The Hormone Factor in Mental Health: Bridging the Mind-Body Gap

Endocrine imbalances can cause a whole host of physical and mental health problems. Yet, there is currently no definitive source of information that shows how hormones can bridge the gap between mental health and medical health modalities. This book is a bold crossover between the disciplines of medical and mental health, exploring the understanding that some of the major mental diagnoses belong not only to the field of mental health but also to that of medicine. Clients with depression, anxiety, sexual dysfunction, infertility, suicidality, anger and rage, fatigue, apathy, cognitive impairments, confusion, eating disorders, and poor body image may actually be presenting symptoms of hormonal disorders. Beginning with patient stories that display the devastating effects of misdiagnosis and the struggle to obtain the correct treatment, it provides members of the mental health profession with an authentic understanding of the impact of endocrine imbalances and disorders. With contributions from some of the world's most respected physicians, psychiatrists and psychotherapists, it provides accurate medical and psychological information about hormone imbalances and disorders, how to recognise the signs in patients, and how to treat them effectively. A comprehensive resource that provides all the information needed to identify endocrine disorders in patients successfully; this book will be of immeasurable value to clinical psychologists, marriage and family therapists, social workers, doctors, nurses and mental health clinicians.

About the Author

Linda M. Rio, MA, is a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) at New Beginnings Counseling Center, Camarillo, California. She was the first mental health professional to serve on the non-profit organization, Pituitary Network Association's Board of Directors, and currently serves as their Director of Professional and Public Education. She has been an invited speaker for national, state, and local conferences, graduate and post-graduate educational institutions and others including: The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and The Collaborative Family Healthcare Association (CFHA). Linda served as President of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, California Division (AAMFT-CA), and Secretary of the board for the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT). She is a member of the Association for Collaborative Medical Care, AAMFT, CAMFT, Association for Play Therapy (APT) and International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (IAEDP). She has authored professional journal articles on the topics of pituitary disorders, child and adult trauma, and play therapy with children, as well as articles for the popular press. She co-authored, with her daughter, Tara Rio-Lorenze, The Anorexia Diaries: Triumph of a Mother and Daughter over Teenage Eating Disorders (Rodale, 2003) for which she received the CAMFT Clark Vincent Award in 2004 for her literary contributions to the field of Marriage and Family Therapy.