Psychiatric Epidemiology: Searching for the Causes of Mental Disorders

by Ezra Susser

Searching for the causes of mental disorders is as exciting as it it complex. The relationship between pathophysiology and its overt manifestations is exceedingly intricate, and often the causes of a disorder are elusive at best. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone trying to track these causes, whether they be clinical researchers, public health practitioners, or psychiatric epidemiologists-in-training. Uniting theory and practice in very clear language, it makes a wonderful contribution to both epidemiologic and psychiatric research. Rather than attempting to review the descriptive epidemiology of mental disorders, this book gives much more dynamic exposition of the thinking and techniques used to establish it.

Starting out by tracing the brief history of psychiatric epidemiology, the book describes the study of risk factors as causes of mental disorders. Subsequent sections discuss approaches to investigation of biologic, genetic, or social causes and the statistical analysis of study results. The book concludes by following some of the problems involved in the search for genetic causes of mental disorders, and more complex casual relationships.

516 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2006

Reviews

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Breaks down the elements of epidemiologic research design nicely, but often skims certain basic elements and details since it's geared towards an advanced epi audience. It also stops in the middle of explanation at times when it gets too advanced and then refers you to a later chapter. So there is some redundancy among chapters that could throw you off in your reading. I wasn't so into the constant reference to the Dutch Famine study, but that's one of Susser's famous studies so it makes sense. The charts tended to be dry, and in 2009 it would be nice to have color in a textbook. Otherwise, overall a good accompaniment to an advanced Epi class.

[Allan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A more nuanced approach to epidemiologic principles than Aschengrau or Rothman and Greenland. Gave me new insight into the use of the case-control design.