Psychiatry at a Glance

From The Critics

Reviewer: Michael Joel Schrift, D.O., M.A.(University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine)
Description: This book summarizes the content of a British lecture course in psychiatry and is written by two well-known experts in the field.
Purpose: According to the authors, the intention of this book is to provide a concise, easily portable summary of the content of a comprehensive lecture course in psychiatry.
Audience: The book is primarily aimed at medical students, but it also can be used as a study guide for nurses, psychologists, social workers and other mental health workers.
Features: The book features 35 sections covering the scope of psychiatry. Each section begins with tables and diagrams. The authors believe that the diagrams and tables encapsulate all that the student needs to know to pass exams. Because it has a British orientation, such sections on psychiatry in the community and another on the 1983 Mental Health Act would tend not to interest American medical students.
Assessment: Although this is a worthwhile book, as a course director of medical student psychiatric training, I could not recommend this book for American medical students. Although this book contains the breadth of what is needed to be taught, it does not have the depth. It could not be used as the sole textbook of a medical student psychopathology course. It sort of is the "Cliff Notes" version of psychiatry. Also there are no cited references or suggested further readings that would encourage students interested in psychiatry to read more about the subject. Also, it really isn't that portable. It is too large and cannot fit into a pocket!

Michael J. Schrift

This book summarizes the content of a British lecture course in psychiatry and is written by two well-known experts in the field. According to the authors, the intention of this book is to provide a concise, easily portable summary of the content of a comprehensive lecture course in psychiatry. The book is primarily aimed at medical students, but it also can be used as a study guide for nurses, psychologists, social workers and other mental health workers. The book features 35 sections covering the scope of psychiatry. Each section begins with tables and diagrams. The authors believe that the diagrams and tables encapsulate all that the student needs to know to pass exams. Because it has a British orientation, such sections on psychiatry in the community and another on the 1983 Mental Health Act would tend not to interest American medical students. Although this is a worthwhile book, as a course director of medical student psychiatric training, I could not recommend this book for American medical students. Although this book contains the breadth of what is needed to be taught, it does not have the depth. It could not be used as the sole textbook of a medical student psychopathology course. It sort of is the Cliff Notes version of psychiatry. Also there are no cited references or suggested further readings that would encourage students interested in psychiatry to read more about the subject. Also, it really isn't that portable. It is too large and cannot fit into a pocket!

Booknews

Provides a concise, visually-oriented summary of the field of psychiatry intended as a study guide for clinical undergraduate- level medical students as well as psychiatrists and physicians in training, nurses, psychologists, and others in allied health professions. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR booknews.com

3 Stars from Doody