Clinical Consult for Psychiatric Mental Health Care

This book serves as an authoritative clinical guide to diagnostic, treatment and monitoring recommendations for patients with mental disorders in the primary care setting. The book guides family and adult advanced practice nurses in making clinical decisions that are supported by the best available evidence, reflecting current research and expert consensus. The book is organised by major diagnostic categories, such as anxiety, with specific diagnoses organised alphabetically within each category for quick and easy access to needed information. Both the new primary care provider and the more seasoned practitioner will find reliable guidelines to support informed practice, increasing confidence in differential diagnosis, safe and effective treatment decision-making, reliable treatment monitoring and, ultimately, achieving improved patient outcomes. DSM-IV-TR diagnostic standards are incorporated and ICD-9 codes provide additional clinical usefulness. With this book, readers will gain the knowledge and tools to: Understand clinical features and symptoms; Make a confident differential diagnosis; Develop an individualised treatment plan; Evaluate interventions commonly used to treat specific disorders; Assess and monitor the efficacy and risks of available medications.