Abstract
Mental disorders are among the most common diseases and pose a significant burden to society. Yet, the subject is often associated with stigma, and there is poor awareness and understanding about mental disorders in general public. This frequently leads to patients and their families keeping mental health problems hidden, even when they are the source of distress, leading to a delay in seeking treatment, nonadherence to therapy, and poor outcomes. Therefore, this book which provides information related to mental illnesses and addresses associated myths and misconceptions is a welcome addition to the resource books targeting the general public as readers.
The current edition contains chapters revised to take into account the recent advances and changes in psychiatry. The book rolls out in 26 chapters, and the content flows from the basics of mental health to individual psychiatric disorders and more specialized topics. The book begins by introducing the topic and specifying the book’s objectives. The right way to utilize this book is outlined in a dedicated chapter which emphasizes that the chapters should be read in order from start to finish for a thorough understanding of the subject. Following this, there are dedicated chapters on numerous themes, including mental health, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, anxiety, and stress-related disorders, eating disorders, sleep disorders, sexual disorders, personality disorders, childhood and developmental disorders, pregnancy and peripartum mental disorders, addiction, impulse control disorders, and available treatment modalities. Besides, the book is up to date with information on rehabilitation and welfare benefits for persons with psychiatric disabilities and Mental Healthcare Act 2017.
A first look at the book made us curious about its content as it appeared voluminous for the intended readers—the mentally ill, their families, and the community. Meanwhile, as we flipped a few pages, we encountered a treasure of knowledge presented simply and lucidly, the hallmark of this book. This book presents readers with an overview of all the important aspects of mental disorders. The book deliberately avoids being too theoretical by omitting details that are less important from the perspective of the general public. It not only covers the common psychiatric disorders but also the relatively uncommon ones. Also, it is heartening on finding a chapter with dedicated sections on various childhood and adolescent psychiatric disorders to help parents and caregivers identify the problems early and thus intervene promptly. This comprehensive book on the complex topic of psychiatric disorders provides enough information to the readers about a given issue so that they develop a good understanding of it and have all their common concerns related to mental illnesses addressed. Even to amateur doctors, this book is highly useful as this domain of medicine often remains elusive owing to inadequate undergraduate psychiatry teaching. It is, therefore, an excellent resource for all those who want to become more informed about this subject. Also, the overall book structure is comparable to that of contemporary psychiatry textbooks, making it easier for mental health professionals to relate. A psychiatrist or psychologist in training would undoubtedly benefit from it.
This book has numerous other strengths. The foremost is its easy-to-understand and straightforward language. The other highlight is that this book kept citing public figures, significant events, and historical figures throughout, keeping the readers engaged. From their vast clinical experience, the authors have quoted patient verbatims and examples that help both the mental healthcare providers and recipients relate more to the topic. Also, it has an extensive compilation of interesting figures, sketches, boxes, and case illustrations. Having case examples cited from the local community adds a cultural flavor to the textbook. Another forte of this book is the section on “frequently asked questions” at the end of each chapter which answers the common queries related to that chapter. The questions which frequently come to the mind of mental health service users are adequately and precisely addressed.
Altogether, this is an up-to-date, pragmatic, and comprehensive compendium of mental disorders relevant to patients, caregivers, and clinicians alike. While the emphasis was laid on providing information in a culturally relevant manner, the contextual information related to a given topic was adequate to continue holding the attention and interest of the readers into the subject. In conclusion, anyone interested in mental health and related disorders might benefit from this book.