Lifestyle Psychiatry

Exercise, a healthy diet, stress management, sound sleep: Most practitioners
would agree that living well can mitigate the impact of mental disorders. Yet
many are unprepared to address lifestyle factors in their care of
patients.

Lifestyle Psychiatry seeks to instill confidence by collating
and analyzing the impressive emerging body of evidence that supports the
efficacy of healthy lifestyle practices-both as the primary intervention and in
conjunction with traditional treatments such as psychopharmacology or
psychotherapy-in preventing and managing psychiatric disorders.

This
volume examines the impact of lifestyle interventions-from exercise, yoga, and
tai chi to mindfulness and meditation, diet and nutrition, and sleep
management-on psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety,
posttraumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and addiction. Readers can readily
find data to support the use of specific lifestyle interventions for a patient
presenting with a specific disorder.

Detailed descriptions of the
mechanisms of each lifestyle intervention also prepare practitioners to educate
their patients on the specific neurobiological and psychological effects of
these interventions to support their recovery. With chapters that focus on
developing a robust therapeutic alliance and inspiring patients to assume
responsibility for their own well-being, this guide provides a framework for
lasting, sustainable lifestyle changes.

Additionally, the book discusses
the impact of the provider's lifestyle on clinical behavior and the implications
of lifestyle medicine and psychiatry for health care systems and population
health, offering a broader examination of the important role this new field can
play in leading a sophisticated, holistic approach to optimizing wellness.