Preventing Misdiagnosis of Women: A Guide to Physical Disorders That Have Psychiatric Symptoms / Edition 1

by Elizabeth Adele Klonoff, Hope Landrine

Overview

Many physical disorders suffered by women have psychiatric symptoms. For example, hyperthyroidism can result in depression and anxiety, and temporal lobe epilepsy can have the same symptoms as bipolar disorder. As a result, women are in danger of being misdiagnosed as having psychiatric problems and receiving completely inappropriate treatment. This volume gives psychotherapists, counsellors and other mental health professionals the foundation for identifying physiological disorders that may be at the root of the mental health problems presented by female clients.

Illustrated with detailed cases and supplemented with quick reference guides to symptoms and a glossary, this much-needed book provides information that until now

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761900467
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	11/26/1996
Series:	Women's Mental Health and Development , #1
Pages:	184
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.56(d)

About the Author

Klonoff, Elizabeth A., PhD (California State Univ San Bernardino); Landrine, Hope, PhD (Public Health Foundation)

Editorial Reviews

2 Stars from Doody

This book focuses on the misdiagnosis of women's physical problems as psychiatric disorders. The book presents several common physical disorders (e.g., endocrine disorders, seizure disorders) that often have presenting symptoms that are consistent with psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety). The purpose is to make clinicians aware of the frequent occurrence of physical disorders being misdiagnosed as psychiatric disturbances. The authors suggest that many patients are being seen for extended periods in psychological treatments that are unnecessary and, potentially, destructive. This book could be useful for a student or clinician entering the field or someone with limited experience who is not aware of the close link between physical and psychological problems. The authors have extensive backgrounds in health and social psychology. They also are well-versed in the areas of sexism and racism and their relation to physical and mental well-being. The book is well organized. The table of contents and the index are adequate, and there is an extensive glossary that defines many of the terms used in the book. The overall appearance of the book is inviting. I think that this book could be useful for new clinicians or students who have limited experience and knowledge of the overlap between physical and psychiatric disorders. The authors do a nice job of describing the disorders and presenting the psychiatric symptomatology consistent with each disorder. It seems, however, that they make some sweeping generalizations about the extent of this problem and the possible consequences.

Marian L. Fitzgibbon

Reviewer: Marian L. Fitzgibbon, PhD (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine)
Description: This book focuses on the misdiagnosis of women's physical problems as psychiatric disorders. The book presents several common physical disorders (e.g., endocrine disorders, seizure disorders) that often have presenting symptoms that are consistent with psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety).
Purpose: The purpose is to make clinicians aware of the frequent occurrence of physical disorders being misdiagnosed as psychiatric disturbances. The authors suggest that many patients are being seen for extended periods in psychological treatments that are unnecessary and, potentially, destructive.
Audience: This book could be useful for a student or clinician entering the field or someone with limited experience who is not aware of the close link between physical and psychological problems. The authors have extensive backgrounds in health and social psychology. They also are well-versed in the areas of sexism and racism and their relation to physical and mental well-being.
Features: The book is well organized. The table of contents and the index are adequate, and there is an extensive glossary that defines many of the terms used in the book. The overall appearance of the book is inviting.
Assessment: I think that this book could be useful for new clinicians or students who have limited experience and knowledge of the overlap between physical and psychiatric disorders. The authors do a nice job of describing the disorders and presenting the psychiatric symptomatology consistent with each disorder. It seems, however, that they make some sweeping generalizations about the extent of this problem and the possible consequences.

Doody's Review Service