Understanding Troubled Minds: A Guide to Mental Illness and Its Treatment

by Sidney Bloch, Bruce S. Singh

Most of us take our mental health for granted. But when confronted by mental illness in our family, our friends, or ourselves, even the most competent among us is likely to become bewildered.
Understanding Troubled Minds provides a calm and authoritative guide to the full range of specific mental illnesses and available treatments. It deals with particular patterns of illness in women, children, and the elderly. It stresses the value of partnership among psychiatrists, patients, and their families. And it places this knowledge within the framework of modern psychiatry-from the history of the profession to just what it is that psychiatrists and fellow health-workers do, and how they can help.
A sense of hope and optimism prevails within these pages. The authors, both eminent psychiatrists with long practical experience, stress that great strides are being made in the treatment of mental illness. But they also warn against the lure of the instant cure. Acknowledging the complexity of human nature, they weave the stories of real people and the insights of many writers throughout their text.
Balanced, up-to-date, thoroughly readable, and humanistic, this book will both increase our practical knowledge and deepen our understanding of mental illness.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Mental Health

350 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[astrid bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is some of the better psychoed i’ve read for gen pop

[Mikey Novotny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A comprehensive generalist overview of mental health illnesses and their contemporary and historic treatments. I benefitted from the fact it had an Australian-centred view on the field of psychiatry and psychology.
I found the psychotherapy section very general and short, and the author seemed a bit preoccupied with thyroids?? However, the personality disorders section was illuminating, as I have previously failed to grasp their significance and prevalence in the community.

[Stefan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brief introduction to mental illnesses and treatments of these. It is good to fill in gaps in overall understanding and organise anecdotally acquired knowledge. Writing is solid, edit hasn't left too many repetitions, and interludes with examples kept me engaged.. If you treat mental health seriously already, probably you won't find much anew in the book. Otherwise, it will be time well spent.

[Clint · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comprehensive overview of the field of mental health from the perspective of psychiatry. Bloch tackles the subject with humility and compassion, acknowledging the limitations of his discipline along with its checkered history, but at the same time expressing optimism and hope in contemporary interventions for those who suffer. Recommended reading for those working in the helping professions.

[Pam Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

what an amazing book this one is. I have learnt so much about " MENTAL ILLNESS" having a friend who has this problem, gives you an insight into how psychiatrists diagnose the problem and solutions to help deal with it. Its an intense book but if you know of anyone who has mental illness then you should read this book. Packed full of information on how troubled minds see things, that somc can be stress related together with a persons emotional state and how their perception of reality is splintered. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - A MUST READ

[Leodor Natus · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not a fun read. Although seemingly accurate in it's contents I was not content with the lack of discussion in this book.

So I guess it's not a bad book per se, but just didn't cut it for me.

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good beginning guide and source.