The Hormone Factor in Mental Health

Bridging the Mind-Body Gap

Linda M. Rio

• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
• Year: 2013
• ISBN:
  9780857007292
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Mental Health in Psychology
• Index: Psychology

Endocrine imbalances can cause a whole host of physical and mental health problems. Yet, there is currently no definitive source of information that shows how hormones can bridge the gap between mental health and medical health modalities.

This book is a bold crossover between the disciplines of medical and mental health, exploring the understanding that some of the major mental diagnoses belong not only to the field of mental health but also to that of medicine. Clients with depression, anxiety, sexual dysfunction, infertility, suicidality, anger and rage, fatigue, apathy, cognitive impairments, confusion, eating disorders, and poor body image may actually be presenting symptoms of hormonal disorders. Beginning with patient stories that display the devastating effects of misdiagnosis and the struggle to obtain the correct treatment, it provides members of the mental health profession with an authentic understanding of the impact of endocrine imbalances and disorders. With contributions from some of the world's most respected physicians, psychiatrists and psychotherapists, it provides accurate medical and psychological information about hormone imbalances and disorders, how to recognise the signs in patients, and how to treat them effectively.

A comprehensive resource that provides all the information needed to identify endocrine disorders in patients successfully; this book will be of immeasurable value to clinical psychologists, marriage and family therapists, social workers, doctors, nurses and mental health clinicians.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• 1. The History of the Pituitary
• 2. Patient and Family Stories: In Their Own Words
• 3. Stress, Trauma, and the Impact on the Pituitary
• 4. Psychological Factors and Pituitary Disease: The Chicken and the Egg
• 5. Clinical Case Studies: Endocrine and Psychological Factors Intertwined
• 6. Hormonal Disorders and the Therapist: A Family Systems Perspective
• 7. Women’s Hormonal Health
• 8. Men’s Hormonal Health
• 9. Child and Adolescent Hormonal Health
• 10. Specific Endocrine and Neuroendocrine Disorders: Physical, Emotional, Cognitive, and Relationship Aspects
• 11. Psychiatric Perspectives in Treatment of Hormonal Disorders
• 12. Living With and Adjusting to Endocrine Disorders
• 13. Multi-perspective—Doctor, Patient: Understanding the Patient from the Inside Out
• 14. The Nutrition–Endocrine Connection: Out of Chaos Into Balance
• 15. So, Where Do We Go From Here?
• Appendix A: Client/Patient Resources
• Appendix B: Resources for Non-Medical Clinicians
• Appendix C: Medical Tests
• Appendix D: Sample Mental-Medical Consultation/Collaboration Form
• Useful Resources
• The Contributors