Chinese Medical Psychiatry: A Textbook and Clinical Manual

Rating:
Summary: Interesting!!!
Review: "Chinese Medical Psychiatry" is a review and synthesis of east and western therapeutics.

Rating:
Summary: poor quality
Review: The information I found in this book was highly inadequate. It was simply a blown out of proportion version of what any beginner in TCM knows the seven spirits and points to needle, I believe I've learned more reading articles posted on the net

Rating:
Summary: probably the best that's out there ...
Review: This both is an interesting introduction to the theory of treating 'mental/emotional' disorders, and a useful collection of case studies. Unfortunately it bypasses entirely important clinical concerns.
For example, the book discusses 'Dian Kuang' ('Withdrawl and Mania'), but treats them only as separate diagnostic and treatment categories; there is no discussion on the extremely important concern of treatment of those who cycle regularly between the two, and no reference to special concerns for treating children and adolescents with this disorder (many of whom cycle rapidly, as often as several times a day) - any formula treating these patients will have to address both the mania and withdrawl, but no discussion of this is included, and the reader is left to try to sift through case histories to gain small amounts of helpful information.
So, at one level, this book is a serious disappointment; like too many texts that attempt an overview of an extremely complex field, it covers too broadly, with significant gaps.
It is still a good reference book, though, and the case history sections give plenty of material for further study, but it is not a textbook one can rely on for thorough introduction or coverage of this subject area.
David A. Dawson, Ph.D., M.Ac., M.T.C.M.