Now in its third edition, Essentials of Psychiatry provides a synopsis of the most important clinical material included within the fifth edition of The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry, a work hailed as the best reference for the majority of practicing psychiatrists (Doody's Book Reviews). Revised and updated to incorporate the latest research findings, this economical paperback abridgement of the Textbook presents, in distilled form, the core knowledge base of clinical psychiatry by focusing on information of greatest relevance to students, residents, and practicing clinicians.

To create the Essentials, the editors meticulously vetted the original Textbook's 44 chapters and selected those they deemed most important for clinical practice. The resulting 22 chapters constitute a concise yet comprehensive tutorial on clinical psychiatry and are presented in a manner that is at once interesting and accessible. Included in this volume are

Two chapters dedicated to psychiatric interviewing and diagnostic assessment (including laboratory testing and neuroimaging).

Twelve chapters covering clinically common psychiatric disorders (delirium and dementia; substance abuse; schizophrenia; and mood, anxiety, somatoform, adjustment, impulse-control, personality, childhood-onset, sleep, and eating disorders).

Four chapters summarizing major treatments and therapies (psychopharmacology, brief psychotherapies, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and cognitive therapy).

Two chapters focused on specific patient populations (children/adolescents, and seniors).

Two chapters addressing additional critical issues (psychiatry and the law; suicide).


Preface. The psychiatric interview and mental status examination. Laboratory testing and imaging studies in psychiatry. Delirium, dementia, and amnestic and other cognitive disorders. Substance-related disorders. Schizophrenia. Mood disorders. Anxiety disorders. Somatoform disorders. Adjustment disorders. Impulse-control disorders not elsewhere classified. Personality disorders. Disorders usually first diagnosed in infancy, childhood, or adolescence. Sleep disorders. Eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and obesity. Psychopharmacology. Brief psychotherapies. Psychodynamic psychotherapy. Cognitive therapy. Treatment of children and adolescents. Treatment of seniors. Psychiatry and the law. Suicide. Index