Psychiatric illnesses are common co-morbidities among patients who are medically ill. Approximately 50% of patients who visit primary care physicians regularly are primarily affected by psychiatric problems. Many primary care physicians (including family physicians and general internists) and other non-psychiatric specialist physicians encounter patients with psychiatric symptoms on a daily basis during their routine practice. Few non-psychiatric physicians, however, feel comfortable managing psychiatric conditions. This pocket-sized guide is designed to provide a concise, practical overview of the management and treatment of common psychiatric disorders, including such conditions as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorders and schizophrenia. The book will feature an overview of the general practice of Psychiatry, including guidance on mental status examination and diagnosis, neuropsychological assessment, and psychotherapy, as well as a detailed section on psychiatric pharmacotherapies. The remaining chapters of the book are organized by symptom-based presentations of patients to physicians, rather than by diseases or diagnosis, such as 'The Depressed Patient' or 'The Insomniac Patient.' This unique approach is highly practical and reflects real-world physician experience in clinical settings in assessing and managing psychiatric disorders. Each symptom-based chapter will present a typical patient case followed by an outline of commonly seen symptoms, bedside assessments, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, and treatment options, as well as guidance on when to call for psychiatric consultation. This book will focus on differentials that will help non-psychiatric physicians gain a greater understanding of psychiatric conditions and will provide directions for triage. The uniqueness of psychiatric problems in co-morbid medical conditions will be described, as well as interventional considerations. This book should serve as a very user-friendly and reliable tool for non-psychiatric physicians, especially for primary care physicians and internists for their daily clinical practice.
