The Complete Guide to Mental Health for Women

by Slater, Lauren; Banks, Amy; Daniel, Jessica Henderson

• ISBN13: 9780807029251
• ISBN10: 0807029254
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-08-15
• Publisher: Beacon Press

Summary

Drawing on the latest thinking in psychiatry and psychology, and written for women of diverse backgrounds, this guide to women's mental health provides a comprehensive and readable overview to the psychological issues that concern women most.

Author Biography

Lauren Slater, Ed.D., is a psychologist and Knight-Ridder Science Journalist Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her writing has appeared in The Best American Science Writing 2002, and she is the author of numerous books, including Prozac Diary and Welcome to My Country.

Jessica Henderson Daniel, Ph.D., ABPP, is director of training in psychology at Children's Hospital, Boston, assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, and past president of the Society for the Psychology of Women in the American Psychological Association.

Amy Elizabeth Banks, M.D., is Medical Director for Mental Health at the Fenway Community Health Center, an instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and a faculty member at the Jean Baker Miller Training Institute.

Table of Contents

Introduction	vii
PART ONE: PSYCHOLOGY AND THE LIFE CYCLE
Life Stages
Late Adolescence and Early Adulthood	1	(5)
Pregnancy as a Life Passage	6	(4)
Living with Infertility	10	(8)
Becoming a Mother	18	(13)
Adoption	31	(9)
Choosing Childlessness	40	(8)
Issues for Women in Middle Age	48	(3)
The Fires of Menopause	51	(5)
Older Adulthood	56	(9)
A Guide to Grief and Bereavement	65	(9)
Life Issues: Sexuality
How Do We Define Sexual Health for Women?	74	(8)
Female Sexuality	82	(10)
Life Issues: Relationships
Growth in Connection	92	(8)
Women of Color and Relationships	100	(4)
Intimate Relationships	104	(17)
Adjusting to Divorce	121	(6)
Anger	127	(7)
Life Issues: Traumatic Experience
Women and Trauma	134	(10)
Domestic Violence	144	(10)
Sexual Abuse and Rape	154	(10)
Child Abuse, Neglect, and Maltreatment	164	(9)
Terrorism	173	(4)
The Impact of Chronic and Debilitating Illnesses on Women's Mental Health	177	(8)
Social Contexts for Mental Health
Poverty and Women's Mental Health	185	(5)
Racism and Mental Health	190	(7)
PART TWO: MENTAL DISORDERS
Disorders across the Life Cycle
Anxiety Disorders	197	(7)
Depressive Disorders	204	(7)
Bipolar Disorder	211	(3)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder	214	(7)
Body Image	221	(7)
Eating Disorders and Disconnections	228	(10)
Women and Addictions	238	(12)
Schizophrenia	250	(3)
Disorders Relating to the Life Cycle
Marriage and Motherhood	253	(7)
Postpartum Depression	260	(6)
Menopause and Psychiatric Illness	266	(4)
Aging and Its Effects on Mood, Memory, the Brain, and Hormones	270	(6)
PART THREE: GETTING HELP
Table: Psychotropic Medications	276	(1)
Biological Treatments
Antidepressants	277	(4)
Antianxiety Medications	281	(2)
Mood Stabilizers	283	(4)
Antipsychotic Medications	287	(4)
Polypharmacy	291	(4)
Medications in Pregnancy	295	(5)
Complementary Treatments for Depression and Anxiety	300	(7)
Psychotherapeutic Treatments
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy	307	(7)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy	314	(8)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)	322	(5)
Insight-Oriented Psychotherapy	327	(6)
Group Psychotherapy with Women	333	(7)
Mechanics of Treatment
How to Find and Choose a Therapist	340	(4)
What to Expect from Ethical Psychotherapy	344	(11)
Questions to Ask a Psychiatrist	355	(8)
PART FOUR: LIFE ENHANCEMENTS
The Importance of Exercise and Physical Activity for Women	363	(6)
Stress Management for Women	369	(6)
Play	375	(4)
Women and Spirituality	379	(4)
Suggested Reading	383	(6)
Contributors	389	(4)
Index	393