New Literature on Fetal Alcohol Exposure and Effects - (Contributions to the Study of Anthropology,) Annotated by Ernest L Abel (Hardcover)

About the Book

Spontaneous abortion, a pattern of defects labeled fetal alcohol syndrome, and more subtle behavioral disturbances that occur in the absence of observable physical anomalies are some of the damaging effects of alcohol, now recognized as one of the leading known causes of birth defects in the western world. So grave are the apparent consequences of drinking alcohol during pregnancy that a new U.S. law requires warning labels to appear on all alcoholic beverages. This label represents the culmination of numerous clinical and experimental studies conducted over the last 15 years. Prompted by an abundance of new information in the area of fetal alcohol exposure, this second bibliography on the subject to be published by Greenwood Press supplements Abel's first volume that contained 3,000 citations and included literature on the subject published between 1973 (the year in which fetal alcohol syndrome was first reported) and 1984. The present volume, covering the years 1983 to 1988 inclusive contains 1,818 entries and adds some important new references for the years 1983 and 1984. In number, breadth, and completeness, the citations contained here go beyond current data bases.

Entries are arranged alphabetically by author and in the case of multiple citations by author, the citations are listed chronologically for that author. Where an author has had 2 or more publications in a year, the citations for that year are listed alphabetically by title. Citations are also listed according to the number of authors in a manner that provides easy access to the information. Each item has been numbered consecutively and is referred to by number in the Subject Index which has been compiled not only on the basis of title, but also based on the information contained in the reference. Abel's introduction serves as a concise, fact-filled overview of this important and timely subject. Students and scholars in the medical field, as well as alcohol counselors and others dealing with pregnancy or the affected children will find this resource invaluable.

Book Synopsis

Spontaneous abortion, a pattern of defects labeled fetal alcohol syndrome, and more subtle behavioral disturbances that occur in the absence of observable physical anomalies are some of the damaging effects of alcohol, now recognized as one of the leading known causes of birth defects in the western world. So grave are the apparent consequences of drinking alcohol during pregnancy that a new U.S. law requires warning labels to appear on all alcoholic beverages. This label represents the culmination of numerous clinical and experimental studies conducted over the last 15 years. Prompted by an abundance of new information in the area of fetal alcohol exposure, this second bibliography on the subject to be published by Greenwood Press supplements Abel's first volume that contained 3,000 citations and included literature on the subject published between 1973 (the year in which fetal alcohol syndrome was first reported) and 1984. The present volume, covering the years 1983 to 1988 inclusive contains 1,818 entries and adds some important new references for the years 1983 and 1984. In number, breadth, and completeness, the citations contained here go beyond current data bases.

Entries are arranged alphabetically by author and in the case of multiple citations by author, the citations are listed chronologically for that author. Where an author has had 2 or more publications in a year, the citations for that year are listed alphabetically by title. Citations are also listed according to the number of authors in a manner that provides easy access to the information. Each item has been numbered consecutively and is referred to by number in the Subject Index which has been compiled not only on the basis of title, but also based on the information contained in the reference. Abel's introduction serves as a concise, fact-filled overview of this important and timely subject. Students and scholars in the medical field, as well as alcohol counselors and others dealing with pregnancy or the affected children will find this resource invaluable.

Review Quotes

"will become a constant companion of the serious alcohol researcher . . . . This bibliography would be a gem of a resource for science writers and journalists who cover the topic of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and related effects of fetal alcohol exposure."-William J. Pizzi, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Psychology, Northeastern Illinois University

"This compiled bibliography offers an invaluable source of references on a wide range of studies published in recent years on fetal alcohol exposure and effects. It will address the needs of basic scientists, clinicians, and social workers with interest in this field."-Zehava Gottesfeld, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

?Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a hot topic; but this reviewer is biased against unannotated, apparently uncritical bibliographies. Most people would be better off, and more up to date, with a MEDLINE search. A sample (10% of the citations) showed that about 80% of the citations were from journals indexed there or in Index Medicus. Many of the others were books or dissertations, indexed elsewhere (though not in MEDLINE or Index Medicus). Almost all of the citations are to fairly technical articles. Many are animal studies and some seem, frankly, very marginal. Citations are alphabetical by author. The subject index is rudimentary. It is hard to imagine a library needing this title. Libraries having more than a few of the journal titles would almost certainly have MEDLINE or Index Medicus. The field is growing and access to the most current literature is important.?-Choice

?Updates Abel's first bibliography covering 1973-1984 (Greenwood Press, 1985). Some 1,800 entries are arranged alphabetically by author, and are briefly annotated. Most are articles from medical journals in Abel's personal collection. . . The index is thorough, compiled not just from titles, but also from key words in the annotations.?-Reference & Research Book News

"Updates Abel's first bibliography covering 1973-1984 (Greenwood Press, 1985). Some 1,800 entries are arranged alphabetically by author, and are briefly annotated. Most are articles from medical journals in Abel's personal collection. . . The index is thorough, compiled not just from titles, but also from key words in the annotations."-Reference & Research Book News

"Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a hot topic; but this reviewer is biased against unannotated, apparently uncritical bibliographies. Most people would be better off, and more up to date, with a MEDLINE search. A sample (10% of the citations) showed that about 80% of the citations were from journals indexed there or in Index Medicus. Many of the others were books or dissertations, indexed elsewhere (though not in MEDLINE or Index Medicus). Almost all of the citations are to fairly technical articles. Many are animal studies and some seem, frankly, very marginal. Citations are alphabetical by author. The subject index is rudimentary. It is hard to imagine a library needing this title. Libraries having more than a few of the journal titles would almost certainly have MEDLINE or Index Medicus. The field is growing and access to the most current literature is important."-Choice

About the Author

ERNEST L. ABEL is the Director of the C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development and a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Psychology at Wayne State University. He is the author of Behavioral Teratogenesis and Behavioral Mutagenesis, (1989) Viruses and Reproduction, (Greenwood Press, 1988) and Homicide (Greenwood Press, 1987).