Service, May, 2011)
