Even in today's more enlightened society, it takes courage for many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals to “come out of the closet” and embrace their sexual orientation and identity. Coming out, or facing internal and societal conflicts related to sexuality, involves a great deal of anxiety that can permeate other aspects of an LGBT individual's life—particularly when seeking psychiatric treatment. The goal of The LGBT Casebook is to help clinicians, trainees, and other mental health professionals address the mental health needs of LGBT people in the context of problems these individuals face in their everyday lives, including homophobia and discrimination. The LGBT Casebookbegins with five chapters devoted to basic concerns that affect LGBT populations, including coming out, heterosexist attitudes, the “don't ask, don't tell” mentality, legal issues, gay parenting, and sexual identity in patient-therapist relationships. In the rest of the book, clinician-authors present case studies of 20 patients with different DSM diagnoses, illuminating the impact of LGBT identity and illustrating a way of working with each presented patient. Features and benefits ofThe LGBT Casebookinclude: • Insights into the unique problems LGBT people face in their everyday lives when compared with heterosexual individuals. • Problems that are common to all LGBT individuals, such as the anxiety of being in the closet (hiding one's identity) or coming out (embracing one's identity). • Practitioners with little experience in working with the LGBT population can gain a better understanding of psychiatric diagnoses within the context of an LGBT individual's everyday life. • The book can be read cover-to-cover to gain insights into the full diversity of the LGBT population, or by specific chapters of interest to help with the diagnosis of a patient currently in treatment. • A glossary at the back of the book defines both clinical and colloquial terms and phrases that clinicians and patients use to define themselves and their peers. WhileThe LGBT Casebookis the ideal general overview and roadmap for the clinician new to treating LGBT patients, it also provides new pearls of wisdom and insights for psychiatrists, residents, medical students, nurses, and clinical social workers who are already familiar with working with the LGBT community. By introducing a diverse range of people, diagnoses, and presenting problems, it will serve as a valuable reference book for all mental health professionals when assessing and treating the mental health concerns of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender patients. Reviews: "The title of The LGBT Casebook does not do full credit to this rich source of information and clinical support for all health care professionals, at every stage of learning and practice. Given the prevalence of GLBT individuals in society, and the stresses to which their sexual orientations subject them, most of us will see GLBT patients, and few of us, whatever our own orientations, are prepared to offer them the expertise they deserve. It's all in this Casebook, in well-organized and eminently readable form. Kudos to editors Levounis, Drescher, and Barber. Their book should be on the bookshelf of each of us."—Nada L. Stotland, M.D., M.P.H., Professor of Psychiatry, Rush Medical College, President, American Psychiatric Association, 2008?2009 "A book that should be read by everyone! The LGBT Casebook brings homosexuality out of the psychiatric closet and into the 21st century. Based on solid evidence from the scientific literature, this book breaks common myths and stereotypes, helping the reader truly understand gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered women and men. It reaches deep into the mind of LGBT people to explore the psychological distress caused by homophobia and stigma; describes the “legal standing” of LGBT family relationships; and shows the practicing mental health clinician how to manage the most common psychiatric conditions affecting individuals in today's LGBT communities."—Analice Gigliotti, M.D., Past President, Brazilian Association on Studies of Alcohol and Other Drugs (ABEAD) "[For] difficulty in treating special populations, this book is a must. The case studies lend themselves to everyday problems, concerns, and solutions."—Steven S. Kipnis, M.D., FACP, FASAM, Medical Director, New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services Contents: Part I: Basic Principles. What’s in your closet? Coming out to self and others: developmental milestones. From outlaws to in-laws: legal standing of LGBT Americans’ family relationships. LGBT parenting. Sexual identity in patient-therapist relationships. Part II: Case Studies. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Substance dependence. Schizophrenia. Major depressive disorder. Dysthymic disorder. Bipolar disorder. Panic disorder. Obsessive-compulsive disorder. Posttraumatic stress disorder. Generalized anxiety disorder. Adjustment disorder. Borderline personality disorder. Parent-child relational problem. Partner relational problem. Bereavement. Occupational problem. Identity problem. Religious or spiritual problem. Acculturation problem. Phase of life problem. Glossary. Index. About the Editors: Petros Levounis, M.D., M.A.,is Director of the Addiction Institute of New York; Associate Chair for Clinical Services in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, and Chief of the Division of Addiction Psychiatry at St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospitals; and Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, NY. Jack Drescher, M.D.,is Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at New York Medical College, and Training and Supervising Analyst at the William A. White Institute in New York, NY. Mary E. Barber, M.D.,is Clinical Director of Rockland Psychiatric Center and Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, NY. |