Understanding and Treating Mental Illness

Understanding and Treating Mental Illness

John M. Cleghorn, M.D., Betty Lou Lee

Toronto: Hogrefe & Huber Publishers, 237 pp., 1991

This book emerges from the work of the Scientific Council of the Canadian Psychiatric Association, chaired by Dr. John Cleghorn, who with Betty Lou Lee has edited this excellent book.

The book is sub-titled “Understanding and Treating Mental Illness”; it is written to give an understanding of mental illness to those suffering from mental illness and for those interested members of the general public. It will be of particular value to the families of people who are unfortunate enough to have a member who is mentally ill.

Although, the book is a product of a committee, it has been superbly edited; it is very readable, indeed, I found it a pleasure to read.

It reviews all the major categories of mental illness, including chapters on personality disorders, addictions, Aids, sexual abuse, etc. After general discussion of each disorder it looks at causes, various treatment approaches, recent research where applicable, and ends with references to further information sources, including addresses of organizations associated with a specific condition.

This book should be read by all people involved with mental illness, and mental health in its broadest sense. It should be available in all hospitals, clinics and libraries.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, found it easy to read and sincerely hope that it will receive wide distribution. A book of this nature, which explains the strengths and limits of modern psychiatry, has long been needed.