Psychiatry Algorithms for Primary Care

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