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.

Rob Poole is a Consultant Psychiatrist, at North East Wales NHS Trust, Fllintshire, and Honorary Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychological Medicine at the University of Cardiff. He is also an Honorary Clinical Lecturer, Division of Psychiatry at the University of Liverpool, UK Robert Higgo is the Consultant Psychiatrist in the Liverpool Assertive Outreach Team, Merseycare NHS Trust, Liverpool, UK