McCrea delivers a comprehensive, state of the art review of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and post-concussion syndrome (PCS) in about 200 pages. A succinct writing style characterizes “Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Postconcussion Syndrome: The New Evidence Base for Diagnosis and Treatment” cover to cover.
Despite this brevity, McCrea manages to adequately cover a wide range of topics and issues surrounding mTBI/PCS, including, for example, epidemiology, current definitions/diagnoses, neurophysiology, neuroimaging, acute and chronic symptoms, and clinical case management. Though geared more for healthcare professionals, educated lay-persons may find this book to be very readable and informative.
McCrea navigates and reviews key research to help the reader arrive at an evidenced-based understanding of mTBI/PCS. Throughout the book, the author builds the case that PCS is best thought of and treated through biopsychosocial and/or neuropsychological perspectives, as opposed to the traditional medical model views (strictly biological/neurological). In fact, McCrea advocates that PCS should be reclassified as an undifferentiated somatoform disorder* based on the current available evidence.
Keep in mind that this book is not intended to guide or promote psychological/neuropsychological treatments of mTBI/PCS; rather, this is a scholarly (yet practical) investigation into the nature of mTBI and the perplexing symptoms of PCS.
In summary, “Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Postconcussion Syndrome: The New Evidence Base for Diagnosis and Treatment” is a highly recommended book for psychologists, neuropsychologists, physicians, and researchers.
On personal note: I have a strong interest in mTBI/PCS. My dissertation topic is “Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation for Mild Traumatic Brian Injury and Post-Concussion Syndrome” with soldiers that returned from the current Middle East conflicts. McCrea’s book turned out to be undoubtedly the most valuable mTBI/PCS resource I located for my dissertation. mTBI/PCS is extremely complex and this book helped me wrap my head around the various issues associated with these disorders.
Complete details, including cost, of this book can be found at Amazon.
Enjoy.
Reference
McCrea, M. (2008). Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Postconcussion Syndrome: The New Evidence Base for Diagnosis and Treatment. Oxford University Press (Oxford Workshop Series): New York.
*Undifferentiated somatoform disorder is characterized by (summarized) 1 or more physical complaints (fatigue, loss of appetite, gastrointestinal, or urinary) lasting at least 6 months that cannot be explained by a medical evaluation and is not faked. See the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR Fourth Edition (Text Revision) for a completion definition.
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