Clinical Skills in Psychiatric Treatment

Effective and capable clinicians need to develop strong interpersonal, intellectual and organisational abilities. This practical and accessible text explores clinical skills that are increasingly assessed in training, postgraduate examinations, continuing professional development programmes and reaccreditation appraisals. It is concerned with balancing the demands of the patient's life circumstances with lessons from empirical science and clinical experience. These skills help clinicians to put interventions together into effective treatment plans, and to develop strategies that facilitate recovery from mental illness. This book is written from a multidisciplinary perspective and it explores new ways of working. Although it is primarily addressed to psychiatrists, it is relevant to mental health nurses, social workers, occupational therapists and clinical psychologists. - Will help to develop important clinical skills that are of practical use and are also tested in exams and appraisals - Set in the context of new ways of working that will help practitioners develop their practice - Covers strategic treatment planning and recovery extensively CONTENTS Introduction; Part I. Underlying Principles: 1. Starting points; 2. A triangle of forces; 3. Treatment objectives; 4. Strategic treatment; Part II. The Context and Location of Treatment: 5. Teams; 6. Team work; 7. Inpatient treatment in the era of community psychiatry; 8. Compulsion and locked doors; 9. Not at home, not in hospital; 10. Models of care; Part III. Problems in Treatment: 11. Engagement; 12. Compliance and concordance; 13. Treatment resistance; 14. Complicated problems; 15. Managing risk; 16. Staying well; Part IV. Coping: 17. Coping with dilemmas; 18. Coping with change; References; Index