Book Review: Handbook of PTSD: Science and Practice

This book review is part of a series that covers the topic of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder / PTSD . Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Jef Gazley is t he Official Guide to Post-Taumatic Stress Disorder / PTSD . Handbook of PTSD: Science and Practice, edited by Matthew J. Friedman, Terence M. Keane and Patricia A. Resick, is a valuable resource for people interested in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment and it is available through Amazon and Barnes and Noble .

Unparalleled in its breadth and depth, this state-of-the-art handbook reviews the latest scientific advances in understanding trauma and PTSD, discusses the implications for clinical practice, and evaluates the status of evidence-based assessment and treatment. The foremost authorities in the field examine posttraumatic psychological reactions on multiple levels, from genes and neurocircuitry to gender and lifespan development. Established and emerging psychological, medical, and public health interventions are discussed in depth, as are issues in tailoring treatment to the needs of different populations. Special topics include forensic issues, resilience, and prevention. The integrative concluding chapter presents a reasoned agenda for future research.

Matthew J. Friedman, MD, PhD, is Executive Director of the National Center for PTSD, White River Junction VA Medical Center, and Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology, Dartmouth Medical School. He is a recipient of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) Lifetime Achievement Award, among many other honors.

Terence M. Keane, PhD, is Director of the National Center for PTSD, Behavioral Sciences Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, where he is also Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development, and Professor and Vice Chairman of Psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine. He is a recipient of the ISTSS Lifetime Achievement Award, among many other awards.

Patricia A. Resick, PhD, is Director of the National Center for PTSD, Women’s Health Sciences Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, and Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology at Boston University. She is a recipient of the ISTSS Robert S. Laufer Memorial Award for Outstanding Scientific Achievement.