This book is very well written, very well researched and gives a nicely balanced account of the pros and cons of treating mental illness with the modalities of psychopharmacology and psychotherapy. The investigation into the efficacy of these two healing methods, which are generally thought of as antagonistic toward each other, is perhaps the book’s greatest strength and achievement. “Integration of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy generally may be the ideal approach for the treatment of dysfunctional behavior, given the somewhat complementary advantages and disadvantages of drug and talk treatments, particularly when clinical trials demonstrate that a combined therapeutic approach provides greater benefit than what can be achieved using pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy alone…”. (p. 21)

As mentioned the book is well written and an easy read, however, I do not entirely agree with the blurb on the back cover, “While it sounds like readers would need a degree to understand the basics, the beauty of [this book] is that no advanced knowledge is needed…”. I believe an understanding of the very basics of brain functioning (neurotransmitters, fundamental anatomy and so on) is necessary to get the most out of the book. If the reader has never heard of dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, synaptic clefts, neurotransmitters, psychopharmacology and so on then they will be at a disadvantage in appreciating the full importance of Kraly’s research and arguments. To this end the book could have had a short Glossary which would have greatly aided the non-technical reader in their understanding.

The Unwell Brain: Understanding the Psychobiology of Mental Health is arranged in four parts, consisting of sixteen chapters, together with an Introduction, good Reference section and Index.

Part 1 — Treatment of Behavioral and Brain Disorders looks at factors that contribute to the development of disordered brain processes and dysfunctional behaviors.

Part 2 — Fundamental Principles of The Brain and Behavior introduces principles regarding how neurons in the brain and peripheral nervous system are organised, and how neurochemicals act through receptors in synapses to enable neuronal systems to control behavior. This section is perhaps the most technical and complex.

Part 3 — Dysfunctional Behaviors and Brain Processes discusses behavioral disorders selected to represent a range of familiar cognitive and emotional disturbances that sometimes occur with different incidence across genders. Most of the common disorders such as anorexia, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, ADHD, anxiety affective disorders and depression are discussed.

Part 4 — Concluding Perspective this very short section sums up the previous sections and highlights what we really know about the brain, and especially what we do not know, then suggests ways to proceed in unravelling more of the mystery and extraordinary complexity of this organ.

F. Scott Kraly is a Professor of Psychology at Colgate University and director of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. In my opinion he is an extraordinarily gifted teacher. Considering the complexity of the topic Kraly explains the issues in an enjoyable and educational way. Given my earlier caveat on learning the very basic meanings of brain chemistry before reading this book, I am sure most educated readers will have a very good understanding of the issues involved in this dichotomy between drug therapy and talk therapy by the time they have finished. Kraly provides a perspective section at the end of each chapter which reviews and reinforces the chapters’ main points. There are several diagrams to visually explain brain functions, and a smattering of vignettes describing real life takes of the dilemmas facing those with challenging behavioral problems.

Even though this is not a self-help style book, those with mental illness, or those involved with others who have challenging psychological behaviors, will benefit greatly from taking the time to read it. Students from various disciplines, health care workers generally and of course those who simply want to know more about the connection between the brain and both, normal and abnormal behavior, will find this book stimulating and enjoyable.

© 2009 Rob Harle

Rob Harle is an artist and writer, especially concerned with the nature of consciousness and high-body technologies. His current work explores the nature of the transition from human to posthuman, a phenomenon he calls the technoMetamorphosis of humanity. He has academic training in philosophy of mind, comparative religious studies, art and psychotherapy. Rob is an active member of the Leonardo Review Panel. For full biography and examples of art and writing work please visit his web site: http://www.robharle.com

Keywords: psychobiology