10 Psychiatry Books For Doctors, Psychologists And Therapists
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 due to their incalculable usefulness.
Aware of this, We have dedicated our time to putting together a list of the best psychiatry books for mental health professionals. If you are a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist, you can enjoy these texts and, at the same time, learn about your profession. Don’t 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 discusses personality disorders from a current perspective. It 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 treats mental problems from different perspectives: biological, interpersonal or cognitive, among others.
2. Practical manual of forensic psychiatry (J. Checa González)
This work is a reference manual for both legal medicine and psychiatry professionals It is a quick reference and information guide on any topic related to this discipline, and, as a complement, this book offers access to an online platform where it is possible to find 15 clinical cases, as well as a battery with about 100 self-assessment questions. and various models of forensic reports and clinical histories.
The website that this work offers is an interactive space for discussion and exchange of knowledge among all readers of the work that ensures the updating of content on forensic psychiatry material.
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 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, whether or not the use of psychotropic drugs is excessive. Do you dare to delve into these pages and reflect deeply?
4. The Trouble Psychiatry (Daniel Carlat)
The book “Unhinged: The Trouble Psychiatry” by Daniel Carlat addresses various controversial topics in the field of psychiatry For example, the use of the 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 topics that have generated debate in recent years and, in addition, offers creative solutions to these problems. It’s only available in English.
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 mental disorder classification tool, both for clinical diagnosis and for research and teaching in this field. It is used in clinical and psychiatric settings, but this guide must be accompanied by clinical judgment in addition to the professional knowledge and ethical criteria necessary for good professional practice.
Ultimately, the DSM provides a common language between the different mental health professionals (psychiatrists and clinical psychologists) who are dedicated to the treatment of mental disorders and helps ensure an accurate and consistent diagnosis.
6. The psychiatric interview in clinical practice (Roger Mackinnon)
The clinical interview in psychiatry is a qualitative technique for collecting information in which the therapist or psychiatrist and their patient (if applicable, also family members) participate, and It 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 establishing an adequate interpersonal relationship, which will favor obtaining reliable information and will allow establishing a correct diagnosis.
Recommended article: “The different types of interviews and their characteristics”
Likewise, the psychotherapeutic intervention is carried out within the framework of the clinical interview, whether offering psychological or psychopharmacological therapy. The manual “The clinical interview” by Ekkehard and Sieglinde Othmer is, without a doubt, a great text that will provide you with knowledge about this practice and will facilitate your learning with good examples presented in a clear and detailed manner.
You can buy it here.
7. Are we all mentally ill? (Allen Frances)
The author of this book, Allen Frances, was one of those in charge of developing the latest editions of the DSM manual. In his work, he reviews the history of the DSM (and his involvement in its development) and critically analyzes some aspects of DSM-V. He discusses the criteria that decide what is normal and what is pathological and reviews some fashionable disorders in the past (for example, borderline personality disorder), in addition to giving their opinion on the different psychopathological approaches of the present such as autism spectrum disorder.
It is an interesting text written with pleasant language. Especially 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’t miss “Treat the mind or treat the brain? Towards an integration between psychotherapies and psychotropic drugs. Written in an entertaining but rigorous and up-to-date way, it is a 350-page text that is easy to read. 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? Then I recommend the book “Psychologically Speaking”. You can buy it at this link.
Buy the work of Julio Sanjuán 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 pathologies in which the person loses contact with reality. The most characteristic symptoms are hallucinations and delusions. Its 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 psychoses that took place at the UNED, and provides very valuable knowledge for psychiatry and mental health professionals.
You can purchase it here.
10. Memory disorders in psychiatric practice (German E. Barrios and John R. Hodges)
A suggestive and reference text in clinical practice related to memory disorders. In the first chapters, the book reviews the historical and neurobiological foundations of memory and, in general, provides an interesting contribution for both psychiatry and neuropsychology professionals.
Recommended text: “Types of memory: how does the human brain store memories?”
Although for many the problem of memory is the exclusive responsibility of neuropsychologists, this text is a psychiatric approach to different pathologies associated with memory. It will surely surprise you!
