10 Psychiatry books for doctors and psychologists

Devouring a great book is, without a doubt, an experience that can mark us for the rest of our lives, because there are texts that provide us with great knowledge in addition to entertaining us.

Obviously there are works that contain more commercial value than anything else, but there are volumes that enrich our experience as human beings and influence thousands of people with their incalculable utility.

The best books on psychiatry and mental health

Aware of this, we have spent our time compiling a list of the best psychiatry books for mental health professionals. If you're psychiatrist or clinical psychologist you can enjoy these texts and, at the same time, learn about your profession. Do not miss them!

1. Personality disorders in modern life (Theodore Milton and Roger Davis)

A fascinating text that was published in 2001. "Personality Disorders in Modern Life" is a very well written book that deals with personality disorders from a current perspective. Covers different psychopathologies such as, for example,

antisocial disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Histrionic personality disorder,narcissism, schizoid disorder or paranoid disorder.

The author deals with mental problems from different perspectives: biological, interpersonal or cognitive, among others.

• You can buy the book here.

2. Practical manual of forensic psychiatry (J. Czech González)

This work is a reference manual for both legal medicine and psychiatry professionals.. It is a quick reference and information guide on any subject related to this discipline, and, as a complement, this book offers access to a platform online in which it is possible to find 15 clinical cases, in addition to a battery with about 100 self-assessment questions and various models of reports and medical records forensics.

The web page that this work offers is an interactive space for discussion and exchange of knowledge between all readers of the work that ensures the updating of the contents in psychiatric material forensic.

• You can buy it through this link.

3. Anatomy of an Epidemic (Robert Whitaker)

"Anatomy of an Epidemic" is a very interesting book. The author wonders. Why has the number of mentally ill people in the United States tripled in the last two decades? At times, Whitaker appears as an anti-psychiatrist, criticizing some practices that are carried out in this discipline. To be a good professional in this field, it is necessary to read and understand the controversy that may exist around psychiatry.

For example, if the use of psychotropic drugs is excessive or not. Do you dare to enter these pages and reflect deeply?

• More information and purchase option at this link.

4. The Trouble Psychiatry (Daniel Carlat)

The book "Unhinged: The Trouble Psychiatry" by Daniel Carlat addresses various controversial issues in the field of psychiatry. For example, the use of DSM, excessive dependence on psychotropic drugs, and how the power of the pharmaceutical industry influences the use of psychoactive substances in psychiatric practice.

It is a short but fascinating book, because it brings to light the different themes that have generated debate in recent years and, in addition, offers creative solutions to these problems. It's only available in English.

• All the information here.

5. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V)

The DSM is also known as the "bible of psychiatry", and is the most widely accepted classification tool for mental disorders, both for clinical diagnosis and for research and teaching in this field. It is used in the clinical and psychiatric setting, but this guide should be accompanied by clinical judgment in addition to the professional knowledge and ethical criteria necessary for good practice professional.

Ultimately, the DSM provides a common language between the different mental health professionals (psychiatrists and clinical psychologists) who are dedicated to treating mental disorders and helping to ensure an accurate diagnosis and consistent.

• You can easily buy it at this link.

6. The psychiatric interview in clinical practice (Roger Mackinnon)

The clinical interview in psychiatry is a qualitative information gathering technique in which the therapist or psychiatrist and their patient (where appropriate, also family members) participate, and is the main instrument in psychiatric practice, because unlike, for example, the medical interview, which is usually the introduction before the physical examination or complementary tests, the clinical interview in Psychiatry is essential for the establishment of an adequate interpersonal relationship, which will favor the obtaining of reliable information and allow to establish a diagnosis Right.

• Recommended article: "The different types of interview and their characteristics"

Likewise, the psychotherapeutic intervention is carried out within the framework of the clinical interview, either offering psychological or psychopharmacological therapy. The manual "The clinical interview" by Ekkehard and Sieglinde Othmer is, without a doubt, a great text that will give you knowledge about this practice and it will facilitate learning with good examples exposed in a clear and detailed.

• You can buy it here.

7. Are we all mentally ill? (Allen Frances)

The author of this book, Allen Frances, was one of the developers of the latest editions of the DSM manual. In his work, he reviews the history of the DSM (and its participation in its development) and critically analyzes some aspects of DSM-V. Discuss the criteria that decide what is normality and what is pathological and check out some fad disorders in the past (for example, borderline personality disorder), in addition to giving his opinion on the different psychopathological approaches of the present such as autism spectrum disorder.

It is an interesting text written in pleasant language. Specially designed for those who want a first contact with the world of psychiatry.

• Buy it here.

8. Treat the mind or treat the brain? Towards an integration between psychotherapies and psychotropic drugs (Julio Sanjuán)

If what you are looking for is an introductory book on psychiatry, you can not miss “Treat the mind or treat the brain? Towards an integration between psychotherapies and psychotropic drugs ”. Written in a pleasant but rigorous and up-to-date way, it is a 350-page text for agile reading. Therefore, if you are interested in this discipline, you should add it to your list of essentials.

Are you more interested in getting into psychology than psychiatry? So I recommend the book "Psychologically speaking”. You can buy it at this link.

• Buy Julio Sanjuán's work at this link.

9. Atypical or transitory psychoses from epistemology to treatment (Luis Jesús Fernández, Germán Berrios and Blanca Yániz)

Psychotic disorders are serious mental disorders in which the person loses contact with reality. The most characteristic symptoms are hallucinations and delusions. His treatment combines psychotherapy with the administration of antipsychotic drugs.

• You may be interested: "The 8 types of Psychotic Disorders"

This text collects the results of the first edition of the course on atypical or transient psychosis that he had place in the UNED, and provides very valuable knowledge for psychiatry and health professionals mental.

• You can buy it here.

10. Memory disorders in psychiatric practice (German E. Barrios and John R. Hodges)

A suggestive text and a reference in clinical practice related to memory disorders. In the first chapters the book reviews the historical and neurobiological foundations of memory and, in In general, it gives an interesting contribution to both psychiatry and health professionals. neuropsychology.

• Recommended text: "Types of memory: how does the human brain store memories?"

Although for many the problem of memory is the exclusive competence of neuropsychologists, this text is a psychiatric approach to different pathologies associated with memory. It will surely surprise you!