Psychiatry Algorithms for Primary Care is a practical, quick reference guide to psychiatric assessment and mental healthcare in general practice. Providing algorithms informed by evidence-based guidelines, this easy-to-use resource helps busy medical and healthcare professionals quickly assess mental health problems, make informed treatment decisions, and understand when referrals to specialist mental health services are appropriate. Drawing from their extensive experience in general practice and psychiatry, the authors provide clear and authoritative guidance on a wide range of common psychiatric disorders, complex scenarios, and special considerations.
Unique visual management algorithms define assessment, diagnosis, investigations and management for each condition, including Bipolar Affective Disorder, Psychosis, Depression, Dementia, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Up-to-date information on medication choices and counselling strategies is found throughout the text. Designed for informing swift clinical decisions in demanding primary care settings, this indispensable reference guide:
- Conforms to the diagnostic criteria in the current edition of the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases
- Contains algorithms informed by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych), and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines
- Explores common complaints that can suggest psychological or psychiatric disorders, such as insomnia and fatigue
- Outlines special mental health considerations related to children, intellectual disability, autism, the elderly, and pregnancy
- Includes appendices covering commonly prescribed drugs and physical examinations for patients with severe mental illness
- Features numerous self-assessment questions and links to online reference tools for General Practitioners
Psychiatry Algorithms for Primary Care is a much-needed resource for medical students and trainees, physicians and healthcare professionals in general practice, nurse practitioners, and practitioners in other fields such as urgent care and emergency medicine.
Table of Contents
Foreword ix
Acknowledgements xi
Author Profiles xii
Part 1 Introduction 1
1 How to Use This book 3
2 History Taking in General Practice 5
3 The Rapid Mental State Examination 8
Part 2 Common Psychiatric Disorders 13
4 Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) 15
5 Panic Disorder 19
6 Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) 22
7 Social Phobia 25
8 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 28
9 Depression 31
10 Bipolar Affective Disorder (BPAD) 35
11 Psychosis 39
12 Eating Disorders 43
13 Personality Disorders 46
14 Alcohol Use Disorder 50
15 Substance Use Disorder 54
16 Opiate Use Disorder 57
17 Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) 60
18 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) 63
19 Delirium 65
20 Dementia 68
Part 3 Common Presentations in Primary Care 71
21 Fatigue 73
22 Insomnia 76
23 Medically Unexplained Symptoms 79
Part 4 Complex Scenarios 83
24 Suicide and Self Harm 85
25 Aggression 89
26 Referrals for Involuntary Care 91
Part 5 Special Considerations in Prescribing 95
27 Special Considerations: Older Adults 97
28 Special Considerations in Prescribing: Children and Adolescents 100
29 Special Considerations in Prescribing: People with Intellectual Disabilities 103
30 Special Considerations in Prescribing: Pregnancy and Breastfeeding 105
Part 6 Appendices 107
31 Commonly Prescribed Drugs 109
32 Physical Health in Patients with Severe Mental Illness 119
Part 7 Self-Assessment 123
33 Self-Assessment Cases 125
34 Self-Assessment Answers 138
Index 140
