From Publishers Weekly
Pointing to the stark statistic that more than 11 million Americans currently take antidepressants, Servan-Schreiber, psychiatrist and co-founder of the University of Pittsbugh's Center for Complementary Medicine, offers seven natural treatments for stress-related disorders. Honed by his travels as a Doctors Without Borders founder, Servan-Schreiber's holistic approach involves neither drugs nor traditional talk therapies (which he notes have never been proven effective), but relies on the brain's own healing mechanism. Combining solid scientific data, diagrams and anecdotal evidence in a highly accessible format, the author smoothly guides readers through alternative therapies, including acupuncture, dawn simulation, heart coherence and nutrition, "a field almost entirely abandoned" by today's mental health professionals, but of vital importance, he notes, to such conditions as postpartum depression and bipolar disorder. While admitting all treatments should ideally submit to a rigorous controlled study, the author laments the lack of economic interest on the part of pharmaceutical companies to study anything unpatentable. A final section, with tips and techniques on improving communication in personal relationships and integrating therapies into daily life nicely rounds out this valuable resource. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Ph.D., bestselling author of Flow, and Being Adolescent
Written with grace and elegance, this book might well become the most important mental health landmark of this generation.


Review
A brilliant, absorbing synthesis of science, experience, and thought, by an inteernationally known neuroscientist and clinician ... essential reading for all those who want to understand the frontiers of mind-body health.


Book Description
Americans seek therapy in record numbers and consume more medications than ever before, yet stress, anxiety, and depression continue to rise to epidemic proportions. People can spend years on the psychoanalytic couch without making any progress. And for many psychiatrists, the prescription-writing reflex has become almost automatic, despite the fact that benefits often disappear as soon as drug treatment stops. Standard treatments simply aren't long-term solutions.

But psychiatrist/neurologist David Servan-Schreiber, M.D., Ph.D., knows that we can cure our emotional pain. He's seen certain natural methods produce tremendous results in his clinical practice, in that of his peers, and even in war-torn regions where horrific memories can leave deep scars.

Numerous studies in prestigious scientific journals have documented the amazing benefits of these methods on anxiety and depression, but because the mechanisms through which they operate remain poorly understood, they've remained largely excluded from mainstream medicine and psychiatry. Dr. Servan-Schreiber explains how each of the natural methods in this ensemble treatment plan can help us escape the therapy/drug trap by working through the body to tap into the emotional brain's self-healing processes rather than relying on the cognitive process of language.

Weaving fascinating accounts of his firsthand experience and findings together with the research of hundreds of other esteemed scientists, Dr. Servan-Schreiber outlines a program that's becoming embraced throughout the world as a permanent cure for emotional pain. See how you, too, can tap into The Instinct to Heal.



From the Inside Flap
"David Servan-Schreiber is one of those rare scientists who truly listens with his heart and perceives the larger connection." --Gerald G. Jampolsky, M.D., bestselling author of Love Is Letting Go of Fear

Americans seek therapy in record numbers and consume more medications than ever before, yet stress, anxiety, and depression continue to rise to epidemic proportions. People can spend years on the psychoanalytic couch without making any progress. And for many psychiatrists, the prescription-writing reflex has become almost automatic, despite the fact that benefits often disappear as soon as drug treatment stops. Standard treatments simply aren't long-term solutions.

But psychiatrist/neurologist David Servan-Schreiber, M.D., Ph.D., knows that we can cure our emotional pain. He's seen certain natural methods produce tremendous results in his clinical practice, in that of his peers, and even in war-torn regions where horrific memories can leave deep scars.

Numerous studies in prestigious scientific journals have documented the amazing benefits of these methods on anxiety and depression, but because the mechanisms through which they operate remain poorly understood, they've remained largely excluded from mainstream medicine and psychiatry. Dr. Servan-Schreiber explains how each of the natural methods in this ensemble treatment plan can help us escape the therapy/drug trap by working through the body to tap into the emotional brain's self-healing processes rather than relying on the cognitive process of language.

Weaving fascinating accounts of his firsthand experience and findings together with the research of hundreds of other esteemed scientists, Dr. Servan-Schreiber outlines a program that's becoming embraced throughout the world as a permanent cure for emotional pain. See how you, too, can tap into The Instinct to Heal.

"This book, the translation of research findings into meaningful clinical insights and practice, bears the unmistakable signature of Dr. Servan-Schreiber's unique abilities and voice, which echo with humor, wisdom, and compassion." --Jonathan D. Cohen, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Center for the Study of Brain, Mind, and Behavior at Princeton University

"This book has love on every page." --Professor Francine Lecas, chair of pediatric cardiovascular surgery, Sick Children Hospital, Paris, France

David Servan-Schreiber, M.D., Ph.D., is clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and cofounder of the Center for Complementary Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He codirected a National Institutes of Health laboratory for the study of clinical cognitive neuroscience and functional neuroimaging for several years and has published more than 90 scientific monographs. He's lectured at leading international academic centers, including Stanford, Columbia, Cornell, and Cambridge Universities. One of the original seven members of the United States board of Doctors Without Borders/Médicins Sans Frontières, he served on the board for 9 years and provided medical relief in Kurdistan, Guatemala, India, Tajikistan, and Kosovo. He continues to develop mental health interventions for victims of crises and to train therapists in crisis areas.



From the Back Cover
Advance praise for The Instinct to Heal:

"David Servan-Schreiber has done a brilliant job of bringing together insights and information of vital importance for well-being. The Instinct to Heal is itself an instrument of healing."
--Daniel Goleman, Ph.D., bestselling author of Emotional Intelligence

"Written with grace and elegance, this book might well become the most important mental health landmark of this generation."
--Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Ph.D., bestselling author of Flow, Being Adolescent, The Evolving Self, and Creativity

"The Instinct to Heal is a fascinating account of unorthodox approaches to treating the emotional brain and mind. I learned a lot."
--Joseph LeDoux, Ph.D., the Henry and Lucy Moses Professor of Science at New York University and author of The Emotional Brain and Synaptic Self

"The Instinct to Heal will help anyone expand their concept of health and health care to a more majestic level."
--Larry Dossey, M.D., bestselling author of Healing Beyond the Body, Reinventing Medicine, and Healing Words

"A brilliant, absorbing synthesis of science, experience, and thought, by an internationally known neuroscientist and clinician ... essential reading for all those who want to understand the frontiers of mind-body health."
--Michael Lerner, Ph.D., author of Choices in Healing

David Servan-Schreiber, M.D., Ph.D., is an award-winning and internationally recognized authority on psychiatry and neuroscience.



About the Author
David Servan-Schreiber, M.D., Ph.D., is clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and cofounder of the Center for Complementary Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He codirected a National Institutes of Health laboratory for the study of clinical cognitive neuroscience and functional neuroimaging for several years and has published more than 90 scientific monographs. He's lectured at leading international academic centers, including Stanford, Columbia, Cornell, and Cambridge Universities. One of the original seven members of the United States board of Doctors Without Borders/Médicins Sans Frontières, he served on the board for 9 years and provided medical relief in Kurdistan, Guatemala, India, Tajikistan, and Kosovo. He continues to develop mental health interventions for victims of crises and to train therapists in crisis areas.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Americans seek therapy in record numbers and consume more medications than ever before, yet stress, anxiety, and depression continue to rise to epidemic proportions. People can spend years on the psychoanalytic couch without making any progress. And for many psychiatrists, the prescription-writing reflex has become almost automatic, despite the fact that benefits often disappear as soon as drug treatment stops. Standard treatments simply aren't long-term solutions.

But psychiatrist/neurologist David Servan-Schreiber, M.D., Ph.D., knows that we can cure our emotional pain. He's seen certain natural methods produce tremendous results in his clinical practice, in that of his peers, and even in war-torn regions where horrific memories can leave deep scars.

Numerous studies in prestigious scientific journals have documented the amazing benefits of these methods on anxiety and depression, but because the mechanisms through which they operate remain poorly understood, they've remained largely excluded from mainstream medicine and psychiatry. Dr. Servan-Schreiber explains how each of the natural methods in this ensemble treatment plan can help us escape the therapy/drug trap by working through the body to tap into the emotional brain's self-healing processes rather than relying on the cognitive process of language.

Weaving fascinating accounts of his first-hand experience and findings together with the research of hundreds of other esteemed scientists, Dr. Servan-Schreiber outlines a program that's becoming, embraced throughout the world as a permanent cure for emotional pain. See how you, too, can tap into The Instinct to Heal.

David Servan-Schreiber, M.D., PH.D., is clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and cofounder of the Center for Complementary Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He codirected a National Institutes of Health laboratory for the study of clinical cognitive neuroscience and functional neuroimaging for several years and has published more than 90 scientific monographs. He's lectured at leading international academic centers, including Stanford, Columbia, Cornell, and Cambridge Universities. One of the original seven members of the United States board of Doctors Without Borders/M￯﾿ﾽdicins Sans Fronti￯﾿ﾽres, he served on the board for 9 years and provided medical relief in Kurdistan, Guatemala, India, Tajikistan, and Kosovo. He continues to develop mental health interventions for victims of crises and to train therapists in crisis areas.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Pointing to the stark statistic that more than 11 million Americans currently take antidepressants, Servan-Schreiber, psychiatrist and co-founder of the University of Pittsbugh's Center for Complementary Medicine, offers seven natural treatments for stress-related disorders. Honed by his travels as a Doctors Without Borders founder, Servan-Schreiber's holistic approach involves neither drugs nor traditional talk therapies (which he notes have never been proven effective), but relies on the brain's own healing mechanism. Combining solid scientific data, diagrams and anecdotal evidence in a highly accessible format, the author smoothly guides readers through alternative therapies, including acupuncture, dawn simulation, heart coherence and nutrition, "a field almost entirely abandoned" by today's mental health professionals, but of vital importance, he notes, to such conditions as postpartum depression and bipolar disorder. While admitting all treatments should ideally submit to a rigorous controlled study, the author laments the lack of economic interest on the part of pharmaceutical companies to study anything unpatentable. A final section, with tips and techniques on improving communication in personal relationships and integrating therapies into daily life nicely rounds out this valuable resource. (Feb.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

There are some special considerations involved in selecting material on alternative medicine for libraries. On the one hand, patrons deserve (and demand) information on a wide range of treatment options; on the other, as librarians, we also want to make sure that patrons are aware of standards and the best practices. Obviously, the usual selection criteria, such as author qualifications and the verifiability of source information, remain important as well. All these criteria are met by The Instinct To Heal. Founder of Doctors Without Borders and currently at the University of Pittsburgh, Servan-Schreiber has an impressive background. Here he explains the mainstream treatment of depression (a combination of drugs and talk therapy) in a neutral fashion. He then recommends alternative treatments, e.g., acupuncture, dawn simulation, heart coherence, and nutrition, and backs up his recommendations with citations from scientific journals. Material on self-treatment for depression and anxiety is in great demand, and this refreshing alternative is sound. Highly recommended for public libraries. The Natural Medicine Guide to Anxiety does not have the same qualifications. Written by a journalist, it cites mostly secondary sources, i.e., other articles and books written for the general public. Marohn covers several of the more speculative treatments, including psychic healing, flower essence therapy, and homeopathy. However, she does not sufficiently discuss the most commonly recommended treatment of drugs and cognitive-behavioral therapy, so the book lacks context and the solid grounding afforded by Servan-Schreiber in his work. Not recommended.-Mary Ann Hughes, Neill P.L., Pullman, WA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

David Servan-Schreiber has done a brilliant job of bringing together insights and information of vital importance for well-being. — (Daniel Goleman, PH.D., bestselling author of Emotional Intelligence)

David Servan-Schreiber is one of those rare scientists who truly listens with his heart and perceives the larger connection. — (Gerald G. Jampolsky, M.D., bestselling author of Love is Letting Go of Fear)

. . . essential reading for all those who want to understand the frontiers of mind-body health. — (Michael Lerner, PH.D., author of Choices in Healing)

Written with grace and elegance, this book might well become the most important mental health landmark of this generation. — (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, PH.D., bestselling author of Flow, Being Adolescent, The Evolving Self, and Creativity)

The Instinct to Heal is an inspiring overview of the internal healing potential that exists within everyone . . . — (Larry Dossey, M.D., bestselling author of Healing Beyond the Body, Reinventing Medicine, and Healing Words)

Jonathan D. Cohen, M.D., PH.D., director of the Center for the Study of Brain, Mind, and Behavior at Princeton University
This book, the translation of research findings into meaningful clinical insights and practice, bears the unmistakable signature of Dr. Servan-Schreiber . . . — Jonathan D. Cohen

The Instinct to Heal is a fascinating account of unorthodox approaches to treating the emotional brain and mind. — (Joseph LeDoux, PH.D., the Henry and Lucy Moses Professor of Science at New York University and author of The Emotional Brain and Synaptic Self)

. . . The Instinct to Heal . . . offers an alternative that may work, and, by so doing, offers hope. — (Antonio Damasio, M.D., PH.D., author of Looking For Spinoza, The Feeling of What Happens, and Descartes' Error)

. . . engaging and highly readable, and packed with concrete suggestions about how to relieve stress, anxiety, and depression. — Robin S. Rosenberg, PH.D., clinical psychologist and coauthor of Psychology: The Brain, The Person, The World)

Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D., professor of psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine. . . Servan-Schreiber shows that for healing to occur, one needs to . . . influence the emotional brain by acting directly on bodily experience. — Bessel Van Der Kolk

Professor Francine Lecas, chair of Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery, Sick Children Hospital, Paris, France
This book has love on every page. — Professor Francine Lecas