Sexuality And Serious Mental Illness

Reflecting current understanding of the complexities of sexual activity among persons with chronic mental illness, the text draws upon the collective wisdom and experience of experts from a variety of settings. Clinicians, advocates, consumers, researchers, legal experts, and administrators all contribute to document the concerns about sexual behavior and the consequent health risks for this at-risk population. The research presented here is particularly timely in view of recent emphases on patient choice, recovery, and advocacy, and can be used to provide guidance to clinicians, mental health administrators, policymakers, advocates, and researchers.

Reflecting current understanding of the complexities of sexual activity among persons with chronic mental illness, the text draws upon the collective wisdom and experience of experts from a variety of settings. Clinicians, advocates, consumers, researchers, legal experts, and administrators all contribute to document the concerns about sexual behavior and the consequent health risks for this at-risk population. The research presented here is particularly timely in view of recent emphases on patient choice, recovery, and advocacy, and can be used to provide guidance to clinicians, mental health administrators, policymakers, advocates, and researchers.

Although a substantial amount of media and professional attention has been devoted to the incidence of sexual abuse in the population at large, the plight of those who have suffered abuse and are seriously mentally ill has largely been ignored. Adding to the existing literature on trauma, this book exposes the prevalence of physical and emotional abuse among severely mentally ill patients, and includes case studies that reveal its tragic and devastating impact. Offering chapters on theory and assessment of abused women, this book explores services that are available to them, discusses treatment (including inpatient and cognitive-behavioral approaches), and addresses recommendations for the improvement of both policy and research.

This handbook is the definitive resource for understanding current mental health policy controversies, options, and implementation strategies. It offers a thorough review of major issues in mental health policy to inform the policy-making process, presenting the pros and cons of controversial, significant issues through close analyses of data. Some of the topics covered are the effectiveness of various biomedical and psychosocial interventions, the role of mental illness in violence, and the effectiveness of coercive strategies. The handbook presents cases for conditions in which specialized mental health services are needed and those in which it might be better to deliver mental health treatment in mainstream health and social services settings. It also examines the balance between federal, state, and local authority, and the financing models for delivery of efficient and effective mental health services. It is aimed for an audience of policy-makers, researchers, and informed citizens that can contribute to future policy deliberations.

The constantly-changing field inspired the second edition of Handbook of Clinical Sexuality for Mental Health Professionals. In a state-of-the-art guide, Dr. Levine and his associates continue to help professionals with the assessment and treatment of a large array of sexual concerns. Written in a personal, supervisory style, the book will help new therapists anticipate clinical contingencies and help experienced therapists refine their thinking and teaching. Easily accessible, the Handbook is divided into six major sections with helpful annotated references: Being a Therapist; Intimacy; Sexual Dysfunction; Sexual Identity Struggles; The Forgotten; and Additional Vital Topics. Twenty-one chapters have been thoroughly revised and updated, and five new ones have been added. These focus on gay and lesbian life, transitioning to single life, cancer survivorship, the sexual issues of the developmentally challenged, and sex among the aging.

Sexuality is an integral part of gender identity, self-image, and overall well-being. Sexual dysfunctions present in all cultures and ethnicities around the world. Sexual problems have an especially high prevalence among patients with psychiatric syndromes -- yet, in recent years, the field of psychiatry has shifted away from the treatment of sexual disorders. Clinical Manual of Sexual Disorders is the first comprehensive text in decades to address the management and treatment of sexual dysfunctions and disorders. Using a conceptual model that incorporates biological, psychological, and cultural interventions as its guiding principle, the book explores and evaluates the epidemiology of sexual disorders and paraphilias, sexual dysfunctions with comorbid psychiatric disorders, sexual problems associated with various medications, and sexual disorders in specific patient populations. Written by 25 contributing clinical specialists from around the world, the text combines conceptual shifts within the field of human sexuality with the latest research findings into a practical three-part volume. The first four chapters cover general areas relevant to the clinical understanding of human sexuality and sexual dysfunctions within the frame of psychiatry. The second part of the book outlines the major sexual dysfunctions, including male erectile disorder, female arousal disorder, premature ejaculation, and paraphilias. And the final chapters address the management of sexual issues in two unique patient populations that are often neglected in other textbooks -- children and adolescents and older adults. The book includes several unique features to further enhance learner retention Tables, charts, figures, and illustrations to enhance the reading material Evaluations, questionnaires and other patient materials Take-away points on key clinical issues at the end of each chapter Case examples from the authors' own practices References for further reading Restoration of sexual function can improve the quality of life for many individuals with and without psychiatric disorders, making recognition and treatment of sexual problems of utmost importance to any general psychiatric practice. As the only text of its kind, Clinical Manual of Sexual Disorders provides a concise, clinically-oriented biopsychosocial guide to the management and treatment of sexual dysfunction that is appropriate for all psychiatric, clinical, and educational settings.

Contemporary scholars have begun to explore non-normative sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in a growing victimization literature, but very little research is focused on LGBTQ communities’ patterns of offending (beyond sex work) and their experiences with police, the courts, and correctional institutions. This Handbook, the first of its kind in Criminology and Criminal Justice, will break new ground by presenting a thorough treatment of all of these under-explored issues in one interdisciplinary volume that features current empirical work.

Questions of sexuality and gender affect everyone and therefore have an inevitable relevance in the consulting room. Yet with interpretations and manifestations of both varying greatly from person to person, understanding the inherent complexities of sexuality and gender can be a daunting task for the health professional. Breaking down these complexities this practical guide familiarises the reader with all of the common and many of the less common sexualities, genders and relationship forms, and explains experiences and issues relating to each. The book contains: -Explanations of various forms of sexuality, gender and relationship structures -Common concerns relating to specific groups -Key practises relating to specific groups -The treatment of specific groups in contemporary Western society -Details of some rules and ideals that are commonly found within specific groups -Suggestions for professional practice with these groups Ideal for all members of the multidisciplinary team, this accessible book is relevant to practitioners across theoretical backgrounds. Whether you are a trainee or qualified psychotherapist, counsellor, nurse, medic, psychiatrist, social worker or applied psychologist, this is a vital text for your professional practice. CHRISTINA RICHARDS is Senior Specialist Psychology Associate at the West London Mental Health NHS Trust (Charing Cross) Gender Identity Clinic. MEG BARKER is a senior lecturer in psychology at the Open University and a sex and relationship therapist.