Editorial Cooking the books

How we are — news, views and information
Depression and dreams • Smoking and schizophrenia • Sex offenders • Men and miscarriage • toilet training troubles • Divorce • Postnatal depression • Carers who work • Child traffic accidents • Genetic testing • Childhood abdominal pain • A wonder beyond magic • Diagnosis by hallucination by Ikechukwu Obialo Azuonye.

Medicine in cultural context
Pat Williams talks to medical anthropologist Cecil Helman about culture's role in health.

Psychology for therapists
Why is it vital for therapists to understand the basic principles of psychology? Charles Legg explains.

Living with Diabetes: the person behind the disease
Understanding the emotional aspects of diabetes is crucial for good care — and for good blood glucose control. By Denise Winn.

Too close for comfort
Jane Paffey looks at the difficulties mental health workers face if they themselves have had mental health problems.

Debriefing: a safe way to defuse emotion
Psychological debriefing, used well, can be a powerful aid to overcoming trauma. Used wrongly, it can do harm, says Noreen Tehrani.

Acting out of Anger
The role dramatherapy can play in reducing aggression in violent offenders.

Plus: Learning Curve • Talking Point • Book Reviews • Letters