European Journal of Neurology 2005, 12: 918–920
BOOK REVIEWS Atypical Parkinsonian Disorders – Clinical and Research Aspects Irene Litvan, ed. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ, 2005, 512 pp + Companion DVD, Hardcover, ISBN 1-58829-331-9, Price $175 Parkinson’s disease is a heterogenous disorder that includes several clinical and pathological phenotypes that have been described in more detail during the previous years, around 20% representing Ôatypical parkinsonian disordersÕ (APD) which, at least in part, represent a mirror image of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (IPD). Probably, the best current definition is a clinico-pathological one, as Yves Agid (Paris) states in his Foreword of the present book published in the series Current Clinical Neurology. Edited by Irene Litvan (Louisville, KY) it contains 30 chapters, written by a group of international experts presenting a timely overview of this complex type of neurodegenerative movement disorders. After a brief inroductory remark of what is an APC (the editor) and a historical overview (C.G. Goetz, Chicago, IL), the epidemiology of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and multiple system atrophy (MSA) showing large variety (prevalence 0.97–6.54 and 2.29–39.3 per 100 000 respectively) is critically reviewed (Zermansky and Ben-Shlomo, Newcastle and Bristol), while a broad overview of the neuropathology of both IPD and the various types of APD and related neurodegenerative conditions (I.A.R. Mackenzie, Vancouver, BC) shows some overlap with Chapter 8, Neuropathology and Nosology of APDs by C. Duyckaerts (Paris), who, however, stresses the topographic and pathobiology-based changes of these disorders. After animal models of tauopathies (Lewis & Hutton, Jacksonville, FL) and a summary of neurodegenerative a-synucleinopathies (Goedert & Spillantini, Cambridge, UK), computer modeling in basal ganglia disorders is presented (Contreras-Vidal, College Park, MD). Genetics of atypical parkinsonism (T. Gasser, Tu¨bingen, Germany) is followed by medical history and physical examination in parkinsonian syndromes (Vidailhet et al, Paris) and the role of neuropsychiatric assessment in diagnosis and research (Aarsland et al., Stavanger and London), while Dubois and Pillon (Paris) present added value of the neuropsychological examination in these disorders. Role of praxis in diagnosis and assessment (R. Leiguarda, Buenos Aires) emphasizes the role of apraxia, while
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Nichelli and Magherini (Modena, Italy) refer to the role of visuospatial cognition assessment in diagnosis of APDs, R.J. Leigh and D.S. Zee (Cleveland and Baltimore) discuss the role of ocular assessment, and C. Fratelli and J.R. Duffy (Rochester College Park) review assessing speech and language disturbances. The quality of live assessment in APDs (Schrag and Selai, London), is followed by chapters on the clinical, neuroimaging, and morphological features of the various syndromes: corticobasal degeneration (BF Boeve, Rochester, MN), MSA (Geser & Wenning, Innsbruck, Austria), dementia with Lewy bodies (Burn et al., Newcastle/ Tyne), familial aypical parkinsonism disorders including frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17, pallido-ponto-nigral degeneration, familial parkinsonism, etc. (Tsuboi et al., Fukuoka, Japan, and Rochester, MN), and vascular parkinsonism and nondegenerative APDs, e.g. drug-induced and developmental forms (M. Thomas & J. Jankovic, Houston, TX). The diagnostic role of electrophysiology (J. Valls-Sole´, Barcelona, Spain), of computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (Savoiardo & Grisoti, Milan) and functional MRI (Siebner & Deuschl, Kiel, Germany) as well as positron-emission tomography (PET) and single-photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT) are reviewed (A. Gerhard and D.J. Brooks, London). A brief chapter deals with the current and future therapeutic approaches that, at present, are of limited efficacy (Encernacion and T.N. Chase, York, PA, and Bethesda, MD). After discussion of rehabilitation of patients with APDs (White et al., Boston, MA), the editor presents a brief overview of future research in this field of specific interest in current neurosciences. The book presents the first comprehensive review of the specific problems of atypical parkinsonian syndromes dealing with basic, clinical, morphological, neuroimaging, and management problems, but it has to be emphasized, that despite enormous progress in clinical and neuroimaging diagnosis, because of the large genetic and phenomenological variety of these disorders, a definite diagnosis is only possible by exact clinico-pathological examination, while neuropathological description alone without clinical information does not represent the Ôgolden standardÕ for diagnosis. All chapters are written by competent authors, with many informative subheadings, tables and pic-
tures, many of them of high quality, while some of the histological figures are substandard. All chapters are supplemented by extensive reference lists ending 2002 or 2003, and most by conclusions. Like in many multi-author books, there is considerable overlap between the different chapters, the follow-up and position of some of which appears rather at random. In conclusion, this rather expensive volume presents an excellent overview of all current problems of APDs and provides support for the diagnosis and research in this complicated field of neurodegenerative movement disorders with outlook for new research directions. K. A. Jellinger Vienna, Austria
Psychiatry: 1200 Questions to Help You Pass the Boards Maju Mathews, Kumar Budur, Biju Basil and Manu Mathews, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, 2005, 426 pp., softbound, ISBN 0-7817-6106-9, $39.95 There is a dearth of books aimed at candidates preparing for the Part I Examination of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and only a few question and answer textbooks are available, and most of them target a wider audience of medical students and residents. The present book, written by four physicians and psychologists from Philadelphia and Cleveland, contains approximately 1200 questions about psychiatry and neurology with detailed answers and explanations, making it one of the few books exclusively targeted at those preparing for Psychiatry Boards, although, according to the authors, it will also be helpful for psychiatry residents and psychiatrists preparing for various examinations. The book is divided into 19 chapters, each focussing on a different topic with questions and five possible answers according to the multiple-choice system, which makes preparation probably easier. Part 1 (Psychopathology) includes 50 questions and correct answers, followed by the chapters on schizophrenia and mood disorders, each containing 100 questions and answers, anxiety disorders (75 questions), geriatric psychiatry (25 specific questions), child psychiatry (50), consultation liaison psychiatry (50), forensic psychiatry (25), substance use (73), eating and sexual disorders (bulimia, anorexia, pedophilia, etc., 36 questions),
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Book Reviews mental retardation (25), sleep disorders (10), and personality disorders (borderline, paranoid personality disorders, etc., 10 questions). An extensive chapter is dedicated to psychopharmacology (175 questions), others to psychotherapy (50), psychology (50), to emergency psychiatry (acute depression and other emergencies, 25 questions), whilst the most extensive Chapter 18 concerns neurology (including impaired consciousness, neurological signs, symptoms and syndromes, seizures, persistent vegetative state, Parkinson’s disease, intracranial neoplasms, headaches, etc., 200 items), and the last part is dedicated to miscellaneous questions (e.g. intoxications, cannabis, psychobiology, Nobel Prize for medicine in psychosurgery, etc., 51 items). This comprehensive review contains multiple-choice questions each with detailed answers and explanations that will help the candidate to prepare for the examinations and also for daily praxis, and thus, represents a perfect supplement to other psychiatry and neurology resources. Again, special emphasis has been placed on psychopharmacology and neurology, two areas that are covered significantly on the boards. The book will certainly be of value not only for candiates appearing for the Board examinations, but also for psychiatric residents and practising psychiatrists and neurologists. K. A. Jellinger Vienna, Austria
Handbook of Headache – second edition Randolph W. Evans and Minan T. Mathew, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, 2004, 417 pp., softbound, ISBN 0-7817-5223-X, Price $ 44.95 Headache is one of the most frequent complaint of patients seeing primary care physicians. The first edition of this handbook written by the two well-known and experienced neurologists in Houston, TX, only about 5 years ago, had an enthusiastic reception and was translated into Chinese and French. Now both authors present an updated version of this unique book, considering the scientific and practical advances during the last few years. The second edition is not only updated and revised using the new International Classification of Head Disorders, 2nd edition (2004), but also expanded with new chapters on migraine. The book contains 18 chapters. The first, on
diagnosis of headaches (Evans) not only considers history, clinical diagnosis, risk, and relieving factors, indications for additional tests and examinations, but also medicolegal aspects. Migraine (Matthews) reviews epidemiology, diagnosis, phases, variants, childhood periodic syndromes, complications, differential diagnosis, pathophysiology (including brainstem changes, spreading depression), and the role of female hormones. Next comes therapy of migraine (Matthews) critically considering recent developments of management and prophylaxis including its stratification. The chapter on chronic daily headache (Matthews) includes classification, epidemiology, transformation to migraine, medication overdose headache and management (including caffein withdrawal, detoxification, and Botulinum application). Chapter 6 – Transitiontype headache and miscellaneous primary headache disorders (Matthews) – concerns tension-type headache and daily persistent headache; followed by cluster headache and other trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias and hemicranias (Matthews), their causes, diagnosis, and management, including surgery and deep brain stimulation. First or Worst headaches (Evans) refers to subarachnoid hemorrhage, sentinel headache as warning symptom, followed by the chapter on post-trauamtic headaches (Evans) following mild head injury, post-concussional syndrome and diagnostic evaluation of other sequelae of head injury, whiplash injuries and their management. A special chapter is dedicated to headaches during childhood and adolescence (Evans) including various types of migraine, episodic transition-type headaches, and acute forms. Headaches in women (Evans) include menstrual migraine, forms due to oral contraceptive use, during lactation, eclampsia, and others, while headaches over the age of 65 (Evans) are primary and secondary forms due to a variety of disorders. Vascular disorders and headache (Evans) are separately dealt with, including migraine and stroke, vascular malformations, large vessel disease, cerebral venous thrombosis, hypertension, carotidynia, and anginal headache. Follows a chapter on headaches and neoplasms, high and low pressure (pseudotumor cerebri, intracranial hypotension), post-lumbar puncture headache and head, ear, eye, nose and throat (HEENT) disorders. Next come other secondary headaches and associated disorders, like cough, sexual, and exertional headaches, those associated with
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malformations, CNS infections, metabolic disorders, sleep and multiple sclerosis. A particularly interesting chapter is dedicated to the question, What’s my headache (Evans), presenting 42 case studies and their answers, referring to specific chapters of the book. Chapter 17 presents a headache-quiz (Evans) with a number of specific questions, also referring to the individual chapters in the book. The last chapter (Evans) includes patient resources, educational material, and alternative treatments informing also about caffein content in several beverages, the hyperventilation syndrome, headache diary and its keys, and alternative and complementary treatment as well as simple medication and progressive relaxation exercises. All chapters are well written, concise but complete, with many informative subheadings, tables and extensive reference lists ending 2004. The book presents a systematic and up-to-date approach to diagnosis, pathogenesis, management, and prevention of the large variety of headache syndromes, informing about modern drug treatments, patient education, medicolegal issues, and also considers practical problems in the Ôheadache quizÕ and the chapter with typical and atypical case studies, offering practical answers to the reader. According to the reviewer’s experience, this handbook of headache is one of the best available about this complicated field of medicine at a reasonable price – it is a bargain. K. A. Jellinger Vienna, Austria
Rett Disorder and the Developing Brain Alison Kerr and Ingegerd Witt Engerstro¨m Oxford, UK, Oxford University Press, 2005, paperback, 379 pp., ISBN 0-19856815-0, UK£35.00 Rett disorder or Rett syndrome (RS) is a progressive, usually sporadic and rarely familial devastating neurodevelopment disorder with onset in early childhood, presenting clinically with disorders of development, mental retardation, behavioural changes, nutritional difficulties, scoliosis, later movement disturbances, loss of speech and hand skills, ataxia, apraxia, irregular breathing with hyperventilation whilst awake, and frequent seizures. The peculiar disorder that almost exclusively affects girls and is the second most common cause of severe intellectual
