The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry, 5th Edition

According to the editors, this textbook is intended for use by practicing psychiatrists and advanced psychiatry residents, as well as physicians in other specialties, such as family medicine, internal medicine, and neurology. This fifth edition includes 66 new contributions from a total of 104 contributors. It comprises 44 chapters, divided into six parts: Interviewing and Testing, Basic Science and Development, Psychiatric Disorders, Psychiatric Treatments, Special Patient Populations, and Important Clinical Issues. Overall, this is a fine textbook. It is very nicely produced, with abundant figures, tables, and illustrations. The chapters were written by many notable and respected clinicians, teachers, and researchers. The layout is very pleasing to the eye, with a red, white, and blue color theme used effectively throughout. Part I, Interviewing and Testing, has an excellent chapter, Laboratory Testing and Imaging Studies in Psychiatry (Kim HF, Schulz PE, Wilde EA, et al.), with a collection of useful tables that recommend diagnostic work-ups for the patient with 1) new-onset psychosis; 2) new-onset depressive or manic symptoms; 3) new-onset anxiety symptoms; 4) altered mental status; and 5) cognitive decline. Also, this chapter contains a fine section on neuroimaging studies, with beautiful color figures that illustrate the different imaging modalities described. Part II contains an impressive chapter, Neuroanatomy for the Psychiatrist (Taber KH, Hurley RA) that the authors modestly proffer as a “visual refresher.” It is much more than that: it is a clear, readable, and interesting discourse of a subject that many (even some consultation–liaison psychiatrists) find challenging, frustrating, and, sometimes, impenetrable. An especially helpful table, Summary of Functional Anatomy Pertinent to Psychiatry, is included, which identifies brain regions or structures, their functions of interest, and the common consequences of injury to those regions or structures. Part III, Psychiatric Disorders, is arranged, more or less, per the taxonomy of the DSM-IV–TR, comprising 18 chapters. This section contains the “nuts and bolts” of psychiatry: psychiatric disorders, their definition, historical perspective, etiology and pathogenesis, differential diagnosis, and treatment. Each chapter in this and all other sections ends with a bulleted list of key points—a collection of “takehome” messages that effectively summarize each chapter and serve as an effective mnemonic device for the busy reader. Also, each chapter includes a short list of suggested readings in addition to the much longer reference section. The intent of the suggested readings is to provide some “foundation” references that give a broad overview of a particular subject. For example, the chapter on sleep disorders includes The International Classification of Sleep Disorders, 2nd Edition (ICSD–2): Diagnostic and Coding Manual. The Suggested Readings and References sections for all chapters are up-to-date and pertinent. Part IV, Psychiatric Treatments, includes chapters on psychopharmacology, nonpharmacological somatic treatments, and various forms of psychotherapy. The chapter that deals with combining psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy (Riba MB and Balon R) is notable. Especially helpful was the discussion of “split treatment;” that is, pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy that are divided or shared by at least two different clinicians, because it speaks directly to, and offers suggestions about, prevention of potential “splitting” of the psychotherapist and psychopharmacologist—a common occurrence that can lead to poorer patient outcomes as well as professional isolation. Part V, Special Patient Populations, includes chapters on children and adolescents; seniors; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender patients; and women. These chapters are certainly appropriate and are well-written and informative. The chapter on seniors (Blazer DG) covers the important psychiatric conditions that might occur in an elderly patient, including memory loss, acute confusion, anxiety, suspiciousness, agitation, depression, and hypochondriasis. Also, insomnia,