Book Reviews
Instant Psychopharmacology
By James K Luiselli EdD ABPP BCBA-D
“Instant Psychopharmacology” By Ronald J. Diamond, M.D. W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. New York, N.Y., 2009 Medications thoroughly examined in useful book Reviewed By James K. Luiselli, Ed.D., ABPP, BCBA-D Mental health professionals who are non-physicians should be knowledgeable about psychotropic medications. Indeed, pharmacotherapy is often used in conjunction with psychosocial intervention. Ronald J. Diamond, M.D. writes that the premise of his book, “is that medications will be most useful if the people taking them and the non-medical clinicians with whom they work know as much as possible about what medications can do to help and what problems medications can [More]
Treating Substance Use Disorders with Adaptive Continuing Care
By James K Luiselli EdD ABPP BCBA-D
Treating Substance Use Disorders with Adaptive Continuing Care By James R. McKay American Psychological Association Washington, D.C., 2009 Book’s focus will resonate with scientist-practitioners Reviewed By James K. Luiselli, Ed.D., ABPP, BCBA-D Some people who have substance use disorders (alcohol and drugs) respond positively to brief therapeutic intervention. However, other people are not able to sustain sobriety without intensive long-term treatment. As psychologist James R. McKay states in the introduction to his book, “There is now widespread acceptance that addiction is often a chronic problem characterized by increased vulnerability to relapse that can persist over many years.” McKay wrote the [More]
The Glass Ceiling in the 21st Century: Understanding Barriers to Gender Inequality
By Paul Efthim PhD
“The Glass Ceiling in the 21st Century: Understanding Barriers to Gender Inequality” Edited by Manuela Barreto, Michelle K. Ryan & Michael T. Schmitt American Psychological Association Washington, D.C., 2009 Compelling volume looks at discrimination in the workplace Reviewed By Paul Efthim, Ph.D. Recent references to the “glass ceiling” in public discourse suggest that women finally are breaking through this longstanding barrier. On the cover of the January 2 issue of the Economist, a wartime Rosie the Riveter flexes her bicep, declaring “We Did It!” An accompanying editorial notes that women now make up the majority of the American workforce, gushing [More]
Case Studies in Emotion-Focused Treatment of Depression: A Comparison of Good and Poor Outcome
By James K Luiselli EdD ABPP BCBA-D
Case Studies in Emotion-Focused Treatment of Depression: A Comparison of Good and Poor Outcome By Jeanne C. Watson, Rhonda N. Goldman, and Leslie S. Greenberg American Psychological Association Washington, D.C., 2007 Depression treatment method examined in book Reviewed By James K. Luiselli, Ed.D., ABPP, BCBA Depression is a frequent clinical problem seen by mental health professionals. This book has to do with a specific therapeutic approach called Emotion-Focused Treatment (EFT). The theory behind EFT is that “depression arises from problems in affect regulation and results from maladaptive, blocked and unprocessed emotional experience.” Accordingly, the purpose of the book is to [More]
Psychological and Physical Aggression in Couples: Causes and Interventions
By Paul Efthim PhD
“Psychological and Physical Aggression in Couples: Causes and Interventions” Edited by K. Daniel O’Leary and Erica M. Woodin American Psychological Association Washington, D.C., 2009 Domestic violence book helpful to clinicians By Paul Efthim, Ph.D. Do batterer intervention programs work? Not as much as we might think, according to a new book on aggression in couples. The rate at which batterer programs reduce recidivism is low, ranging between zero and five percent. Although any decrease in domestic violence is valuable, some observers argue that such programs – with their promise to reeducate offenders – inadvertently engender a false sense of hope [More]
Preventing Partner Violence: Research and Evidence-Based Intervention Strategies
By James K Luiselli EdD ABPP BCBA-D
“Preventing Partner Violence: Research and Evidence-Based Intervention Strategies” Edited by Daniel J. Whitaker and John R. Lutzker American Psychological Association Washington, D.C., 2009 Book alerts professional community about partner violence Reviewed By James K. Luiselli, Ed.D., ABPP, BCBA ntimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health problem. Whereas the earliest work on IPV focused on the harmful actions of men towards their female partners, the current clinical and research perspective is broader, including violence committed by women against men, within same-sex relationships and between adolescent partners. IPV remains a complex matter, not easily resolved, but better understood thanks to [More]