Reviewer: William Miles, MD (Rush University Medical Center)
Description: This concise, well-organized book aimed at the primary care physician is an overview of the epidemiology, DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, pathophysiology, and treatment strategies for psychiatric disorders commonly found in the primary care setting.
Purpose: The purpose is to help primary care physicians develop or refine strategies for identifying, screening, and treating patients with psychiatric disorders.
Audience: Although the intended audience is the primary care physician, any physician who may treat patients with psychiatric disorders, including psychiatrists themselves, would find the book useful.
Features: The first section of the book is an overview of commonly encountered psychiatric disorders. The epidemiology, pathophysiology, presentation, and treatment strategies are discussed. In the second section psychotropic medications are discussed in detail. Numerous tables illustrating the pharmacokinetics, side effects, drug interactions, and dosing strategies of psychiatric drugs are included in this section. The third section is an overview of pharmacotherapy in primary care, and treating special populations such as pregnant or elderly patients is discussed. The book concludes with an excellent resource section with addresses and phone numbers of mental health organizations and examples of some of the more common psychiatric rating scales. There is a thorough bibliography with over 300 references.
Assessment: This book is an invaluable aid to any physician treating patients with psychiatric disorders. Although it is aimed at the primary care provider, other physicians will find it useful. The inclusion of addresses and phone numbers for mental health organizations is an especially nice touch. There are several other similar reference texts available, but this one is probably the most useful.
