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Overview
This lucidly written guide presents an innovative approach for treating somatization disorder and related problems, such as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The authors' program integrates cognitive-behavioral techniques with strategies to build emotional self-awareness and interventions to help patients understand and alter their illness behavior. Systematic yet flexible, it is supported by controlled clinical research. The book reviews the conceptual underpinnings of the approach, discusses its ongoing testing and refinement, and offers clear-cut guidelines for assessment and treatment. Special features include illustrative case material, many pointers for practice, and reproducible appendices that provide a 10-session mini-manual and helpful handouts and forms.Synopsis
This lucidly written guide presents an innovative approach for treating somatization disorder and related problems, such as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The authors' program integrates cognitive-behavioral techniques with strategies to build emotional self-awareness and interventions to help patients understand and alter their illness behavior. Systematic yet flexible, it is supported by controlled clinical research. The book reviews the conceptual underpinnings of the approach, discusses its ongoing testing and refinement, and offers clear-cut guidelines for assessment and treatment. Special features include illustrative case material, many pointers for practice, and reproducible appendices that provide a 10-session mini-manual and helpful handouts and forms.
Doody Review Services
Reviewer:Christopher J. Graver, PhD(Madigan Army Medical Center)
Description:Somatization is an illness that results in excessive utilization of medical services with little observable benefit. This book addresses the problem of somatization and provides recommendations for psychotherapeutic treatments.
Purpose:The overarching purpose of this book is to describe somatization and review relevant treatments. In particular, the authors present and discuss the use of a promising cognitive behavioral variant to treating somatization.
Audience:The authors do not identify a target audience, but this would primarily be useful for clinical psychologists in healthcare or other settings where somatization is a primary concern. The authors have extensive experience with somatization disorders and one author currently has an NIMH clinical trial in progress studying cognitive affective behavior therapy.
Features:The book begins with a useful overview of the features of somatization, diagnostic criteria, and epidemiology. A brief review of the scientific status of current treatments for somatization is followed by more detail in later chapters devoted to specific psychotherapeutic treatments. The book provides short vignettes of cases, discusses practical consideration for assessment, and walks the reader through a typical clinical interview, including recommendations for assessment instruments. There are sample therapeutic dialogues and suggestions for overcoming hurdles, such as coordinating with primary care physicians. The chapters and appendix have examples of questionnaires, charts, and other tools that will help the clinician to be effective in therapy. Furthermore, Appendix A contains an outline of the 10-session cognitive affective behavioral approach.
Assessment:This is an excellent book on somatization treatment. It provides a concise review of the relevant information, discusses specific treatment strategies, and provides examples to help clinicians wade through the thorny issue of diagnosing and treating somatization. While there are several books available on this topic, this is the most current and clinically informative text available.
Editorials
From The Critics
Reviewer: Christopher J. Graver, PhD, ABPP-CN(Madigan Healthcare System)Description: Somatization is an illness that results in excessive utilization of medical services with little observable benefit. This book addresses the problem of somatization and provides recommendations for psychotherapeutic treatments.
Purpose: The overarching purpose of this book is to describe somatization and review relevant treatments. In particular, the authors present and discuss the use of a promising cognitive behavioral variant to treating somatization.
Audience: The authors do not identify a target audience, but this would primarily be useful for clinical psychologists in healthcare or other settings where somatization is a primary concern. The authors have extensive experience with somatization disorders and one author currently has an NIMH clinical trial in progress studying cognitive affective behavior therapy.
Features: The book begins with a useful overview of the features of somatization, diagnostic criteria, and epidemiology. A brief review of the scientific status of current treatments for somatization is followed by more detail in later chapters devoted to specific psychotherapeutic treatments. The book provides short vignettes of cases, discusses practical consideration for assessment, and walks the reader through a typical clinical interview, including recommendations for assessment instruments. There are sample therapeutic dialogues and suggestions for overcoming hurdles, such as coordinating with primary care physicians. The chapters and appendix have examples of questionnaires, charts, and other tools that will help the clinician to be effective in therapy. Furthermore, Appendix A contains an outline of the 10-session cognitive affective behavioral approach.
Assessment: This is an excellent book on somatization treatment. It provides a concise review of the relevant information, discusses specific treatment strategies, and provides examples to help clinicians wade through the thorny issue of diagnosing and treating somatization. While there are several books available on this topic, this is the most current and clinically informative text available.
From the Publisher
"In this important volume, two leading scientist-practitioners offer a lucid account of the clinical features and etiology of somatization, and also provide a detailed, step-by-step guide to their new, empirically supported treatment. This scholarly yet highly practical book sets a new standard in the treatment of somatization. It is essential reading for all clinicians and clinical trainees who treat patients with somatization problems, whether in the form of somatization disorder or as a feature of other clinical conditions."--Steven Taylor, PhD, University of British Columbia"Somatization, somatoform disorders, medically unexplained and functional somatic symptoms; whatever we call them, they are among the largest and most neglected problems in medicine. Yet there are very few practical guides to assist practitioners. This lucid and scholarly text not only offers a valuable overview of the topic, but also provides detailed guidance on a management approach of proven efficacy. This book will be helpful to students and experienced practitioners alike."--Michael Sharpe, MD, University of Edinburgh, UK
"Woolfolk and Allen have written a unique and detailed book that is clearly rooted in theory and empirical findings. Conceptual, assessment, and treatment issues are outlined within a concise and coherent framework that lends itself to practical application. Complete with a 10-session treatment manual, this book is a 'must' for clinicians, interns, residents, and clinical graduate students who are treating people suffering from physical symptoms without identifiable physical cause."--Gordon J. G. Asmundson, PhD, University of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
"Woolfolk and Allen bring optimism and rigor to the treatment of a misunderstood group of patients who have mistakenly been regarded as untreatable by many physicians and therapists. Starting with a remarkably clear foundation built on theory and a comprehensive review of the literature, the authors provide a straightforward, step-by-step blueprint for their therapeutic approach. The book is exemplary in its eclectic yet critical integration of diverse perspectives and its jargon-free style. This is a book with equal appeal and value for both experts and beginners. Experienced clinicians will find Woolfolk and Allen's work refreshing, inspiring, and informative. At the same time, the book's clinical utility, accessibility, and clarity also make it an excellent choice for beginning therapists, including graduate students in psychology and social work and psychiatric residents."--James L. Levenson, MD, Virginia Commonwealth University "I like this book enormously. The therapeutic approach is comprehensive, innovative, and clearly derived from vast clinical experience. The treatment itself is presented in a vivid and accessible way that enables the reader to learn and apply it in his or her own clinical practice. This work represents a major advance in our ability to treat patients suffering from this prevalent and difficult problem."--Arthur J. Barsky, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School "This is the book healthcare professionals have been waiting for! The authors' integrative conceptual model addresses emotional aspects, such as alexithymia, demoralization, and social role theory, while also incorporating classical cognitive and behavioral ideas. They increase our understanding of patients with medically unexplained symptoms in a manner that is comprehensive, profound, and a pleasure to read. However, the core strength of this book is the treatment manual. The authors' deep knowledge of basic processes, together with an unbelievable amount of clinical experience, underpin their helpful descriptions of how to proceed when treating these patients. The breakthrough approach in this book will help healthcare professionals provide effective support for a major patient population, while reducing treatment costs substantially."--Winfried Rief, PhD, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Germany