The Behavioral Sciences and Health Care.The Behavioral Sciences behavioral sciences, n.pl those sciences devoted to the study of human and animal behavior. and Health Care Olle Jane Z. Sahler, MD, and John E. Carr, PhD, editors. Cambridge, MA: Hogrefe & Huber, June 2003. 432 pages. $39.95. ISBN ISBN abbr. International Standard Book Number ISBN International Standard Book Number ISBN n abbr (= International Standard Book Number) → ISBN m : 0-88937-261-6. As the practice of medicine becomes more technical, specialized, and firmly anchored in evidence-based data, clinicians may be tempted to concentrate on diseased organs and neglect the patient as an individual who interacts with a community. Often the patient's psychosocioeconomic background modulates the predisposition to diseases, the clinical presentation, and the response to treatment. The purpose of this book is to emphasize the importance of this interaction. The editors have selected a stellar team of contributors to produce this 432-page book. The book is well written and organized. The liberal use of titles, subtitles, shaded areas, and tables further facilitates reading the text and finding topics of particular interest. Review questions at the end of each chapter help to crystallize crys·tal·lize also crys·tal·ize v. crys·tal·lized also crys·tal·ized, crys·tal·liz·ing also crys·tal·iz·ing, crys·tal·liz·es also crys·tal·iz·es v.tr. 1. the various points, and the list of recommended readings after each chapter is useful for more in-depth studies. The book is divided into eight sections. The first section serves as a general introduction to the behavioral sciences and health; the second (four chapters) discusses biological mediators of behavior; the third (three chapters) deals with the interaction between the individual and the environment; the fourth (five chapters) describes the development of the individual throughout the life cycle; the fifth (six chapters) is devoted to the interaction between the individual and social groups and includes chapters on theories of social relationships, culture and ethnicity, minority groups, and human sexuality. The sixth section (five chapters) focuses on societal health problems such as obesity, poverty, homelessness, substance abuse, violence, and suicide. The seventh section (six chapters) discusses the provision of health care and includes chapters on the medical encounter, the clinical decision-making process, the physician-patient relationship physician-patient relationship Medical malpractice A formal or inferred relationship between a physician and a Pt, which is established once the physician assumes or undertakes the medical care or treatment of a Pt; the establishment of a PPR is 'automatic' in , ethical and legal issues, and complementary medicine. The last section (nine chapters) is devoted to psychopathology psychopathology /psy·cho·pa·thol·o·gy/ (-pah-thol´ah-je) 1. the branch of medicine dealing with the causes and processes of mental disorders. 2. abnormal, maladaptive behavior or mental activity. and includes chapters on adjustment disorders Adjustment Disorders Definition An adjustment disorder is a debilitating reaction, usually lasting less than six months, to a stressful event or situation. , eating disorders eating disorders, in psychology, disorders in eating patterns that comprise four categories: anorexia nervosa, bulimia, rumination disorder, and pica. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by self-starvation to avoid obesity. , anxiety disorders Anxiety disorders A group of distinct psychiatric disorders characterized by marked emotional distress and social impairment, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. , mood disorders, personality disorders Personality Disorders Definition Personality disorders are a group of mental disturbances defined by the fourth edition, text revision (2000) of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) , and disorders of childhood and adolescence. Two appendices are included, describing essential elements of epidemiology and biostatistics. The book ends with a series of 326 multiple-choice questions with correct answers and annotations. The book should be useful not only for medical students and trainees, at whom it is primarily targeted, but also for seasoned clinicians. Educators also should find it useful to help them remind their audiences of the need to consider the patient as an individual living and interacting within a community and subject to a number of factors that may influence the presentation of disease and the response to treatment. Ronald C. Hamdy, MD Editor |
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