Autopsy of a Suicidal Mind
Edwin S. Shneidman, Ph.D., 2004, Oxford University Press.
Autopsy of a Suicidal Mind is a uniquely intensive psychological analysis of a suicidal mind. In this poignant scientific study, the author assembles an extraordinary cast of eight renowned experts to analyze the suicidal materials, including a ten-page suicide note, given to him by a distraught mother looking for insights into her son's tragic death. Each of the eight experts offers a unique perspective and the sum of their conclusions constitutes an extraordinary psychological autopsy. This book is the first of its kind and a remarkable contribution to the study of suicide. Mental health professionals, students of human nature, and persons whose lives have been touched by this merciless topic will be mesmerized and enlightened by this unique volume.
A Commonsense Book of Death
Edwin S. Shneidman, Ph.D., 2008, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Edwin Shneidman's final living contribution to the field of suicidology is A Commonsense Book of Death, in which the preeminent thanatologist and founding father of suicidology offers what is, in his own terms, his auto-obituary.
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Comprehensive Textbook of Suicidology
Ronald W. Maris, Ph.D., Alan L. Berman, Ph.D., & Morton M. Silverman, M.D., 2000, Guilford Publications.
This volume presents an authoritative overview of current scientific knowledge about suicide and suicide prevention. Multidisciplinary and comprehensive in scope, the book provides a solid foundation in theory, research, and clinical applications.
Handbook of Depression
Ian H. Gotlib and C.L. Hammen, 2002, Guilford Publications.
This comprehensive, state-of-the-art handbook synthesizes the full breadth of contemporary knowledge about depression. Bringing together leading depression researchers and clinical practitioners, the volume offers in-depth coverage of the epidemiology, course, and outcome of depressive disorders; current issues in classification, assessment, and diagnosis; vulnerability and risk factors; models of depression, including psychological and biological perspectives; and effective approaches to prevention and treatment. Described are current approaches to pharmacotherapy, innovations in understanding and treating child and adolescent depression as well as the assessment and management of suicidality.
How I Stayed Alive While My Brain Was Trying to Kill Me
Susan Rose Blauner, 2002, HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
The book, How I Stayed Alive When My Brain Was Trying to Kill Me, is a “how to” guide on coping with suicidal thoughts by Susan Rose Blauner, someone who struggled for years with suicidal thoughts and behavior of her own.
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The International Handbook of Suicide and Attempted Suicide
Keith Hawton, M.D. & Kees Van Heeringen (Eds.), 2000, New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Authoritative handbook of current knowledge on the incidence of suicide and attempted suicide. Discusses the biological, genetic, psychological, and sociological processes related to suicidal behavior and the practical assessment and treatment of suicidal individuals. For clinicians, students, and researchers.
Katie's Diary (Death, Dying and Bereavement)
David Lester (Ed.), 2003, Brunner-Routledge.
Katie's Diary presents a collection of experts’ reviews of, interpretations of, and insights into the five notebook diary spanning nearly two years prior to the death by suicide of “Katie.” This book is an excellent resource that provides clear and concise interpretations of Katie from a plethora of perspectives and psychological theories.
New Hope for People With Bipolar Disorder
Jan Fawcett, M.D., Bernard Golden, Ph.D., Nancy Rosenfeld, & Frederick K. Goodwin, 2000, Prima Publishing.
This book includes the latest psychiatric findings and treatments in the author's multidimensional approach to expel the myths and fears surrounding bipolar disorder. Treatment options covered include drugs, nutrition, psychotherapy, diet, and lifestyle changes, which the authors address clinically and personally, offering compassionate and insightful suggestions for everyone affected by the disease.
New Hope for People with Depression
Marian Broida and Francis Mark Mondimore, 2001 Prima Publishing.
This book dispels the myths, answers your questions, and clearly examines the challenges of dealing with depression and what you can do to manage this common condition. Inside is compassionate, practical, and immediate guidance for anyone interested in overcoming depression.
Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide
Kay Redfield Jamison, Ph. D., 2000, New York: Alfred Knopf.
The author strikes a perfect balance between dispassion and passion in presenting scientific, historical and statistical information about mental illnesses and the search for treatments that will prevent suicide. Recommended for all medical doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, school administrators, and students.
The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression
Andrew Solomon, 2001, New York: Scribner.
The author shares his story of depression, brought to light by his mother's ovarian cancer leading to her suicide. Depression causes Solomon to contemplate death while avoiding all pleasures in life such as friends, family, and food. He attempts to define this complicated disease through interviews with researchers, doctors, patients, and politicians. Throughout his exploration, he clearly shows depression as an illness without class, geographical or timely boundaries.
November of the Soul: The Enigma of Suicide
George Howe Colt, 2006, Scribner.
Written by a writer for Life magazine, this well-researched book covers all aspects of suicide, including its social, cultural, and legal history; the biological and psychological research available; attempts at prevention; the right-to-die movement; and the effects on survivors.
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Reducing Suicide: A National Imperative
Sara K. Goldsmith, T.C. Pellmar, A.M. Kleinman, W.E. Bunney (Eds.), 2002 National Academies Press.
Rich in data, this book strikes an intensely personal chord, featuring compelling quotes about people's experiences with suicide. It explores the factors that raise a person's risk of suicide: psychological and biological factors including substance abuse, the link between childhood trauma and later suicide, and the impact of family life, economic status, religion, and other social and cultural conditions. This new volume will be of special interest to policy makers, administrators, researchers, practitioners, and journalists working in the field of mental health.
The Suicidal Mind
Edwin S. Shneidman, 1996, New York: Oxford University Press.
This groundbreaking work presents cases that reveal the inner workings of the suicidal mind, and offers practical, explicit steps to assist in treating a suicidal individual.
Suicidology: Essays in Honor of Edwin S. Shneidman
Antoon Leonaars, (Ed.), 1993, New Jersey: Jason Aronson.
Represents the current state of our understanding of suicide and the practice of suicide prevention. The 23 chapters, written by foremost experts in the field, cover topics from history to psychology of survivors.
Understanding Suicide: Why we don't and how we might
By James R. Rogers & David Lester, 2010, Hogrefe
This provocative and erudite book highlights theoretical and methodological challenges that have plagued and continue to plague the field of suicidology. The basic premise is that recent research has not served to advance our understanding of suicidal behavior, but tends to repeat older research, often apparently without awareness that we are often merely "reinventing the wheel." As the authors maintain: "Very little of consequence has appeared in suicidology for many years - no new theory and no ground-breaking research."
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Waking Up: Climbing Through the Darkness
Terry L. Wise, 2003, Pathfinder Publishing of CA.
This compelling narrative of a woman's near-fatal deliberate overdose following the death of her husband provides an emotionally honest road map for using therapy to treat depression and restore hope. Honest, jargon-free, and written from a patient's perspective, this work explores a range of issues underlying depression, including child abuse, loss, long-term caregiving, and bereavement.
Why People Die by Suicide
Thomas Joiner, 2006, Harvard University Press.
Written with the purpose of reaching both the layperson with little to no knowledge of suicide as well as the seasoned scientist or clinician with years of experience and study, Joiner provides an informative and engaging fresh look at this perplexing social problem. Basing his theory on a primarily cognitive-behavioral framework, the author explains that for an individual to die by suicide, he or she must have both the desire for death as well as the capability for lethal self-injury.
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