Rare Mental Illnesses

Rare mental illnesses often remain undetected, are misinterpreted or mistaken for more common disorders. The consequences are often years of incorrect treatment, unnecessary therapies and considerable stress for those affected and their environment. This book is dedicated to the detailed description and diagnosis of rare mental illnesses, from little-known perception disorders to extraordinary affective illnesses and culture-bound syndromes. The book explains vividly and scientifically which symptoms indicate these rare conditions, what the diagnostic challenges are, and how targeted therapeutic intervention can be achieved. It is aimed equally at professionals, patients, and their families, and provides a deeper understanding of the complexity of mental illness. Particular attention is paid to the danger of misdiagnosis, which often leads to unnecessary prescription of medication or long-term stigmatisation. By precisely presenting differential diagnostic criteria and classifying them in the current scientific discourse, this work offers a valuable guide for clinical practice and for personally dealing with mental health. Over the past 11 years, Bremen University Press has published over 4, 500 specialist books in various languages.