This famous and bestselling book, recounting Norman Cousins' partnership with his doctors in overcoming a crippling and supposedly irreversible disease, is now available in a beautifully bound special gift edition. Anatomy of an Illness illustrates the life-saving benefits to be gained through taking responsibility for one's own well-being.
The best-selling, groundbreaking classic by Norman Cousins on combating life-threatening illness through humor and patient participation in care. Anatomy of an Illness was the first book by a patient that spoke to our current interest in taking charge of our own health. It started the revolution in patients working with their doctors and using humor to boost their bodies' capacity for healing. When Norman Cousins was diagnosed with a crippling and irreversible disease, he forged an unusual collaboration with his physician, and together they were able to beat the odds. The doctor's genius was in helping his patient to use his own powers: laughter, courage, and tenacity. The patient's talent was in mobilizing his body's own natural resources, proving what an effective healing tool the mind can be. This remarkable story of the triumph of the human spirit is truly inspirational reading.
Why do some people find and sustain hope during difficult circumstances, while others do not? What can we learn from those who do, and how is their example applicable to our own lives? The Anatomy of Hope is a journey of inspiring discovery, spanning some thirty years of Dr. Jerome Groopman’s practice, during which he encountered many extraordinary people and sought to answer these questions. This profound exploration begins when Groopman was a medical student, ignorant of the vital role of hope in patients’ lives–and it culminates in his remarkable quest to delineate a biology of hope. With appreciation for the human elements and the science, Groopman explains how to distinguish true hope from false hope–and how to gain an honest understanding of the reach and limits of this essential emotion.
Discusses evidence that positive attitudes enhance the human immune system and that hope, love, laughter, and determination can help combat serious disease
Discusses how to avoid harmful medical mistakes, offering advice on such topics as working with a busy doctor, communicating the full story of an illness, evaluating test risks, and obtaining a working diagnosis.
Many published books that comment on the medical model have been written by doctors, who assume that readers have the same knowledge of medicine, or by those who have attempted to discredit and attack the medical practice. Both types of book have tended to present diagnostic categories in medicine as universally scientifically valid examples of clear-cut diseases easily distinguished from each other and from health; with a fixed prognosis; and with a well-understood aetiology leading to disease-reversing treatments. These are contrasted with psychiatric diagnoses and treatments, which are described as unclear and inadequate in comparison. The Medical Model in Mental Health: An Explanation and Evaluation explores the overlap between the usefulness of diagnostic constructs (which enable prognosis and treatment decisions) and the therapeutic effectiveness of psychiatry compared with general medicine. The book explains the medical model and how it applies in mental health, assuming little knowledge or experience of medicine, and defends psychiatry as a medical practice.
The prospect of caring for acutely ill patients has the potential to overwhelm students and newly qualified health professionals, with many reporting feelings of stress, fear and inexperience. In this context, Acute Illness Management arrives as an important and much needed text covering the fundamental aspects of care in the hospital setting. This book is designed to address the student′s needs by equipping them with a practical understanding of the essential skills ranging from resuscitation to early intervention and to trauma care. It explains the rationale behind the key protocols of care highlighting the relationship between theory and practice. Key features include: -Up-to-date legal and ethical content. -Tips for analysing care decisions in a critical and effective manner, and -Reflective activities and self-assessment questions to cement learning. Acute Illness Management is an invaluable resource for students and qualified practitioners in nursing and other health professions.