WHERE THERE IS NO PSYCHIATRIST

Mental illnesses are common and cause great suffering in every part of the world, but many health workers are more comfortable dealing with physical illness. This book is a practical manual of mental health care for community health workers, primary care nurses, social workers and primary care doctors, particularly in developing countries.

After giving the reader a basic understanding of mental illness, the book goes on to describe more than 30 clinical problems associated with mental illness and uses a problem-solving approach to guide readers through their assessment and management Mental health issues as they arise in specific contexts are described - for example in a refugee camp, in a school health programme or among people with AIDS, as well as in mental health promotion. The final section contains quick reference information for common problems and chapters for the reader to personalise the manual for a particular location - for example, by entering local information on voluntary agencies, the names and costs of medicines and words in the local language for emotional symptoms.

Helpful features include:

• Over 150 illustrations and case studies

• Simple explanations and descriptions, without jargon

• Flow-charts on common clinical problems for quick reference

• A problem-solving approach to diagnosis and management

• A practical guide to the use of psychiatric medicines and simple psychological treatments