Massachusetts General Hospital Handbook of General Hospital Psychiatry, 7th Edition

By Theodore A. Stern, MD

ISBN: 9780323484114

Pub Date: 30 Aug 2017

Reviewed by: Aaron Plattner, MD (Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services)

Description

This is an update of a 2010 guide to consultation-liaison psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine. This edition includes access to an online version that is an exact replication of the print version, but is easier to use because of its search capability, portability, ability to be updated, and hyperlinks to referenced material.

Purpose

The authors note the purpose is to provide “…an authoritative, easy-to-understand review of the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of psychiatric problems experienced by adults and children with medical and surgical conditions.” This is bold claim, and a worthy objective that the book meets.

Audience

Although the authors do not identify a specific audience, because of the clarity of the presentation, any physician practicing in an inpatient setting would benefit from this book. Psychiatrists practicing in a consultation-liaison service will benefit the most. The authors are credible authorities in this area who succeed in meeting the needs of these audiences.

Features

The 54 chapters cover a vast array of subjects ranging from the basic psychiatric diseases in different life stages, substance use disorders, interactions between medical and psychiatric diseases, and psychopharmacology, to psychological and philosophical ramifications of working with the ill and practical recommendations for interviewing and running a consultation-liaison service.

Assessment

This handbook is informative and enjoyable to read. The authors clearly know their subject well based on how well they are able to clearly explain complicated matters. Each chapter can stand alone for the busy clinician who interested in a particular topic. The ability to access the information digitally adds to the convenience. This update is necessary given the changes in the DSM-5. This handbook is one of the best on psychiatric care in an inpatient setting that I have reviewed. I would highly recommend it to physicians who work primarily in an inpatient setting.

Doody’s Review Service Weighted Numerical Score: 95 – 4 Stars!