SCIENCES

Is It All in Your Head? True Stories of Imaginary Illness

by Suzanne O'Sullivan
Other. Jan. 2017. 304p. ISBN 9781590517956. $26.95; ebk. ISBN 9781590517963. HEALTH
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Following her 2016 Wellcome Book Prize winner, It's All in Your Head, Epilepsy Society neurophysiology consultant O'Sullivan's latest encourages rethinking the ways in which the subconscious influences physical health, providing a catalyst for discussion about the intricacies of cognitive processes and the organic expressions of maladies. Unlike Jo Marchant's Cure, which concentrates on the mind's ability to alleviate illnesses, this title focuses more on cause rather than remedy. A major weakness is this work's lack of scientific research and data to support its conclusions. However, the anecdotal evidence of the case studies does invite a closer analysis of the origins of the patients' disorders, and the sympathetic tone of the author differs from the typical clinical attitudes toward the mind-body connection.
VERDICT With heavy emphasis on the medical theories of Jean-Martin Charcot, Pierre Janet, and Sigmund Freud, this book provides an appealing viewpoint for readers with a strong interest in psychology. It also allows those with medical conditions to explore any overlooked nonphysical causes of their ailments.
Reviewed by Bonnie Parker, Southern Crescent Technical Coll., Thomaston, GA , Aug 01, 2016
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