Clinical Skills in Psychiatric Treatment

Dedicated to teaching skills and ways of working that are increasingly assessed in training.

Rob Poole (Author), Robert Higgo (Author)

9780521705707, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 29 May 2008

240 pages, 1 b/w illus.
23.2 x 15.5 x 1.2 cm, 0.41 kg

'The reason this book works is that it feels like a series of expert clinical supervisions on the topics that are rarely discussed in textbooks but which actually comprise the majority of day-to-day work. … the aim of this book is not to give the definitive management plan for a particular case example but to illuminate the processes involved in making clinical decisions. It is clearly and logically set out and written with sufficient humour to make it an easy read. I would recommend the book to more experienced trainees or newly appointed consultants.' Psychological Medicine

Effective and capable clinicians need to develop strong interpersonal, intellectual and organisational abilities. This practical and accessible text explores clinical skills that are increasingly assessed in training, postgraduate examinations, continuing professional development programmes and reaccreditation appraisals. It is concerned with balancing the demands of the patient's life circumstances with lessons from empirical science and clinical experience. These skills help clinicians to put interventions together into effective treatment plans, and to develop strategies that facilitate recovery from mental illness. This book is written from a multidisciplinary perspective and it explores new ways of working. Although it is primarily addressed to psychiatrists, it is relevant to mental health nurses, social workers, occupational therapists and clinical psychologists.

Introduction
Part I. Underlying Principles: 1. Starting points
2. A triangle of forces
3. Treatment objectives
4. Strategic treatment
Part II. The Context and Location of Treatment: 5. Teams
6. Team work
7. Inpatient treatment in the era of community psychiatry
8. Compulsion and locked doors
9. Not at home, not in hospital
10. Models of care
Part III. Problems in Treatment: 11. Engagement
12. Compliance and concordance
13. Treatment resistance
14. Complicated problems
15. Managing risk
16. Staying well
Part IV. Coping: 17. Coping with dilemmas
18. Coping with change
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Clinical psychology [MMJ], Psychiatry [MMH], Health psychology [MBNH9]