Doody's Review Service

Reviewer:	Aaron Plattner, MD (Network180 )

Description
This book examines "extreme beliefs", including delusions in many different facets that are often not considered to the detriment of the provider and the individual with the beliefs.

Purpose
The book offers a comprehensive, culturally-informed guide to managing delusions and other extreme beliefs in order to forge a path of effective practice for professionals as well as meaningful recovery for individuals. These are worthy objectives that are met through insightful examination of the nuances and multiple layers of delusions.

Audience
While the primary audience is mental health clinicians, those with loved ones who suffer from mental illness would also benefit from this book given the profound insights available. The book meets the needs of the intended audience and requires careful reading and reflection to achieve the maximum benefit. The editors have selected appropriate authors with expertise in their particular fields.

Features
This book is split into three sections. The first section examines how delusions are formed amongst various cultural, psychological, and environmental factors. The second section reviews the treatment of delusions including building appropriate rapport, cognitive-behavioral therapy for paranoia, different treatment approaches for different types of paranoia, and how trauma impacts delusions. The final section examines working with delusions in different settings such as forensics, within family contexts, and appropriate use of digital health technology. Each chapter ends with thought-provoking questions for discussion, key points, and references. Most chapters include helpful graphics and illustrations. A link is provided to watch various videos in order to demonstrate the written information.

Assessment
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as a psychiatrist who has struggled to connect and treat patients with delusional disorders. Given that the DSM-5 defines functionality and behavior of patients with delusional disorders as "not markedly impaired" and "not obviously bizarre or odd", along with the lack of consistently significant improvements with antipsychotics, it can be difficult to treat those who struggle with delusions. This book provides many insights that will provide clinicians with tools to best engage, empathize with, and understand patients in order to build therapeutic rapport in the hopes of better treatment outcomes.