Mark Rubinstein, MD is a physician, psychiatrist and assistant professor of psychiatry who writes mysteries and thrillers about people driven by forces they cannot control. Some of these thrillers include “Mad Dog House,” “The Lovers’ Tango” and “Mad Dog Justice.” He has also written five nonfiction medical advice books and “Bedlam’s Door: True Tales of Madness and Hope,” a collection of true stories of patients who the author and his colleagues saw in psychiatric consultation. His newest nonfiction book comes out this month and is titled “Beyond Bedlam’s Door: True Tales from the Couch and Courtroom.”

“Beyond Bedlam’s Door,” is a sequel to “Bedlam’s Door” in the sense that he continues with true stories of patients that he has treated. Everyone has a story behind the smile and whether these stories are sad or frightening they all come from a shared human experience. Each chapter is a story of a patient and are as varied as humanity itself. Some of these are “Crossing the Line” and “The Arrangement” but the ones that stand out are “Sidney,” “The Prescription” and “That Terrible Day.”

In “Sidney” Dr. Rubinstein writes how having to take his rescue dog to the office while his apartment was being painted opened him up to the idea of therapy dogs. The subject of dogs comes up again in “The Prescription” when he advised a patient to get a dog to help him ease the unhappiness he was experiencing in his life. While it was not a cure all it allowed the patient to have a renewed sense of purpose and was instrumental in getting him and his wife to become closer. Many people remember where they were that fateful September 11 during the attack on the World Trade Center and “That Terrible Day” is a powerful account of one person’s experience. It is the story of ‘Joseph’ who worked in the North Tower and was seen for conditions related to that day including PTSD and survivor’s guilt.

Each of these stories has a different perspective on what it means to be human. The subject matter is fascinating and easy to understand. It reads like a case studies textbook complete with an afterword following each case that examines the course of treatment and gives a follow up on the patient. There is even a Glossary that explains some of the terms used in the book. Overall, “Beyond Bedlam’s Door” is a must read for psychology enthusiasts and should appeal to readers who enjoy true to life stories.

*A copy of this book was given for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are solely the author’s.