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Product reviews for Understanding Dissociative Disorders
Norman L.Wilson M.D. Private Practice, Washington, D.C.
Marlene Hunter, M.D., is a highly distinguished teacher, practitioner, and author in the fields of hypnosis and dissociative disorders. She is a family physician who has worked with dissociative patients since 1977. Past president of both the American and Canadian Societies of Clinical Hypnosis, she has given numerous lectures and workshops on topics related to dissociation and hypnosis.
The stated purpose of the book is to educate family practitioners and other health workers about the relationship between child abuse, dissociation, and a host of psychosomatic and psychiatric conditions commonly seen by physicians and psychotherapists. These include fibromyaglia, irritable bowel syndrome, certain urinogenital conditions, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, eating disorders and chronic pain syndromes. This concise, cogent, friendly, and well-structured book presents the new paradigm of understanding many physical and mental conditions on the basis of early trauma effects and mind-body unity.
Each medical condition listed above rates a separate chapter, each with very pertinent and up-to-date references. These references in turn are followed by a brief descriptive and explanatory comment by the author.
Hunter has produced a landmark text filled with practical suggestions to physicians about how best to relate to and treat patients with psychosomatic conditions, many of whom have trauma histories and related dissociative disorders. She cogently explains somatoform dissociation and its relevance to the disorders listed above. Neurophysiological under pinnings and torrelations are clearly illustrated. The seminal research and writing of Van der Kilk, Meltack, Rossi and Nijenhhuis are presented to clarify her points.
The reviewer's only criticism concerns her chapter on psychiatric medications, which is not as clear or we"developed as the rest of the book. While I agree with her statement about minimizing medication and maximizing non-pharmacological treatments, such as hypnosis, yoga, meditation, massage, etc, many dissociative patients will also need a combination of medications to control extreme depression, agitation, and switching of ego-states/alters. However, hunter skilfully explains and illustrates the important role of hypnosis for calming, grounding, ego-strengthening, reframing and visualization of success.
In summary, Marlene Hunter has presented a highly scientific, useful and clearly written work which every health practitioner should read. Her kindness, patience and understanding permeate the text and humanize her astute presentation of clinical information and treatment guidance.
The stated purpose of the book is to educate family practitioners and other health workers about the relationship between child abuse, dissociation, and a host of psychosomatic and psychiatric conditions commonly seen by physicians and psychotherapists. These include fibromyaglia, irritable bowel syndrome, certain urinogenital conditions, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, eating disorders and chronic pain syndromes. This concise, cogent, friendly, and well-structured book presents the new paradigm of understanding many physical and mental conditions on the basis of early trauma effects and mind-body unity.
Each medical condition listed above rates a separate chapter, each with very pertinent and up-to-date references. These references in turn are followed by a brief descriptive and explanatory comment by the author.
Hunter has produced a landmark text filled with practical suggestions to physicians about how best to relate to and treat patients with psychosomatic conditions, many of whom have trauma histories and related dissociative disorders. She cogently explains somatoform dissociation and its relevance to the disorders listed above. Neurophysiological under pinnings and torrelations are clearly illustrated. The seminal research and writing of Van der Kilk, Meltack, Rossi and Nijenhhuis are presented to clarify her points.
The reviewer's only criticism concerns her chapter on psychiatric medications, which is not as clear or we"developed as the rest of the book. While I agree with her statement about minimizing medication and maximizing non-pharmacological treatments, such as hypnosis, yoga, meditation, massage, etc, many dissociative patients will also need a combination of medications to control extreme depression, agitation, and switching of ego-states/alters. However, hunter skilfully explains and illustrates the important role of hypnosis for calming, grounding, ego-strengthening, reframing and visualization of success.
In summary, Marlene Hunter has presented a highly scientific, useful and clearly written work which every health practitioner should read. Her kindness, patience and understanding permeate the text and humanize her astute presentation of clinical information and treatment guidance.
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14/09/2004 01:00
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