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380 BULLETIN OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS, VOL 1!, NOVEMBER 1987
A Guide to Psychiatric Textbooks for Medical Students
JOHNDUNN,Registrar in Psychiatry, St Thomas' Hospital, London SEI
Atan important interview,acandidate wasasked about his (1) Key to Psychiatry. A Textbook for Students. M. J.
experience in teaching medical students. He replied with an Sainsbury. Chichester: John Wiley& Sons. 1980.£11.95.
enthusiastic and detailed account of hisseeminglyextensive This book iswritten with nursing students in mind but it
experience in this field. However, when asked to name one is eminently suitable for medical students. The author, a
psychiatric textbook suitable for medical students there fol psychiatrist, works at the Institute of Psychiatry in New
lowed a fumbling and paradoxical silence. When asked the South Wales.The whole approach of the book isstrikingly
same question, although able to name a small number of different from many of those which arc homegrown; psy
such books, embarrassingly Ihad to admit that asa student chiatry in practice is the theme, making it a very readable
I had never possessed any one of them. I subsequently put text. The chapter on psychopathology isdetailed and meth
the question to some of mycolleagues and was reassured to odically presented. Drug treatments are wellcovered and as
findthat my own omission wascommonly shared. well as discussing the indications for use. side effects and
When faced with recommending a textbook for medical suggested doses, the author makes several interesting
students the difficulty lies in deciding which criteria, in points, for example, chlorpromazine suppositories in
addition to the price, should be considered. I suggest the 100mgdoses are "available but rarely used". Community
three areas that should be reviewed: care is detailed and is emphasised throughout the book.
Firstly, and most importantly, is the quality of the Other worthy chapters include: "The nurse as a person"
chapter on psychopathology: this,after all, isthe bedrock of and "The hospital as a therapeutic community". Beingan
psychiatry, and knowledge ofthis should beregarded as the Australian book, the Mental Health Act 1983is omitted,
minimum standard to be attained by all medical students. but this is a small price to pay for the many outstanding
This subject has the added advantage of being at the begin features ispossesses.
ning of most psychiatric textbooks and therefore the
chapter most likely to be read. If the primacy and novelty (2) Psychiatry. Sir William Trethowan and A. C. P. Sims.
effects so often described by psychologists are to be London: BaillièreTindall (HBJ) 5th Edition. 1983.£7.50.
believed, it is also the one most likelyto be remembered. Considered by many psychiatrists as the standard
The second criterion concerns the section on drug treat student text, this viewisnot necessarily shared by an equal
ments, though psychodynamic psychiatrists might disagree proportion of medical students. It isa comprehensive book
with this point. However, it is the use of pharmacological and very reasonably priced. Psychopathology is described
agents in the treatment of mental illnesses that give psy in great detail, perhaps too much detail for the student. The
chiatry justification for remaining under the umbrella of treatments section is divided into three parts: social,
medicine, rather than sociology, psychology or other disci psychological and physical. Drug treatments are systemati
plines. The effects and side-effects of. and the indications cally reviewed, although actual doses are not mentioned.
and centra-indications for. psychotropic drugs are an The Mental Health Act 1983 is outlined in a realistic
essential part of the medical knowledge. manner, reflecting its use by psychiatrists in every day
Finally, the third criterion I suggest is the attention and practice. The community approach isapparent throughout
space given in the text to the use of community and social under such subheadings as: "The role of the social worker"
approaches in the management and after care of mentally and "voluntary associations" (meaning organisations).
ill people. Admitting patients to hospital for treatment, This isan excellentbook, but perhaps ofmore interest to the
although frequently necessary, is not always appropriate aspiring psychiatrist rather than the future thoracic
and may reflect a lack of imagination as well as a lack of surgeon.
suitable alternatives. These facilitiesand provisions should
be welldescribed, as only by being aware of their existence (3) Psychiatry for Students. D. Stafford-Clark and A. C.
can weincrease our therapeutic armoury for the benefit of Smith. London: George Allen& Unwin. 6th Edition. 1983.
our patients. £8.95.
It is not my proposal that psychiatry should be learnt The format of this book differs from the previous two.
from a textbook. Knowledge of the printed word isno sub in so far as there are no separate chapters on either
stitute for experience, but it is an important adjunct. With psychopathology or drug treatments. Both these areas
the above criteria in mind I shall reviewsixpsychiatric text are fairly well covered in the subsequent chapters on the
books that are marketed for medical students. Myintention individual psychiatric syndromes. Community psychiatry is
isto provide only a guide to the quality of some of the books not mentioned in depth, although the "Management of
available and not an exhaustive account of all such books chronic schizophrenia in the community" is discussed
that can be found. briefly.The almost token comment that mildcases(ofacute
https://doi.org/10.1192/S0140078900018484 Published online by Cambridge University Press
BULLETIN OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS, VOL 11, NOVEMBER 1987 3S1
schizophrenia) can be managed in a day hospital seemed highly commendable as these important professionals are
to me to suggest that the authors did not have much often ignored in many "heavier" psychiatric textbooks.
confidence in this approach.
This book is less detailed than the two above and in the (6) Notes on Psychiatry. I. M. Ingram, G. C. Timbury and
brevity and economy stakes has little more to offer than the R. M. Mowbray. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. 6th
short textbook mentioned below. Edition. 1985.£5.25.
This book is certainly the cheapest and. along with
(4) Lecture Notes in Psychiatry. J. Willis.Oxford: Blackwell Lecture Notes, the briefest, so much so that one wonders
ScientificPublications. 6th Edition. 1984.£6.50. why it took three authors to write it. Psychopathology is
The Lecture Notes series is generally much esteemed by reduced to a four page review of "Common Abnormali
medical students for their consistent brevity and port ties". The chapter on psychopharmacology is concise and
ability, but they are often disliked by the specialist who sees well set out. Community care is not considered separately
his or her speciality boiled down to an insulted and cachexie and in the section on schizophrenia its significance is rele
carcass. gated to one short paragraph. Rehabilitation fares better
The Lecture NotesinPsychiatry givea very brief account and isoutlined in a separate chapter.
of psychopathology which is little more than a list of signs LikeLecture Notes, this volume isnot intended as a refer
and symptoms with explanatory definitions. Physical treat ence book. Nevertheless, since the average student is
ments are presented conciselyand drug doses are suggested. unlikely to purchase two psychiatric textbooks, it is easy
Despite the chapter subheading "The Mental Health to see how this could be used as one. which cannot be
Amendment Bill1983"thetext itselfdescribes the 1959Act. recommended.
There is no separate chapter on community care but such To see the whole field of psychiatry reduced to a 160
an approach is discussed in the treatments sections of the page volume with frequent headings and wellspaced print
various psychiatric syndromes. inevitably represents psychiatry as a very limited subject
Intended as "Notes" and not as a standard reference this which has little to say for itself. This diminishes the credi
book achieves its objective. However, there isa temptation bility of psychiatry and the self-esteem of psychiatrists.
amongst students to usesuch books as a sole text, in which Psychiatry is a speciality, the importance of which is far
case I should be lessthan enthusiastic in recommending it. greater than its popularity within the medical profession as
a whole.
(5) Handbook of Psychiatry. R. Priest and G. Woolfson. In the final analysis it isup to the student to decide which,
London: Heinemann. 8th Edition. 1986.£7.95. if any, textbook he or shewould liketo read and learn from.
The chapter on psychopathology is extremely brief, When time and money are used as the criteria to judge a
although further information is given in the subsequent book by, brevity and cheapness take on disproportionate
chapters on psychiatric syndromes. Drug treatments are importance. Better informed medical students might
well covered and well laid out. Community care is briefly become better informed doctors, possessing a greater in
outlined in the chapter entitled "Organisation of Psychi sight and understanding of psychiatric phenomena which
atric Care", but otherwise it is not greatly emphasised. On are relevant to all branches of medicine. An introduction to
the practical side, nursing care isdiscussed in relation to the psychiatry through a textbook is not offered as a panacea
management of the patient with schizophrenia, which is for the uninformed, but it isa step in the right direction.
Psychiatric Practice in the Developing World
The Department of Psychiatry, University of Manchester, The cost of the course willbe £40per day or £190for the
willberunning aone-weekcourse on 'Psychiatric Practice in whole weekand willinclude lunch and other refreshments.
the Developing World' from 4-8 January 1988.The course Accommodation can bearranged inthe University Halls of
will concentrate on aspects of service planning, adminis Residence at a further cost of £11.50per night.
tration, public education, epidemiology, and training in Further information and application forms can be
areas of psychiatry of particular importance ina developing obtained from Linda Hollos. Administrator, Department
country. The course will not systematically cover research of Psychiatry, University Hospital of South Manchester,
methodology but there willbesessionson data analysis and West Didsbury, Manchester M20 8LR.
the presentation of data in lectures and publications.
First Annual Lecture on 'Research in Psychoanalysis'
The Research Committee of the British Psycho-Analytical p.m. at the Institute of Psycho-Analysis, Mansfield House.
Society announces the above lecture to be given by Pro- 63 New Cavendish Street, London WIM 7RD (telephone
fessor Robert S. Wallerstein, President of the International 01 5804952). Admission by ticket only from the Scientific
Psychoanalytical Association, on 4 November 1987at 8.30 Executive Officerat the above address.
https://doi.org/10.1192/S0140078900018484 Published online by Cambridge University Press
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