The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook: A Guide to Healing, Recovery and Growth

By Glenn R. Schiraldi, Ph.D., Illinois: Lowell House, 2000, 441 pages

Reviewed by Rich Blake, B.A., Loyola College in Maryland

Dr. Glenn R. Schiraldi’s book, The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook: A Guide to Healing, Recovery, and Growth is arguably the most thorough and comprehensive book written about the disorder. Although he indicates in the introduction that the book was written for trauma victims, it is undoubtedly a useful tool for psychotherapists as well. All aspects of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are painstakingly detailed in the book’s 46 chapters and 10 appendices. Some of the book’s content was adapted from Dr. Schiraldi’s previous books including Conquer Anxiety, Worry and Nervous Fatigue: A Guide to Greater Peace and Facts to Relax By: A Guide to Relaxation and Stress Reduction.

The book is conveniently organized into six parts. Part I, About PTSD, contains four chapters that serve as a thorough introduction to PTSD. The diagnostic criteria, individual symptoms, and potentially traumatic events are explained in detail. Part I provides the reader with a basic understanding of the stress response and its relationship to anxiety, dissociation, memory networks, and triggers. Associated features of PTSD, such as depression and substance abuse are discussed in chapter 3, and chapter 4 concludes Part I with answers to frequently asked questions. Boldface headings are used throughout the chapters which are broken down into short sections.  Bullet points, figures, and tables are used frequently to increase readability.

Part II, About Healing, Recovery, and Growth, breaks down the principles and basic treatment approaches for recovery. Part III, Preparations, informs readers how to achieve a state of physical and emotional safety in order to position themselves to begin taking steps toward healing. A strong emphasis is placed on the importance of meeting basic needs such as exercise, diet, and sleep.

Part IV, Managing Symptoms, contains 10 chapters. Symptom management techniques are presented for affect and arousal. Much of Part III is dedicated to relaxation. Specific directions and scripts for breathing retraining, progressive muscle relaxation, autogenic training, and meditation are provided. Anger management, intrusion management, and eye-movement techniques are outlined.

Part V, Treatment, has 21 chapters each dedicated to specific therapeutic methods for dealing with various aspects of PTSD. Memory work, cognitive restructuring, and guilt resolution are discussed, as well as thought field therapy, the rewind technique, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, and traumatic incident reduction. Other techniques include the counting method, dream management and processing, healing rituals, grieving, hypnosis, expressive art therapy, life review, self-esteem building and more.

Part VI, Moving On, is a seven chapter section addressing issues of transition, intimacy, sexuality, meaning, purpose, spirituality, pleasure, humor, and relapse prevention. Chapter 46, Summing Up, brings the book to a close with a brief summary and instructions for the reader to flip back through the book and write down what is most meaningful to them and what they believe will be most helpful. There are 10 appendices that touch on a range of topics including the historical development of PTSD, medications, and resources.

An obvious advantage of this book is its comprehensiveness.  Dr. Schiraldi’s attention to detail makes this volume useful even for highly trained clinicians. The inclusiveness of varying methods allows one to try many techniques without looking for another source. Another advantage is organization. The book begins with very basic definitions and proceeds gradually to more complicated concepts. The bullet points make pages easier to read and the figures and tables are often helpful. Table 16.1, for example, illustrates different varieties of anger along with corresponding metaphors and behaviors.

Although the thoroughness and comprehensiveness can be a major advantage, especially for clinicians, the amount of material may feel overwhelming to the average reader and there may be more detail provided than is needed by a trauma victim. Despite the fact that the chapters are very brief, the mere thought of tackling a 46 chapter volume may be highly daunting to someone who may otherwise benefit from the content.

There is no doubt that this book has utility for bibliotherapy. The detailed directions and scripts provided for specific techniques cannot only assist an unfamiliar psychotherapist, but can also serve as a tool the client can have at home to refer to. For example, Chapter 20, Cognitive Restructuring, gives step-by-step instructions for maintaining a daily thought record and a helpful model is provided. This is one of the many helpful tools that can be implemented over the course of PTSD treatment. Upsetting events are described and rated. Then thoughts are analyzed and frequently revisited to assess changes in ratings. If a client keeps consistent records, it can have a therapeutic impact and provide insight to both the client and psychotherapist.

It is apparent that a significant amount of work went into putting this book together. There are many things in the book that can be helpful to trauma victims. However, the amount of detailed information makes this book an essential tool for a psychotraumatologist in training, but perhaps a bit much for the average reader. In bibliotherapy, clinicians should choose from sections relevant to a specific client’s presenting problems. Readers should be aware that no techniques provided in this book are intended to be implemented without the proper supervision of a professional clinician.

All psychotherapists and psychologists interested in trauma should consider reading this book not only for its usefulness in bibliotherapy, but also for an overall reference for PTSD.