| Abstract: | Reviews the book, The diagnosis and treatment of alcoholism (second edition) edited by Jack H. Mendelson and Nancy K. Mello (1985). This text is designed to be an authoritative handbook for practitioners in the field of alcohol abuse or a comprehensive textbook for graduate students. The target audience is physicians, nurses, psychologists, alcoholism counselors, social workers, and others involved in assessing and treating alcohol abuse. One way in which this text differs from many on the market is in its reliance on methodologically sound research as the basis for the recommendations and conclusions in most of the chapters, including objective discussions of controversial issues where the research data challenge commonly accepted assumptions in the alcohol field. The second edition of this volume provides valuable updating and expansion of the information presented in the widely used first edition. Overall, the second edition of this volume remains a leader in the field and will be valuable as a handbook for the clinician or textbook for the graduate seminar. The strengths of this volume are in the chapters that rely on a thorough knowledge of methodologically sound research, presented in a way that will be acceptable to clinical practitioners. Paraprofessionals may find this hard to read but advanced professionals will find the text useful. This edition remains superior to any other single resource which I can think of in the field. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
