Hypochondriasis remains controversial, despite its 2000-year history. Although it is considered a mental disorder, hypochondriasis is often regarded as a defence mechanism, peculiar cognitive/perceptual style, means of nonverbal communication, response to stress, abnormal illness behaviour, personality trait, distinct personality disturbance, and part of other mental disorders. Disagreements about etiology and pathogenesis of hypochondriasis go hand in hand with disagreements about its treatment. This book fills the need for a modern, balanced, in-depth, and integrative overview of hypochondriasis as a mental disorder with diverse manifestations. Written by world experts and from different perspectives, it aims to be a state-of-the-art text, demonstrating how the current concepts of hypochondriasis are linked with its rich history, critically examining diagnostic and nosologic issues and suggesting ways of overcoming the conceptual obstacles, describing current views on the etiology, pathogenesis and psychopathology, presenting main treatment approaches, and providing treatment guidelines. This book is intended for both practising clinicians and researchers. An important resource for all psychiatrists, primary care physicians, clinical psychologists, and other mental health professionals, it will also be of interest for psychiatry residents, medical students, graduate students in clinical psychology, and lay public.
Reviews
"...the best stat-of-the-art book on hypochondriasis for many years... The editors and contributors of Hypochondriasis: Modern Perspectives on an Ancient Malady are to be congratulated for this important book...We recommend [it] for psychiatrists, primary care physicians, clinical psychologists, other mental health professionals, psychiatry residents, medical students, and other graduate students."--he Lancet "The book is beautifully produced, with many helpful tables... [it] will offer not only understanding of what fosters hypochondrical complaints but also treatment options... [it] should be part of any clinicians library. The editors have brought together an extraordinary collection of authors. Their careful editing makes this volume a great gift to our field."--Thomas N. Wise, M.D. in The American Journal of Psychiatry "...this is likely to be considered the definitive text on this disorder...A much-needed addition to the psychiatric literature...I share the editors' hopeful enthusiasm that the dialogue resulting from this excellent volume will inspire others to further our understanding of hypochondriasis and its treatment."--Psychosomatics "The book is very comprehensive and contains excellent chapters on assessment and treatment (two contributions from Salkovskis and Warwick), the conundrum of personality disturbance in hypochondriasis (by Hollifield), and an excellent chapter on methods of assessment by Speckens...this book deals comprehensively with an important and common clinical problem and deserves to be widely read."--Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 2002 "an excellent, balanced, and sober approach to this complicated problem. Overall, the text presents a comprehensive view of the current state of knowledge about hypochondriasis as well as some specific recommendations for the future directions of research in the field. I would certainly endorse the book as required reading for consultation-liason psychiatry fellowships and perhaps some sections for primary care residency programs."--Psychiatric Services



Book Information
ISBN 9780195126761
Author Vladen Starcevic
Format Hardback
Page Count 416
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 821g
Dimensions(mm) 166mm * 239mm * 32mm