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Head First

A Psychiatrist's Stories of Mind and Body
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Head First by Dr Alastair Santhouse explores the profound connection between our mental and physical health. Drawing on his extensive experience as a psychiatrist, Santhouse presents compelling clinical stories that reveal how our emotions shape our understanding of symptoms, influence treatments, and even affect symptom development. The book addresses challenging topics like suicide, obesity stigma, and chronic fatigue, highlighting the limitations of current medical specialisation and emphasising the importance of the mind in wellbeing.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This insightful work is ideal for readers interested in health, wellness, psychology, and medicine, as well as anyone seeking a deeper understanding of how mind and body interact in health.

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An exquisitely written exploration of the connections between physical and mental health.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

What does it mean to be well? Is it something in our body? Or, is it rather something subjective – something of the mind?

In this profound collection of clinical stories, eminent psychiatrist Dr Alastair Santhouse draws on his experience of treating thousands of hospital patients to show how our emotions are inextricably linked to our physical wellbeing.

Our minds shape the way we understand and react to symptoms that we develop, dictate the treatments we receive, and influence whether they work. They even influence whether we develop symptoms at all.

Written with brutal honesty, deep compassion, and a wry sense of humour, Head First examines difficult cases that illuminate some of our most puzzling and controversial medical issues – from the tragedy of suicide, to the stigma surrounding obesity, to the ongoing misery of chronic fatigue. Ultimately, he finds that our medical model has failed us by promoting specialization and overlooking perhaps the single most important component of our health: our state of mind.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781838950323

Publisher: Atlantic Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 15 July 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Atlantic Books

Edition: Export/Airside

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 24.0mm

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 495g

Pages: 320

About the Author

Alastair Santhouse is a consultant psychiatrist at both Guy's Hospital and the Maudsley Hospital in London. He was Vice Chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists Faculty of Liaison Psychiatry between 2013 and 2017, and in 2016 was elected President of the Psychiatry Section of the Royal Society of Medicine. His clinical work focusses on the intersection of physical and mental health.

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  • Head First
    Wise, timely and eloquent... A joy to read. - Guardian What does it mean to be well? Is it something in our body? Or, is it rather something subjective - something of the mind? In this profound collection of clinical stories, eminent psychiatrist Dr Alastair Santhouse draws on his experience of treating thousands of hospital patients to show how our...
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