Abstract
This is a multi-authored book that aims to provide clinicians from a variety of backgrounds with information to improve their clinical skills. It is written largely by English clinicians and as such has a UK emphasis. This is no bad thing. The majority of books in consultation–liaison psychiatry are written by and for US clinicians.
The book is divided into five sections entitled Basic skills; Common psychiatric problems across the general hospital; Working with specific units; Treatment; and Different treatment settings. As these divisions suggest, a very broad range of consultation–liaison topics are covered by the book. This leads to a somewhat superficial coverage in parts of the book, but also ensures that someone in training would have access to at least some information about most of the patients they are seeing.
Like most multi-authored texts the quality of individual chapters varies. Their tone is also quite different; some chapters deal in some depth with a large literature while others are much more clinically orientated.
The general tone is sober and reflective, perhaps reflecting its UK origins. In general the authors are frank about the limits of data in evidence-based treatment for the majority of conditions treated in consultation–liaison psychiatry. There are chapters on relatively new specialties such as cosmetic procedures.
Overall, the book is well thought out and well written. While not presenting itself as a reference book it does provide some reasonably in-depth information on most difficulties that specialists in consultation–liaison psychiatry are likely to encounter. It also refers to appropriate papers for further reading. For trainees it is probably the ideal balance between width and depth of knowledge and comes particularly highly recommended for them.
Roger Mulder
Christchurch, New Zealand
© 2007 Roger Mulder