Review
Help! I Think I'm Dying! Panic Attacks and Phobias is acclaimed by internationally recognized psychiatrists as an "...outstanding consumer guide. A good informative read ...that will help the public ...distinguish between the quackery being sold to them and the legitimate effective treatments ...available."

This is a practical guide for individuals seeking mental health care for the treatment of panic attacks. The guide is accompanied by a videotape that covers similar material and also shows vignettes of patients describing their anxiety disorders and subsequent treatment. The guide serves to educate the lay person about the causes of panic attacks and phobias. It also provides detailed information about how to select a mental health professional who will satisfy an individual's specific treatment needs. The author addresses frequently asked questions regarding treatment of panic attacks and aims to dispel myths about the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders. The guide and video are targeted for individuals and their families who are seeking treatment for anxiety disorders. The guide includes a useful glossary of terminology that individuals may encounter when seeking treatment. Throughout the guide, the author quotes statistics but does not cite the references, and the chapters do not have adequate headings to introduce topics. In the video, the type on the slides is small and difficult to read. The guide is a useful overview of the etiology and treatment of panic attacks and some anxiety disorders. The author espouses a biological view of the etiology of these disorders, but does allow for the influence of environmental factors. However, the author's explanation of the brain and its functions as related to anxiety may be too sophisticated for some readers. Moreover, the author's bias toward hierarchy in the mental health field permeates the tone of the guide; the reader will come away believing that only psychiatrists are adequately trained to treat panic attacks.
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