Pocket Handbook of Primary Care Psychiatry.

Abstract

The Pocket Handbook of Primary Care Psychiatry is a reasonable source of information for primary care physicians, particularly in areas of non–mood disorders such as schizophrenia, anorexia nervosa, or somatoform disorder. The book hits the major highlights, describing patient presentation, treatment, and symptoms requiring further investigation or hospitalization. The book is divided into 3 parts: (1) chapters covering the field of primary care psychiatry, (2) discussions of almost every psychiatric disorder that may be encountered in the office, and (3) strategies for treatment and management of psychiatric disorders. As an example, Chapter 9, titled “Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders,” begins with a definition of a brief psychotic disorder then lists the clinical features and diagnosis, interviewing and psychotherapeutic guidelines, evaluation and management, and drug treatment strategies for this illness. The chapter continues for all presentations related to schizophrenia such as hallucinations, illusions, and delusional disorder. I was somewhat disappointed to note that the book did not include a more in-depth examination and discussion of other illnesses often encountered by primary care physicians, namely bipolar II disorder and cyclothymia. However, given the authors' orientation as practicing psychiatrists and the novelty of bipolar illness as an important entity in primary care, this lack could be expected. The book would better serve primary care physicians if bipolar spectrum conditions and dysthymia were included. This book functions better as a quick reference for the major psychiatric illnesses that present in an emergency setting. However, for those illnesses that often present in the ambulatory setting, other sources will be needed for clinical guidance.