Main description:

Gender has a fundamental influence on the human brain, not only by virtue of biological and hormonal differences between the sexes but also because of the impact of gender-specific cultural, social, anthropological and environmental factors. Nevertheless, the relation of gender and psychopathology remains a largely neglected field. Gender perspective has been treated as a paradigm in this book on psychopathology because it determines the way in which a psychiatric symptom is defined, perceived and understood. This conception of gender as being of key importance in the definition of psychiatric symptomatology is exceptional in the literature. The book opens by examining historical and cultural aspects of mental health in women worldwide and the relation of sex, brain and gender, with coverage of both neurobiological and psychosocial aspects. The significance of gender with regard to specific aspects of psychopathology is then addressed in detail. A wide range of psychological disorders are considered, as well as hormonal influences and issues concerning body image, self identity, sexuality and life instinct. It is hoped that this book will make a significant contribution in ensuring that gender perspective receives due attention within descriptive psychopathology.

Feature:

Draws attention to the central importance of gender in the definition of psychiatric symptomatology

Examines the significance of gender in relation to specific aspects of psychopathology and a wide range of psychological disorders

Aims to establish gender perspective as a key concept in descriptive psychopathology

Back cover:

Gender has a fundamental influence on the human brain, not only by virtue of biological and hormonal differences between the sexes but also because of the impact of gender-specific cultural, social, anthropological, and environmental factors. Nevertheless, the relation of gender and psychopathology remains a largely neglected field. Gender perspective has been treated as a paradigm in this book on psychopathology because it determines the way in which a psychiatric symptom is defined, perceived, and understood. This conception of gender as being of key importance in the definition of psychiatric symptomatology is exceptional in the literature.

The book opens by examining historical and cultural aspects of mental health in women worldwide and the relation of sex, brain, and gender, with coverage of both neurobiological and psychosocial aspects. The significance of gender with regard to specific aspects of psychopathology is then addressed in detail. A wide range of psychological disorders are considered, as well as hormonal influences and issues concerning body image, self identity, sexuality, and life instinct. It is hoped that this book will make a significant contribution in ensuring that gender perspective receives due attention within descriptive psychopathology.

Contents:

Historical and Cultural Aspects: Women and mental Health all over the world.- Sex, Brain and Gender: Neurobiology.- Sexual Differentiation of the Human Nervous System.- Psychosocial Aspects.- Specific Pathology in Women: Body Image, Corporality and Corporeality.- Body and corporality.- Concept and History of Body Image.- Body and Hysteria: Dissociated body.- Corporality and Trauma.- Dysmorphophobia: From Neuroticism to Psychoticism.- Self Identity and Gender differences.- Psychopathology of Eating Behavior.- Anorexia Nervosa.- Bulimia Nervosa.- Binge Eating Disorder.- Eating Disorder not otherwise specified.- Avoidant/ restrictive food intake disorders.- Psychopathology of Sexuality.- Psychopathology of Life Instinct.- Psychopathology associated to Hormonal Aspects: Relation of Estrogen, cycle phases and Psychopathology in Women.- Dysphoric Syndrome.- Depression during Pregnancy.- Postpartum and postnatal depression.- Puerperal Psychosis.- Menopause Depression.- Psychopathology and Gender in Psychiatric Syndromes and New Disorders: Mood Disorders.- Anxiety Disorders.- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.- Schizophrenia.- Bipolar Disorder.- Personality Disorders and Gender Differences.- Borderline Personality Disorder.- Addiction.- Social and cultural differences.- Somatomorphic and Factitious Disorders.- Psychopathology Gender, Creativity, Body Art and Feminism.- Controversial Aspects.