Psychiatric Primary Care

Linda Denise Oakley, Claudette Potter
Mosby-Year Book, Inc, 11830 Westline Industrial Dr, St Louis, MO 63146 USA
1997/448 pp

Strengths

Assessment and DSM-IV diagnosis

Weakness

Specific pharmacologie treatment

Audience

Family physicians and allied mental health professionals

The authors of this ambitious book state, “We have developed a book for primary care practitioners that presents everything from basic mental concepts and terms to clinical examples of psychiatric primary care.”

The book is divided into five parts that deal with basic concepts of assessment and diagnosis; common mental disorders; psychosocial problems; special populations and problems, such as children; and practice notes covering mental health laws, threatening patients, and clinical vignettes.

Illnesses are conceptualized in the biopsychosocial model, and diagnoses are based on DSM-IV definitions. This book is very strong in assessing mental disorders, presenting epidemiologic data, risk factors, psychiatric terminology, and DSM-IV criteria. It is also strong in addressing the psychosocial context in which mental illnesses occur.

This book is too general in the area of management. For example, in treating depression, information on using specific medications and dosages is not provided. As well, while cognitive-behavioural therapy is mentioned, advice on how to use it in specific disorders is not given. This wide-angle perspective on management, especially pharmacologie treatment, probably arises from the nursing background and praètice of the authors.

It is important to note, given the book’s emphasis on DSM-IV diagnoses, that the DSM itself is continually evolving and that its diagnoses are based strictly on empirical clinical presentation. We would be wise to acknowledge the ambiguities of human nature and not thoughtlessly use formulae to reduce the complexities and richness of human expression into 5-digit codes.

This book excels in teaching attitude and background knowledge of psychiatric primary care. However, specific knowledge and skills are still required for proficient practice. The book describes certain important aspects of continuing education in psychiatric primary care for Canadian physicians.

Related posts:

1. Treating mental illness in primary care Managing Mental Health Problems. A Practical Guide for Primary Care Nick Kates, Marilyn Craven Hogrefe & Huber Publishers, 12 Bruce Park Ave, Toronto, ON M4P 2S3 1998/390 pp Strengths Practical, useful instruction Weaknesses Not comprehensive For a long time, managing mental health problems...
2. Practical management in psychiatry Psychological Problems in General Practice A.C. Markus; C. Murray Parkes; P. Tomson; M.Johnston Oxford University Press, 70 Wynford Dr, Don Mills, ON M3C IJ9 1989/406 pp The authors believe that psychiatry in general practice is a different specialty from psychiatry in hospitals. The authors...
3. Living and Working with Schizophrenia Living and Working with Schizophrenia, 2nd ed. J.J. Jeffries, E. Plummer, M.V. Seeman and J.F. Thornton. 148 pp. University of Toronto Press, Toronto. 1990 ISBN 0-8020-6781 -6 This is a short, informative manual written for schizophrenic patients and their relatives, friends, employers and teachers....
4. Anxiety and Stress Management Trevor J Powell and Simon J Enright Routledge, Chapman and Hall, London 1989, 196 pages This useful book is the first in a series on strategies for mental health. Forthcoming titles will include Assertiveness training, Bereavement and loss and Rehabilitation and community care. If...
5. Acute Agitation and Aggression in Psychiatric Illnesses. Part 4 Patient Evaluation Once the safety of the patient and those around him is assured, a thorough evaluation is needed to identify contributing factors and to prevent further episodes. Medical, psychiatric and medication histories are core to an effective evaluation. Physicians, nurses, and pharmacists should...