Psychiatry Algorithms for Primary Care is a practical, quick reference guide to psychiatric assessment and mental healthcare in general practice. Providing algorithms informed by evidence-based guidelines, this easy-to-use resource helps busy medical and healthcare professionals quickly assess mental health problems, make informed treatment decisions, and understand when referrals to specialist mental health services are appropriate. Drawing from their extensive experience in general practice and psychiatry, the authors provide clear and authoritative guidance on a wide range of common psychiatric disorders, complex scenarios, and special considerations.
Unique visual management algorithms define assessment, diagnosis, investigations and management for each condition, including Bipolar Affective Disorder, Psychosis, Depression, Dementia, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Up-to-date information on medication choices and counselling strategies is found throughout the text. Designed for informing swift clinical decisions in demanding primary care settings, this indispensable reference guide:
* Conforms to the diagnostic criteria in the current edition of the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases
* Contains algorithms informed by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych), and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines
* Explores common complaints that can suggest psychological or psychiatric disorders, such as insomnia and fatigue
* Outlines special mental health considerations related to children, intellectual disability, autism, the elderly, and pregnancy
* Includes appendices covering commonly prescribed drugs and physical examinations for patients with severe mental illness
* Features numerous self-assessment questions and links to online reference tools for General Practitioners
Psychiatry Algorithms for Primary Care is a much-needed resource for medical students and trainees, physicians and healthcare professionals in general practice, nurse practitioners, and practitioners in other fields such as urgent care and emergency medicine.

GAUTAM GULATI is Adjunct Associate Clinical Professor, School of Medicine, University of Limerick, Ireland. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, and current Chair of the Faculty of Forensic Psychiatry at the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland.

WALTER CULLEN is Professor of Urban General Practice, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Ireland. He is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners and Irish College of General Practitioners.

BRENDAN KELLY is Professor of Psychiatry, Trinity College Dublin, Consultant Psychiatrist, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, and Visiting Full Professor at University College Dublin. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, and Trinity College Dublin.

Foreword ix

Acknowledgements xi

Author Profiles xii

Part 1 Introduction 1

1 How to Use This book 3

2 History Taking in General Practice 5

3 The Rapid Mental State Examination 8

Part 2 Common Psychiatric Disorders 13

4 Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) 15

5 Panic Disorder 19

6 Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) 22

7 Social Phobia 25

8 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) 28

9 Depression 31

10 Bipolar Affective Disorder (BPAD) 35

11 Psychosis 39

12 Eating Disorders 43

13 Personality Disorders 46

14 Alcohol Use Disorder 50

15 Substance Use Disorder 54

16 Opiate Use Disorder 57

17 Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) 60

18 Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) 63

19 Delirium 65

20 Dementia 68

Part 3 Common Presentations in Primary Care 71

21 Fatigue 73

22 Insomnia 76

23 Medically Unexplained Symptoms 79

Part 4 Complex Scenarios 83

24 Suicide and Self Harm 85

25 Aggression 89

26 Referrals for Involuntary Care 91

Part 5 Special Considerations in Prescribing 95

27 Special Considerations: Older Adults 97

28 Special Considerations in Prescribing: Children and Adolescents 100

29 Special Considerations in Prescribing: People with Intellectual Disabilities 103

30 Special Considerations in Prescribing: Pregnancy and Breastfeeding 105

Part 6 Appendices 107

31 Commonly Prescribed Drugs 109

32 Physical Health in Patients with Severe Mental Illness 119

Part 7 Self-Assessment 123

33 Self-Assessment Cases 125

34 Self-Assessment Answers 138

Index 140