As a scientific discipline, psychiatry has enormous breadth. It comprises both the technical, as in the frontier-expanding research in molecular genetics -- and the human and personal, as in the insights and support therapeutically given when a clinician treats a patient. The Introductory Textbook of Psychiatry, Fifth Edition, equips the clinical student with a sure and knowledgeable grasp of the many facets of psychiatry.

Now in its fifth edition, this best-selling book has been revised and updated to reflect the latest advancements in the field. Guiding readers in an easy-to-follow, conversational style, the expert authors and teachers divide the text into three parts: Part I focuses on the background of psychiatry, including diagnosis and classification, interview and assessment techniques, and the neurobiology and genetics behind mental illness. It includes a detailed introduction to psychiatric interviewing. Part II introduces the clinical student to all DSM disorders arranged by diagnostic category -- everything from dementia and alcohol abuse, to schizophrenia and sexual dysfunction, to eating disorders and impulse-control disorders. Each chapter contains an overview of the disorder, epidemiology and etiology, diagnostic criteria, and up-to-date treatment information, before going on to a more in-depth examination of several specific disorders within that given category. And finally, Part III addresses special topics, such as legal issues, child psychiatry, psychotherapy, and psychopharmacology. To further enhance learning, the book also features: • Insightful case vignettes• Helpful key points and self-assessment questions at the end of each chapter• A full glossary• Useful tables and figures throughout

The primary purposes of psychiatry as a medical discipline are to define and recognize illnesses, to identify methods for treating them, and ultimately to develop methods for discovering their causes and implementing preventive measures. The Introductory Textbook of Psychiatry, Fifth Edition, is a comprehensive textbook made for learning. This relevant and essential tool will give its readers an advantageous start in the exciting field of contemporary psychiatry.