Psychiatry in Medical Practice - David Goldberg, Linda Gask & Richard Morriss Routledge, 2008, £22.99 pb, 387 pp. ISBN 9780415425445

As a Mancunian graduate myself, reviewing the third edition of ‘the Manchester book’ for the Psychiatric Bulletin transported me back to my early student days when the world of clinical psychiatry seemed like an insurmountable challenge. I was then grateful for the refreshing approach of Psychiatry in Medical Practice which sets it apart from its competitors.

The new edition retains the rich narrative style which tends towards descriptive text and examples rather than an overload of facts, figures and lists. This approach is of particular benefit in part one of the book on the clinical approach to the service user. This ten-chapter section guides the student through their initial clinical encounters. It begins with the basics, such as advice on appropriate dress, and concludes with how to construct a diagnostic formulation. On the way, it takes the student through the core concepts of interview technique, history-taking, psychopathology, diagnosis, aetiology, investigations and prognosis. The rest of the book provides the student with all they require for a basic but thorough grounding in psychiatry, covering the common mental disorders affecting all age groups and an overview of the legal and ethical aspects of mental healthcare. Despite its medical focus, the authors effectively integrate psychological and sociological concepts.

The book's flowing style of text does carry a downside – it is not typeset in colour, whereas some students might prefer a greater visual variety to assist their learning, perhaps with more tables and diagrams.

Fourteen years on from the publication of the second edition, this revision sees the introduction of two new editors (Professors Linda Gask and Richard Morriss) and two new chapters (on risk assessment and an overview of mental health services). Much of the rest of the book has been updated or revised in light of changes in medical education and scientific advances.

The authors state in the introduction that they make no claims that this is a textbook for psychiatrists and some might find other books more useful as a reference tool. Psychiatry in Medical Practice is, however, an excellent book for medical undergraduates, offering an accessible, clear and exhaustive introduction to psychiatry.