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Reviewed
by WJC
This will be an extremely useful book both for people
suffering from serious body concerns and for the mental health
professionals working with them. It adds to the small collection
of literature in this specific area with a compassionate
and hopeful approach to a spectrum of disorders that focus
on disabling preoccupations with body parts.
Standardized tests and questionnaires help individuals
and their therapists to identify the particular place they
may occupy on a continuum and give clear directions on how
to proceed. A variety of colourful and believable case histories
are presented at the beginning of the book and used throughout
to illustrate the tests and treatment strategies The treatment
approach is cognitive/behavioral, with an emphasis on practical
worksheets and exercises.. Mindfulness and some gentle activism
are also introduced as methods of expanding awareness and
promoting a sense of control.
There is a good chapter on issues particularly applicable
to males, pointing out that BDD is an equal opportunity disorder,
affecting both genders to roughly the same extent . I particularly
liked the section aimed at helping people decide about change
---do they want it? is it worth the effort? are they ready
to change now? It recognizes the difficulty of change and
helps lessen the possibility of setting up failure.
There's also a good section towards the end with
useful tips on maintaining gains and relapse prevention,
as well as an excellent bibliography in a range of related
areas. The authors have a depth of experience in this field,
the book is well set out, easy to read and gives lots of
practical advice in this important area.
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