The old-fashioned doctor, whose departure from the modern medical scene is so greatly lamented, was amply aware of each patient's per sonality, family, work, and way of life. Today, we often blame a doctor's absence of that awareness on moral or ethical deficiency either in medical education or in the character of people who become physicians. An alternative explanation, however, is that doctors are just as moral, ethical, and concerned as ever before, but that a vast amount of additional new information has won the competition for attention. The data available to the old-fashioned doctor were a patient's history, phys ical examination, and "personal profile," together with a limited number of generally ineffectual therapeutic agents. A doctor today deals with an enormous array of additional new information, which comes from X-rays, biopsies, cytology, electrographic tracings, and the phantas magoria of contemporary laboratory tests, and the doctor must also be aware of a list of therapeutic possibilities that are both far more effective and far more extensive than ever before.

The Massachusetts General Hospital is widely respected as one of the world's premier psychiatric institutions. Now, preeminent authorities from MGH present the newly updated edition of Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry, a unique medical reference book that continues to simplify your access to the current clinical knowledge you need - both in print and online! It provides practical approaches to a wide variety of clinical syndromes and settings, aided by stunning graphics and hundreds of questions and answers geared to each chapter. You'll have convenient access to all the authoritative answers necessary to overcome any clinical challenge. User-friendly, highly templated organization with abundant boxed summaries, bulleted points, case histories, algorithms, references, and suggested readings. Peerless, hands-on advice from members of the esteemed MGH Department of Psychiatry helps you put today's best approaches to work for your patients. Interactive and downloadable Q&As for each chapter allow you to test your retention of the material covered. In-depth coverage of many unique areas, including Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders in Transitioning Adolescents and Young Adults; Neuroanatomical Systems Relevant to Neuropsychiatric Disorders; Legal and Ethical Issues in Psychiatry; Military Psychiatry; and Approaches to Collaborative Care and Primary Care Psychiatry. Features full, new DSM-5 criteria; new art, tables, and key points; and new Alzheimer's Disease guidelines. Highlights recent developments in the field, such as neurotherapeutics, new psychotropics, military psychiatry, collaborative care, ensuring your knowledge is thoroughly up to date. Expert Consult eBook version included with purchase. This enhanced eBook experience allows you to search all of the text, figures, and references from the book on a variety of devices.

Electronic Inspection Copy available for instructors here "This book wins on two levels: not only is there an extensive range of concepts presented (including some that are unexpected yet clearly relevant), there is also a succinct, thorough and critical dissection of each. Recommended, if not essential, reading for all student mental health professionals." - Dr Steven Pryjmachuk, Head of Mental Health Division, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester Mental health is an area that new students and trainee practitioners often find bewildering. This book cuts through the stigma associated with this topic. It delivers bite-sized chunks of information that cover the central concepts and debates which shape contemporary views about mental health and illness. As this book shows, these key concepts not only influence our understanding of mental health, but also govern the provision of services for people with mental-health problems. Drawing together perspectives from sociology, psychiatry, psychology and ethics, the vital topics in mental health are examined in three parts: - PART ONE: Mental Health and Mental-Health Problems explores theories and understandings of mental health and illness - PART TWO: Mental Health Services looks at the structure and organization of mental health service delivery, past and present - PART THREE: Mental Health and Society studies the social context. This new edition adds 10 new concepts as well as updating the previous entries. New topics include childhood adversity, recovery, spirituality, well-being, social and cultural capital, quality of mental-health services, evidence-based practice, and work and mental health. This book will be invaluable for trainee health professionals, including clinical psychologists, social workers, nurses, counsellors and psychotherapists.