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Overview
British, Australian, and one Dutch contributors from both fields explore the intersection between them, focusing on applying principles and practices of anthropology to theoretical and clinical approaches to psychology. Among the topics are narrative and method in the anthropology of medicine, and the implications of an anthropology of religion for psychiatric practice. Distributed by Taylor & Francis. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)The book contains black-and-white illustrations.
Synopsis
British, Australian, and one Dutch contributors from both fields explore the intersection between them, focusing on applying principles and practices of anthropology to theoretical and clinical approaches to psychology. Among the topics are narrative and method in the anthropology of medicine, and the implications of an anthropology of religion for psychiatric practice. Distributed by Taylor & Francis. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Doody Review Services
Reviewer: Daniel M. Haycraft, MD (Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center)
Description: The editors and authors explore the relevance of transcultural issues in the context of psychiatry in this book. They develop multiple themes surrounding the theoretical and clinical aspects of cultural influences on psychiatric diagnoses and treatment.
Purpose: The intent is to encourage critical thinking by mental health professionals, challenging them to consider diagnosis and treatment within the context of language, religion, and other culture-specific phenomena. It is a worthy objective, shedding light on the treatment challenges facing people of differing ethnic and cultural backgrounds, with special consideration of microcultural influences. Overall, it is a thorough and in-depth examination of the topic from the viewpoints of several authors, with both theoretical and clinical considerations.
Audience: The book aspires to be relevant for all practicing mental health clinicians. It is, however, most suited for those in academic and research arenas. The editors are credible authorities, well suited for the academic challenges the topic presents, and are supported by many credible and thoughtful authors.
Features: The authors develop both theoretical and clinical approaches to understanding cultural contributions to psychiatric phenomena. Of particular value are the chapters discussing the anthropology of religion and social stigma in the context of clinical practice. Illustrations in the chapter on concepts of perinatal mental disorders give powerful insight into cultural perspectives. On the other hand, the text is generally dense and this is not a book for light reading. The editors, in the introduction, seem to assume that readers have both a general background and an interest in anthropology. Had they not taken this position, they could have spent more time developing the readers' interest.
Assessment: Overall the book is not as valuable as it aspires to be for the practicing psychiatrist. Although the topic is well developed by credible authors, clinicians may find it difficult to wade through the dense text to extract the pearls of wisdom applicable to their practice.
Editorials
Reviewer: Daniel M. Haycraft, MD (Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center)
Description: The editors and authors explore the relevance of transcultural issues in the context of psychiatry in this book. They develop multiple themes surrounding the theoretical and clinical aspects of cultural influences on psychiatric diagnoses and treatment.
Purpose: The intent is to encourage critical thinking by mental health professionals, challenging them to consider diagnosis and treatment within the context of language, religion, and other culture-specific phenomena. It is a worthy objective, shedding light on the treatment challenges facing people of differing ethnic and cultural backgrounds, with special consideration of microcultural influences. Overall, it is a thorough and in-depth examination of the topic from the viewpoints of several authors, with both theoretical and clinical considerations.
Audience: The book aspires to be relevant for all practicing mental health clinicians. It is, however, most suited for those in academic and research arenas. The editors are credible authorities, well suited for the academic challenges the topic presents, and are supported by many credible and thoughtful authors.
Features: The authors develop both theoretical and clinical approaches to understanding cultural contributions to psychiatric phenomena. Of particular value are the chapters discussing the anthropology of religion and social stigma in the context of clinical practice. Illustrations in the chapter on concepts of perinatal mental disorders give powerful insight into cultural perspectives. On the other hand, the text is generally dense and this is not a book for light reading. The editors, in the introduction, seem to assume that readers have both a general background and an interest in anthropology. Had they not taken this position, they could have spent more time developing the readers' interest.
Assessment: Overall the book is not as valuable as it aspires to be for the practicing psychiatrist. Although the topic is well developed by credible authors, clinicians may find it difficult to wade through the dense text to extract the pearls of wisdom applicable to their practice.
3 Stars from Doody