Masquerading Symptoms: Uncovering Physical Illnesses That Present as Psychological Problems - Softcover

Dr. Schildkrout takes aim against the factionalizing dualism inherent in our modern mode of psychiatric thought. Psychiatry, she reminds us, is not the stuff left over once the medical is ruled out. Far from it! With this compendium, she has created a pragmatic reference for neuro-psychiatric diagnosis from an often ignored, but important, perspective. The role of the psychotherapist is not the realm of the mind alone: Dr. Schildkrout forces us to remember that not only can psychiatric symptoms impact medical conditions, but medical conditions can underlie psychiatric symptoms. In theory, as practitioners, we already know this; but, I would argue, we often struggle putting this knowledge into practice. This book will help us and our colleagues across disciplines to think in terms that, I would argue, are the future of psychiatry. It is one of those rare medical books that you feel you ought to reread at the beginning of each year to remind yourself to keep your eyes open and never stop searching for things hidden beneath the surface. --Aaron J. Hauptman, MD; Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern; Annals of Clinical Psychiatry, November 2014, Vol. 26 No. 4, pages 305-307

The definitive resource to the signs, symptoms, and patterns of medical diseases that CAN present as psychological problems This invaluable reference enables clinicians, as well as patients and their families, to become more familiar with these medical conditions and how they may masquerade as mental disorders.Part One of this book is organized so that it corresponds to the sections of the Standard Mental Status Exam. It is composed of clinical presentation descriptions that direct the reader to the medical diseases described inPart Two that may be contributing to the patient's discomfort. Without medical jargon, Barbara Schildkrout lucidly explains how patients with each medical condition may end up seeking help from a mental health professional. The conditions explored in this book include: * Alzheimer's disease * Brain tumors * Carbon monoxide poisoning * Diseases of the thyroid * Endocrine disorders * Hepatic encephalopathy * HIV/AIDS * Hyperventilation syndrome * Hypoglycemia * Limbic encephalitis * Lyme disease * Syphilis * Thiamine deficiency * Traumatic brain injury The book also describes a proven process for working with patients during and after the referral process, and integrating medical findings into ongoing therapeutic work. All mental health professionals need access to this information, and Masquerading Symptoms puts it all in a single, easily navigated reference. BARBARA SCHILDKROUT, MD,is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. She has taught for many years at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. She has a Subspecialty Board Certification through the United Council for Neurological Subspecialties in behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry and has maintained a private clinical practice in the Boston area for over 25 years.