Handbook of Medicine in Psychiatry.

The Handbook of Medicine in Psychiatry is directed toward psychiatrists who may not feel comfortable addressing medical conditions that often arise in psychiatric patients—especially lipid management, common infections, and electrolyte abnormalities. The book is well organized into a series of common medical conditions, and the chapters vary in content from directions on how to manage situations of less acuity to discussions of more complex differentials and needs for referral in higher acuity cases. Many chapters are further enhanced by the presence of flowcharts for quick reference and increased ease of use. The book is well written at an appropriate level for psychiatrists who may not have an internal medicine background, and the table of contents and index provide for easy accessibility. The text will find a primary home in the offices of psychiatrists who wish to take a more active role in the management of their patients’ medical conditions as well as those who may have suboptimal medical backup for routine complaints. While the Handbook of Medicine in Psychiatry will not replace the value of consulting physicians, psychiatrists will gain in medical knowledge such that it will be less likely for medical comorbidities to be underrecognized or suboptimally treated. The authors should be commended for their effort. Harold W. Goforth, M.D. Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina