Reviewer: Aderonke O Bamgbose Pederson, MD (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine)
Description: The main difference between this concise overview of the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders and the larger textbook it is based on is the absence of sections on behavioral sciences and references. Demographically, this book includes general topics that span diseases in children, adults, and the elderly. The book addresses the biological, psychological, and sociological aspects of the study of psychiatry in an equitable manner. The website offers online access to the book content.
Purpose: The purpose, according to the authors, is "to foster professional competence and ensure the highest quality care to those with mental disorders." Moreover, they note, "Each edition is thoroughly updated and the textbook has the reputation of being an independent, consistent, accurate, objective, and reliable compendium of new events in the field of psychiatry." The book is reliable both in addressing well established topics and in introducing newer, evolving areas, such as end-of-life issues and gender in terms of psychiatry.
Audience: The intended audience includes "psychiatrists and nonpsychiatric physicians, medical students, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, and other mental health professionals, such as occupational and art therapists." This book is used all over the world, and is structured in a manner that makes it easy to read. It is uncommon to find a book that encompasses what this one does: a comprehensive resource that provides an overview of the field, especially one useful for trainees in psychiatry. The authors are clinicians and educators who are well-known authorities in the field.
Features: The book is divided into adult psychiatry, child psychiatry, and geriatric psychiatry, and ends with miscellaneous but relevant topics. The book begins with contextualization of foundational psychiatric topics: classification, psychiatric interview, history, mental status examination, medical assessment, and laboratory testing. Chapters begin with an introduction. Each chapter that addresses mental disorders frames the material under headings of epidemiology, etiology, diagnostic methods, differential diagnosis, course, prognosis, and treatment. Case histories are included to contextualize clinical disorders, and bring some applicability to the material. There are two new chapters: public psychiatry and world aspects of psychiatry. The penultimate section discusses various aspects that overlap with other areas of medicine including palliative care (such as end-of-life issues), gender topics, recent events in society (natural disasters and terrorism), and world aspects of psychiatry as an introduction to the need for a global perspective in the treatment of mental illness. Each chapter in this section concludes with a discussion of treatment analysis. The book ends with a glossary of terms and an index. A glossary is especially important to make sure trainees are learning and using terms correctly.
Assessment: This is an excellent, concise book that serves as a less daunting alternative to the larger textbook. It is a comprehensive collection of knowledge that is more approachable, and it provides a foundation for individuals in training or professionals looking for a concise review. It is a needed resource that can serve as an initial single source of information about the field, especially for those who may initially find the larger book somewhat daunting.
"This book includes general topics that span diseases in children, adults, and the elderly. The book addresses the biological, psychological, and sociological aspects of the study of psychiatry in an equitable manner. The website offers online access to the book content." "This book is used all over the world, and is structured in a manner that makes it easy to read. It is uncommon to find a book that encompasses what this one does: a comprehensive resource that provides an overview of the field, especially one useful for trainees in psychiatry."The authors are clinicians and educators who are well-known authorities in the field.""This is an excellent, concise book that serves as a less daunting alternative to the larger textbook. It is a comprehensive collection of knowledge that is more approachable, and it provides a foundation for individuals in training or professionals looking for a concise review."Weighted Numerical Score: 87 - 3 Stars!Doodys Publishers' Club, Friday, March 3, 2017
