Review by Choice Review
In this formidable book, McNally (psychology, Harvard) deftly illustrates the difficulties of establishing clear boundaries between mental illness and the mental distress that is part of life. A noted researcher on post-traumatic stress disorder and a consultant to those revising the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, the author uses his expertise to illustrate the psychobiological, political, economic, and social factors that contribute to the problem of identifying disorders such as PTSD and what this can mean for treatment. Through his critical analysis of the literature, he also presents relevant research, especially in evolutionary psychology and genetics, to show how these fields may help create firmer, though by no means clear-cut, boundaries between mental disorder and distress in the future. Those with less experience in psychology and biology may find some of the scientific material difficult to grasp; however, McNally summarizes the information often, which is helpful. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals. A. L. Bizub Elmira College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
"The boundary between mental distress and mental illness will never be neat and clean," says Harvard professor McNally (Remembering Trauma) in this dense and well-researched scholarly work. He explores changes in society and science that influence how we distinguish disorder from distress. Though McNally serves as an advisor to the DSM (psychiatry's diagnostic bible), he warns against its over application and asks if we should look at mental illness as a spectrum, as we do physical illness; mild expressions would count (and, perhaps, their treatment would be reimbursed for by insurance companies) as much as severe cases. Alternately, the expansion of a disorder's definition, which would include more and more people, does a disservice to patients as well. McNally explores the genetic components of mental illness and looks to evolutionary psychology to explain its persistence. A standout chapter examines the social construction of mental disorders, comparing, for example, the ways that depression sufferers in China and the United States describe their symptoms. This is no pop psychology handbook and will not appeal to the casual reader, but those involved or interested in the field will find it useful. (Jan.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review by Library Journal Review
McNally (psychology, Harvard Univ.; Remembering Trauma), an adviser on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, calls himself a "friendly critic" of psychiatry. In eight compact, well-written chapters, he points out the high prevalence of mental disorder in the United States, the tendency to create diagnoses to fit with new pharmaceuticals, and the blurred line between distress and disorder that allows grief to be labeled depression and high spirits, or mania. McNally explains how homosexuality was removed from the list of disorders, how posttraumatic stress disorder was added, how the "recovered memory" phenomenon rose and fell, and much more. Together, biology, culture, politics, economics, and religion determine what is and isn't normal. VERDICT Essential for mental-health professionals, this remarkable book will give diligent lay readers a grasp of genetics, evolutionary psychology, and diagnostic controversies.-E. James Lieberman, George Washington Univ. Sch. of Medicine, Washington, DC (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
McNally (Psychology/Harvard Univ.;Remembering Trauma, 2003, etc.) takes a hard look at statistics that seem to indicate that "[m]adness...is rampant in America."At issue are the diagnostic guidelines used to determine what constitutes a "mental disorder." These are delineated by the American Psychiatric Association and codified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. (The DSM-V is scheduled to appear in 2013.) As someone who has been directly involved in updating the manual, the author struggles with a thorny question: "Does our system of diagnosing mental disorders fail to distinguish normal human suffering from genuine mental illness? Or are we really getting sicker?"Since the 1980 publication of DSM-III, critics have accused the profession of being self-interested, "expanding the boundaries of mental disorders" to "relatively trivial problems" such as "caffeine-induced sleep disorder" or blurring the difference between shyness and "social phobia." Yet people do seek psychological help in alleviating suffering, and eligibility for health-insurance coverage is dependent on the diagnosis they receive. While pharmaceutical companies may be charged with encouraging broad definitions of mental illness, the opposite is true of insurers. McNally reviews advances in the field since the publication of DSM-III, examining research in evolutionary psychology, the role of social norms in defining maladaptive behavior and the interplay of genetics and environment. He also points to how nonpsychiatric medicine has shifted the "boundary between health and sickness" by treating people with preventative medication for high blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol. Whether or notand howto treat psychological difficulties will remain a problem that individuals, medical professionals and society at large will grapple with, but McNally is optimistic.Compassionate and insightful.]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
