--Margaret S. Chisolm, M.D.
International Review of Psychiatry, June 2011; 23: 310
BOOK REVIEW
Dinah Miller, Annette Hanson, and Steven Roy Daviss (2011). Shrink Rap: Three Psychiatrists Explain Their Work. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press (272 pages; 978-1-4212-0011-2 $45.00 hc; 978-1- 4214-0012-9 $19.95 pb).
Shrink Rap grew out of the social media collaboration of three Baltimore psychiatrists. (Full disclosure: I trained with each of the authors in some capacity.) Not unlike the Mod Squad, this web-savvy trio is comprised of one outpatient (Dinah Miller), one inpatient (Steven Roy Daviss), and one forensic (Annette Hanson) psychiatrist. Their mission: to demystify psychiatry for the layman. Their weapon: the media, social – in the form of a Shrink Rap blog, My Three Shrinks podcasts, and three heavily-followed Twitter feeds – and now print.
Shrink Rap, the book, represents the authors’ first collective foray into a conventional written publication. For their social media followers, it brings together in one offline volume their collective thoughts, some previously shared online. For those not yet familiar with Miller, Hanson and Daviss, Shrink Rap provides a 250-page stand-alone introduction to their common-sense take on modern psychiatry. In 12 case-based chapters, the authors cover an amazing amount of terrain, beginning with defining just what it is a psychiatrist does. They guide the reader through the basics of psychiatric evaluation and treatment, providing a helpful introduction to the field for patients and families.
Written primarily for lay readers, Shrink Rap may also appeal – via its breadth of expertise –to students or practitioners wishing to review and expand their knowledge of the field. Although the authors use fictional cases, these are familiar faces that resonate as true to this seasoned psychiatrist. The cases demonstrate an array of psychiatric knowledge and issues: what psychiatry is and is not, how psychiatric formulations are generated, the origins of different forms
Dinah Miller, Annette Hanson, and Steven Roy Daviss (2011). Shrink Rap: Three Psychiatrists Explain Their Work. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press (272 pages; 978-1-4212-0011-2 $45.00 hc; 978-1- 4214-0012-9 $19.95 pb).
Shrink Rap grew out of the social media collaboration of three Baltimore psychiatrists. (Full disclosure: I trained with each of the authors in some capacity.) Not unlike the Mod Squad, this web-savvy trio is comprised of one outpatient (Dinah Miller), one inpatient (Steven Roy Daviss), and one forensic (Annette Hanson) psychiatrist. Their mission: to demystify psychiatry for the layman. Their weapon: the media, social – in the form of a Shrink Rap blog, My Three Shrinks podcasts, and three heavily-followed Twitter feeds – and now print.
Shrink Rap, the book, represents the authors’ first collective foray into a conventional written publication. For their social media followers, it brings together in one offline volume their collective thoughts, some previously shared online. For those not yet familiar with Miller, Hanson and Daviss, Shrink Rap provides a 250-page stand-alone introduction to their common-sense take on modern psychiatry. In 12 case-based chapters, the authors cover an amazing amount of terrain, beginning with defining just what it is a psychiatrist does. They guide the reader through the basics of psychiatric evaluation and treatment, providing a helpful introduction to the field for patients and families.
Written primarily for lay readers, Shrink Rap may also appeal – via its breadth of expertise –to students or practitioners wishing to review and expand their knowledge of the field. Although the authors use fictional cases, these are familiar faces that resonate as true to this seasoned psychiatrist. The cases demonstrate an array of psychiatric knowledge and issues: what psychiatry is and is not, how psychiatric formulations are generated, the origins of different forms
of psychiatric illness, psychotherapy, psychiatric medications, etc. The cases also highlight various controversies in our profession (yes, these do exist). Of particular merit is the discussion of the potential risks of psychotherapy, a subject given scant attention in most overviews of psychiatry. In addition, one of the book’s main appeals for psychiatrists may be its coverage of forensic topics, ranging from patients’ fundamental legal rights to the complexities of the insanity defence.
Addressing the whole field of psychiatry, with all its warts, in a comprehensive yet accessible way is a daunting feat. The authors have expertly articulated key issues without getting bogged down by purple prose and jargon. Their collective voice is direct, yet filled with warmth and hope. While topics are addressed soundly for the professional reader, the authors’ opti- mism and humor consistently shine through, creating an informative and entertaining resource for patients and families.
As fun and engaging a read as Shrink Rap may be for students and practitioners, it presents little new material for practising psychiatrists. Nor is it a character-driven piece of non-fiction that seriously advances clinicians’ understanding of the conceptual complexities of the field – it is no Henrietta Lacks. But none of these were its intentions. Shrink Rap is remarkably successful at achieving what it set out to do: demystify psychiatry for the general public. It is a cogent introduction to the field for patients and their families. But perhaps most significantly for psychiatrists themselves, the book will serve as an introduction to the exemplary online presence of three ‘shrinks’ who have embraced the utility of pro- fessional interactive social media.
Margaret S. Chisolm
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA
Addressing the whole field of psychiatry, with all its warts, in a comprehensive yet accessible way is a daunting feat. The authors have expertly articulated key issues without getting bogged down by purple prose and jargon. Their collective voice is direct, yet filled with warmth and hope. While topics are addressed soundly for the professional reader, the authors’ opti- mism and humor consistently shine through, creating an informative and entertaining resource for patients and families.
As fun and engaging a read as Shrink Rap may be for students and practitioners, it presents little new material for practising psychiatrists. Nor is it a character-driven piece of non-fiction that seriously advances clinicians’ understanding of the conceptual complexities of the field – it is no Henrietta Lacks. But none of these were its intentions. Shrink Rap is remarkably successful at achieving what it set out to do: demystify psychiatry for the general public. It is a cogent introduction to the field for patients and their families. But perhaps most significantly for psychiatrists themselves, the book will serve as an introduction to the exemplary online presence of three ‘shrinks’ who have embraced the utility of pro- fessional interactive social media.
Margaret S. Chisolm
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Baltimore, MD, USA
