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Very good read. In this book, author Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. contends that many psychiatric patients are misdiagnosed, largely because those who determine the content of the DSM have chosen not to include a Developmental Trauma Disorder diagnosis. Without the clinician's option to diagnose Developmental Trauma Disorder, patients may be misdiagnosed as having ADHD, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, and many other anxiety-related labels, he says. He explains that a more accurate diagnosis could lead to more practical treatment. Citing numerous research studies, van der Kolk establishes a connection between mind and body and relates said connection to trauma at various stages of life -- from childhood abuse and neglect to war-related PTSD. Part of the joy of the read is van der Kolk's fairness in granting that some treatments such as eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) aren't yet fully understood even though they seem to be beneficial to many patients. Another part of the joy of the read is that the narratives and case studies sprinkled throughout the text keep the action flowing in a sea of statistical evidence. I'd recommend this book to clinicians, teachers, doctors, nurses, policemen, firemen, war veterans, parents, grandparents, and almost everyone else as I suspect we all either deal with our own trauma or know people who, as a result of their trauma, create chaos in others' lives. This book is enlightening and promotes hope for those who have experienced trauma.Read full review
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This book had fascinating illustrations of how trauma affects a person not only psychologically, but physically. It makes you understand why some people are the way they are---anti-social personalities, people with anger management issues, etc. It also gives some compelling evidence of unconventional therapy techniques that have shown great promise but discusses how our society seems to prefer lifelong treatment of a problem with drugs rather than treating the underlying cause and freeing a person from the burden of trauma that they carry with them throughout their lives. The author is a psychiatrist who specializes in treating trauma patients from early childhood through adulthood. Fascinating!
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I have PTSD and have been in therapy for 16 years. This book is a must read for sufferers and help providers alike. It is written by an extremely well qualified research scientist with many years of treating and research. The case studies are very interesting. He provides information from the medical and clinical viewpoint. The information on treatments and medications are very interesting. As a patient I find the history of treatment and discoveries of great interest as I have seen the developments from the patient side.
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This is a really great book that explains how trauma damages people. The brain doesn't heal from trauma unless it's "taught" to (this isn't in the book, it's my own opinion after 25 years of being a therapist." This is a great book that's eye opening and healing for many who have experienced any form of trauma. Some reactions are trauma based and some are psychiatric. There is a difference.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Finally, here is writing about the history of the PTSD diagnosis and how it came to be. And the compassion and caring that these psychiatrists and therapists and researchers express for their patients/clients is very touching. To me, it's as good a book as "The Road Less Traveled" by M. Scott Peck, MD. Easy to read, lots of case histories that actually make sense, and are to the point, and the history of research into causation and the relationship between early childhood trauma, and how the brain adapts in order to "function" after it interprets the trauma. Researchers are actually developing standards for measuring what used to be thought of as "immeasurable". As an accountant and financial analyst, it's the kind of stuff I LOVE!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
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