Allen Frances
Chair of the DSM-IV Task Force and author of Saving Normal
Book Recommendations:
Recommended by Allen Frances
“Darwin's shocking discovery of the combined role of natural and sexual selection in shaping the evolution of homo sapiens revolutionized psychology every bit as much as biology. Freud was the first to apply Darwin's insights to the practice of clinical psychiatry, but many of his theories were limited by the science of his time. This book updates Darwin and Freud- providing a wonderful summary of how our evolutionary past inexorably influences our behavioural present. Great stuff for clinicians, patients, and anyone curious about human nature.” (from Amazon)
Riadh Abed, Paul St John-Smith(you?)
Riadh Abed, Paul St John-Smith(you?)
Evolutionary psychiatry attempts to explain and examine the development and prevalence of psychiatric disorders through the lens of evolutionary and adaptationist theories. In this edited volume, leading international evolutionary scholars present a variety of Darwinian perspectives that will encourage readers to consider 'why' as well as 'how' mental disorders arise. Using insights from comparative animal evolution, ethology, anthropology, culture, philosophy and other humanities, evolutionary thinking helps us to re-evaluate psychiatric epidemiology, genetics, biochemistry and psychology. It seeks explanations for persistent heritable traits shaped by selection and other evolutionary processes, and reviews traits and disorders using phylogenetic history and insights from the neurosciences as well as the effects of the modern environment. By bridging the gap between social and biological approaches to psychiatry, and encouraging bringing the evolutionary perspective into mainstream psychiatry, this book will help to inspire new avenues of research into the causation and treatment of mental disorders.
Recommended by Allen Frances
“Jacob Appel is a doctor, lawyer, bio-ethicist, and terrific writer—the perfect person to pose fascinating ethical conundrums and guide us toward practical answers. The biggest messes in modern medicine result when medical technology outpaces medical ethics. This lively book helps right the balance.” (from Amazon)
Jacob M. Appel MD(you?)
“An original, compelling, and provocative exploration of ethical issues in our society, with thoughtful and balanced commentary. I have not seen anything like it.” —Alan Lightman, author of Einstein’s Dreams Drawing upon the author’s two decades teaching medical ethics, as well as his work as a practicing psychiatrist, this profound and addictive little book offers up challenging ethical dilemmas and asks readers, What would you do?A daughter gets tested to see if she’s a match to donate a kidney to her father. The test reveals that she is not the man’s biological daughter. Should the doctor tell the father? Or the daughter?A deaf couple prefers a deaf baby. Should they be allowed to use medical technology to ensure they have a child who can’t hear? Who should get custody of an embryo created through IVF when a couple divorces? Or, when you or a loved one is on life support, Who says you’re dead? In short, engaging scenarios, Dr. Appel takes on hot-button issues that many of us will confront: genetic screening, sexuality, privacy, doctor-patient confidentiality. He unpacks each hypothetical with a brief reflection drawing from science, philosophy, and history, explaining how others have approached these controversies in real-world cases. Who Says You’re Dead? is designed to defy easy answers and to stimulate thought and even debate among professionals and armchair ethicists alike.