Latifa Patel, University of Liverpool

This is a good book. If you don’t have a special interest in Psychiatry and you just want to know enough detail to get you through the psychiatry rotation and the psychiatry component of your exams then this is the book for you. If reading through endless paragraphs of black and white text coupled with mono-coloured tables and weak diagrams is too much then this is the book for you! This book covers most core psychiatric diseases in a double A4 page spread. Whilst the text is quite densely packed it’s nicely broken down by colourful, easy to follow illustrations (like it says on the cover!) And like all good psychiatry books it includes a section on the Mental Health Act, Case Studies and Self Assessment Questions. Enjoy, L (“,)

Posted 21st Feb 2011

Vaibhav Gupta, The University of Nottingham

For a medical student just starting their Psychiatry rotation, this book is an easy-to-read resource that helps you understand how psychiatric care is structured and the key principles that guide this specialty and make it different from others, like taking a more detailed personal patient history and asking about their life before they noticed some of the current symptoms. It then goes on to cover conditions in a good amount of detail but keeps sections short so you aren’t overwhelmed by the reading ahead of you. The pictures and diagrams illustrate points really quickly and fluidly, so even flipping through them makes for good, light revision when you aren’t in the mood for getting into the text. Overall, the text is a good companion for your Psychiatry rotation and helps you understand the things you’ll need to get a good handle on the discipline.

Posted 27th Jan 2011

Bernard Ho, St George's, University of London

Perfect book for learning from for those that don't want a heavy read. This book gives a nice overview of all the important psychiatric diseases and treatments, and gives very very brief summary points at the end of each section. With lots of useful diagrams and tables, I highly recommend this book on the bookshelves of every medical student.

Posted 24th Jan 2011