Introductory Textbook of Psychiatry

Book excerpt: The third edition of this bestselling, lively text depicts psychiatry as a field virtually exploding with new knowledge. Its two distinguished authors, whose work as scholars, teachers, and research scientists enhances this volume's appeal, present the fundamentals for practicing psychiatry. This dynamic field is summarized in four sections: "background" (e.g., history, diagnosis, neurobiology), "psychiatric disorders" (e.g., cognitive, mood, anxiety, dissociative, and personality disorders), "special topics" (e.g., violent behavior, legal issues), and psychosocial and somatic "treatments," In addition to exciting new findings about specific psychiatric disorders and new case vignettes, illustrations, and tables, the authors include expanded chapters on the psychiatric aspects of AIDS, reflecting the exponential increase in knowledge about this still-unchecked worldwide epidemic, and on somatic treatments, reflecting the burgeoning knowledge about new drug treatments, particularly antidepressants. The authors have also added the Beck Depression Inventory-a self-report patient questionnaire to help the clinician obtain an objective measure of the patient's condition-to their helpful appendix of commonly used diagnostic scales and measurements. The authors also include model curriculum recommendations for students and psychiatry clerkship directors. Popular among an increasing number of professors, this highly readable, comprehensive textbook is targeted specifically for third- and fourth-year medical students rotating through psychiatry and first- and second-year residents, and generally for clinicians in private practice, social workers, nursing students, physician's assistants, and laypersons interested in learning more about psychiatric illnesses.