The Clinical Manual of Women's Mental Health offers essential 'need to know' information for significant questions of assessment and treatment encountered by practitioners on a daily basis. Covering the full span of biological and psychosocial concerns, these well written chapters and concise tables provide easy access to authoritative guidance for addressing psychiatric difficulties associated with menstrual cycles, contraception, infertility, pregnancy, breastfeeding, perimenopause, and cancer, as well as special implications for women of all of the major psychiatric disorders. You can be sure that this book will be within arm's reach in my office.—Joel Yager, M.D., Professor & Vice Chair, Education & Academic Affairs, Univ of New Mexico School of Med; Professor Emeritus, Dept of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sci, David Geffen School of Med, UCLA

The Clinical Manual of Women's Mental Health builds upon Burt and Hendrick's tradition: providing accurate, essential information clearly and concisely. Covering both mental health aspects of female reproductive function, and female-specific issues in the treatment of major mental illnesses, this volume is an excellent reference for medical and other mental health students and practitioners.—Nada L Stotland, M.D., M.P.H., Professor of Psychiatry and Obstetrics/Gynecology, Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois

The Clinical Manual of Women's Mental Health is a 'must have' for every clinician's desktop—a clear, concise update on topics ranging from premenstrual dysphoric disorder through female-specific cancers. Particularly valuable are the sections on psychiatric medications in pregnant and breastfeeding women and the use of hormones at menopause.—Mary V. Seeman, M.D., DSc, F.R.C.P., Professor Emerita, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto

This Clinical Manual of Women's Mental Health by Vivien Burt and Victoria Hendrick will help all clinicians involved in women's health navigate the complex mental health issues throughout the continuum of Women's Health. We have come to the realization that we cannot understand disease in the absence of the person behavior and the environment in which she/he lives. Some refer to this as the 'epigenetic' approach, since a person may have a genetic predisposition for a disease but not develop the disease. This paradox suggests that there are modifiers of risk and those events in our environment and our behaviors may determine this risk. This book provides many mental health profiles that are examples of this paradox. For example: the role of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can be use for the treatment of depression; however, could its use prior to conception and during pregnancy change the risk for maternal depression? This manual even points out the importance of 'periconception' (around conception) assessment and intervention to improve outcome for the infant. Is this the beginning of fetal programming to reduce subsequent risk during infancy and an individual's life span course? Improving women's mental health must be a priority to assure the health of our children and this manual will help clinicians achieve this goal.—Calvin J. Hobel, M.D., Miriam Jacobs Chair Maternal Fetal Medicine, Vice Chair Obstetrics & Gynecology, Cedars Sinai Med Center, Professor Obstetrics, Gynecology & Peds, David Geffen School Med UCLA

This book provides a concise, clearly written and practical guide to reproductive and gender influences on psychiatric disorders and their treatment. The authors combine careful distillation of research relevant to clinical practice with the wisdom of experience. Clinicians from beginners to the most seasoned will find useful information that will improve their care of women with reproductive and gender-linked psychiatric problems.—Laura J. Miller, M.D., Director, Women's Mental Health Program, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

Doctors Burt and Hendrick present an up-to-date review of topics in women's mental health in a pithy and eminently readable manner that makes the Clinical Manual of Women's Mental Health a tremendous resource for clinicians at all levels of experience. Aided by clear and concise tables, they provide a wealth of information on rapidly evolving subjects such as infertility, pregnancy loss, the treatment of pregnant and breastfeeding women, and perimenopause. They also share their considerable clinical expertise by providing practical tips on how to tailor the psychiatric evaluation to the special needs and concerns of women. Clinicians will find that this book enhances their ability to diagnose and treat female patients with sensitivity, compassion, and confidence.—Shari I. Lusskin, M.D., Director of Reproductive Psychiatry, Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Obstetrics & Gynecology, New York University School of Medicine, New York

This book is an excellent summary of a burgeoning area of psychiatry that has been overlooked for many years. The chapters addressing a woman's loss of pregnancy and infertility are especially useful and the information regarding medications and pregnancy and breastfeeding are quite valuable. It would be rare for a clinician to treat patients without encountering at least a few of these issues frequently, and this book touches on these topics without overwhelming the reader.—Doody's Book Review Service, 5/1/2007

The Clinical Manual of Women's Mental Health, in its clear layout and account, provides a clear and concise presentation of clinically significant considerations, and medical differential diagnoses that will be a most valuable book for other health workers as well as medicos, including non-prescribing professionals such as counselors, clinical psychologists, and social workers.This excellent book, an update of the second edition of the authors' Concise Guide to Women's Mental Health, should sit on the desks of every health professional. A most useful book indeed.—Metapsychology Online Reviews, 5/1/2007