This electronic book has been written to provide practitioners with an up-to-date, easily accessible reference of clinical psychiatry. Designed for use with palm and handheld computer devices, it is a substantial resource of clinical topics and practical advice. It guides the reader through the initial assessment and evaluation of psychiatric patients, before providing more detailed discussions on common and not so common psychiatric disorders. It concludes with a highly informative, albeit brief, discussion of the key principles of pharmacological and somatic therapeutic options, interspersed with summary tables useful for everyday working. All information is presented in a concise, easily understood format, to which the reader quickly becomes accustomed.
The book is undoubtedly aimed as a working guide for the junior doctor who has little experience of clinical psychiatry and is likely to be most gratefully received by those making the transition from medical student to practising doctor. To this end the book provides useful day-to-day advice on a host of common issues, including patient admission, as well as a range of examples of how to format and record salient pieces of information in patient notes. Particular highlights are the guidance notes on distinguishing differential diagnoses detailed below every clinical topic and descriptions of personality disorders.
The book appears to have been written for the American reader – it is grounded on the DSM–IV diagnostic criteria and at times refers to US law. Although this does not detract from the book's usefulness, it may be confusing to non-American readers.
One aspect of the book that I found disappointing was the lack of cross-referencing and linking of topic areas. Although a rudimentary word or phrase search system exists, the book noticeably lacks any hyperlinks and at times the authors direct the reader to specific page numbers, something more akin to paper publications.
Overall, this electronic book provides a useful resource for the working doctor and is likely to be welcomed by those facing the prospect of having to work in a psychiatric setting for the first time.
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