The MRCPsych Study Manual (Second Edition) Ben Green

Books
for the
MRCPsych Examination

Adapted from the

MRCPsych Study Manual* (1994)

Version 5.0

Have you got a recommendation for this page?

The first edition of the MRCPsych Study Manual* (1994) carried a list of recommended books for working up to the MRCPsych Parts One and Two examinations. This is an updated set of recommendations derived from the Second Edition. Hyperlinks from the page generally lead to an order page, so only follow if you're in a buying mood.

This page now includes titles actually recommended by the Royal College of Psychiatrists [such titles are given an asterisk (*)]..

And...if you have a recommendation for a book that we don't have here, please let us know.

Global Texts	Exam books	Classification Systems
Organic Psychiatry	Psychopathology and Interviewing	Psychotherapy
Neurology	Psychology	Research Methods
Psychopharmacology	Mental Health Act	Liaison Psychiatry

Global Texts

These are texts that generally aim to cover the whole of psychiatry

Psychiatry Vade-mecum
Basant K. Puri, Heather McKee

A guide to the day-to-day psychiatry for trainees and residents. In a pocket format, it is designed to be a medical companion for those entering psychiatry, or for medical trainees on a rotation in a psychiatry unit. As well as diagnostic and treatment guidelines, real-life issues are addressed, including lines of responsibility, working with violent patients, medico-legal problems, and dealing with complex situations such as suicide. There is also full discussion of non-psychiatric medical problems including emergencies such as resuscitation and intravenous drug administration.

Companion to Psychiatric Studies
Johnstone et al.

(Updated and improved - suitable for Part II standard.)

Sciences basic to Psychiatry (1998)

2^nd Edition. Puri B K, Tyrer P J. Edinburgh, Churchill Livingstone.

(Essential for Part I and Basic Sciences MCQ paper of MRCPsych Part II)

Seminars in General Adult Psychiatry (1998) Stein & Wilkinson. London, Gaskell.

(Two volume, College generated publication - written by some excellent contributors and an excellent basis for MCQ revision since these volumes indicate the direction of College thought)

Oxford Textbook of Psychiatry (Oxford Medical Publications)

(Eminently readable, balanced text. Perhaps a little too 'easy'. Mainly for Part One)

Organic Psychiatry

The general texts above will need to be supplemented by a specialised text such as W A Lishman's Organic Psychiatry, 3nd Edn, Blackwell Scientific Publications.

and also recommended:

Synopsis of Neuropsychiatry
by Yudofsky & Hales

(Superb book - highly recommended)

Paperback - 641 pages (September 1994)
American Psychiatric Press; ISBN: 0880486910

Diagnostic Classification

The tenth version of the International Classification of Diseases is mandatory reading for both parts of the exam.

A pocket guide is published by Churchill Livingstone

Pocket Guide to the ICD-10 Classification. (1994) ISBN 0443 0409 2

The guide is based on the World Health Organisation's 1992 book, The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders. Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines. 10th Edn. Geneva, World Health Organisation.

For completeness we should mention the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV which has become progressively similar to the WHO system over the years. The DSM-IV Casebook is useful for the clinical examinations. Why? It contains a vast range of case vignettes which are followed by expert discussions and differential diagnoses. Spitzer RL, et al. (1994) DSM-IV Casebook. Washington, American Psychiatric Press. (Interesting to read the cases and see whether you can figure out the correct diagnosis - therefore useful for Part I and Part II clinical exams and also PMPs. However, be well aware of any differences with respect to ICD-10.)

Please also see Psychiatry Specialty Board Review for the Dsm-IV (Continuing Education in Psychiatry & Psychology Series, No 5)*
Preparation for written examinations in psychiatry and neurology with multiple choice questions. Reflects all applicable diagnostic categories of DSM-IV, recent advances in psychopharmacology, child and adolescent psychiatry and psychopathology.

Psychopathology and Psychiatric Interviewing

For the Part One clinical exam, a thorough knowledge of psychopathology is essential. Some authors have calculated that 66% of the Part 1 MCQs are on descriptive psychopathology and 10% on dynamic psychopathology, (Cohen and O'Halloran, 1989 - for full reference see Exam-oriented Texts below). General text books like those above inevitably have a section on symptoms and signs, but for the purposes of the, exam an investment in a specific text is worthwhile.

The most contemporary book has to be Professor Sims' Symptoms in the Mind, published by Bailliere Tindall. Accordingly it draws on new work, for example in the linguistic analysis of thought disorder. The classic text for some time was Fish's Clinical Psychopathology, which, although at times wordy and abstruse, had some real insights. Karl Jasper's General Psychopathology is a large, but rather dated book that is fascinating to read, for its breadth and its philosophy as much as anything. References to Jasper's work have occurred in both parts of the MRCPsych examination.

In both clinical exams you will be observed interviewing a patient. The questions you ask patients obviously conditions their responses. The examiners will be interested in how well you interact with your patient. It is advisable to use standardised forms of questions such as those in the Present State Examination (Wing et al., 1984, 1987) or the Geriatric Mental State Examination (1976, 1988). Psychiatric Examination in Clinical Practice by Leff and Isaacs covers basic aspects of the psychiatric assessment, but candidates may need to supplement it with other reading on cognitive examination.

Psychiatic Interviewing by Shea (1998) 2nd edition. clinically based guidebook available from mid 1998 onwards. The book has 655 pages plus illustrations. It includes how to open an interview, interpret nonverbal and verbal communications and arrive at diagnoses. Presents DSM-IV criteria and new strategies in suicide assessment.

Copeland JRM, et al. (1976) A semi-structured clinical interview for the assessment of diagnosis and mental state in the elderly: the Geriatric Mental State Schedule. 1. Development and reliability. Psychol Med, 6, 439-49.

Copeland JRM, et al. (1988) The Geriatric Mental State and AGECAT diagnosis in community studies. Psychol Med, 8, 219-23.

Wing J Cooper JE, Sartorius N (1974) The Description of Psychiatric Symptoms: An Introduction Manual for the PSE and CATEGO System. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

Wing J et al. (1987). Further developments of the 'Present State Examination and CATEGO system. Arch Psychiatr Neurol Sci, 22, 151-60.

Psychotherapy

PMPs and Essays often focus on the scientific basis for psychotherapy, and it is therefore wise to have a thorough knowledge of recent research (which can be accessed via databases and Current Opinion), as well as the more conventional outlooks and styles of various schools for which the following books might be useful.

Bloch S (1986) An Introduction to the Psychotherapies. Oxford, Oxford Medical Publications.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Psychiatric Problems : A Practical Guide (Oxford Medical Publications)
by Hawton et al. (Well-written and concise. Tells you all you need to know to be able to start cognitive therapy. Since cognitive therapy often appears rather mysterious it is pleasing to read such a helpful book. Useful if you are asked ill PMPs, Essays or SA Qs to explain stages in cognitive therapy.)

Individual Psychotherapy and the Science of Psychodynamics
by Malan(Comprehensible account of psychodynamic psychotherapy with clear case examples.)

Handbook of Psychotherapy and Behavior Change
by Bergin & Garfield

(Interesting and comprehensive account of psychotherapy research. Bear in mind that important research has been published since this fourth edition.)

Neurology

A good working knowledge of neurology, neurophysiology and the neuroanatomy behind clinical examination is essential for both parts of the exam. No single text addresses all these needs and has up-to-date sections on, say, the impact of HIV as a disease entity or new methods of brain imaging.

Brain and Bannister's Clinical Neurology (Oxford Medical Publications)

Barr's the Human Nervous System : An Anatomical Viewpoint(

Mainly an undergraduate text, but probably all that can be coped with!)

Neurophysiology
by R. H. S. Carpenter

(All you ever wished to know about neurophysiology and more.)

Psychiatry/Neurology : Pretest Self-Assessment and Review
by Friedman and Duffy

Textbook of Clinical Neurology Goetz & Pappert. (Includes a CD ROM with entire text and video clips of neurological tests and movement disorders.) Over 1160 pages, 845 illustrations.

Research Methods

Details of research methods feature in the Part II Basic Sciences MCQS. More extended descriptions of research and statistical methods regularly feature as essays and in the Critical Review Paper.

Research Methods in Psychiatry : A Beginner's Guide by Chris Freeman et al.

(The best text available in this field at Membership level - comprehensive and interesting.)

Mental Health Act

Department of Health and Welsh Office (1990) Code of Practice. Mental

Health Act 1983. London, HMSO.

(English and Welsh candidates may find the Code a useful resource. If you introduce concepts from the Code into discussions in Patient Management Problems and Clinical Topics it will give the impression that you have a good and up-to-date working knowledge of the Act.)

Bluglass R (1984) A Guide to the Mental Health Act 1983. Edinburgh, Churchill Livingstone.

(Not totally user-friendly, but incorporates some useful points.)

Journals and Papers

Try reading the following journals regularly:

British Joumal of Psychiatry

American Journal of Psychiatry

Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica

Psychological Medicine

Current Opinion in Psychiatry

Biological Psychiatry

Obtain copies of the rather daunting College Reading Lists (published for various subject headings) and read at least some of the references.

The review articles in Psychological Medicine are worth spending a lot of time on. The Part II essay paper often reflects the general scope of these reviews.

Read Health Trends and the quality national press as well for articles on health care provision. Essays before now have used quotes from health ministers and editorials. The purpose of such informal study would not be to spot' questions, but to give you some general ammunition for such articles on debates in psychiatric care provision.

Management Issues

Elements of MRCPsych Part 11 may make reference to management issues and audit. Some knowledge of recent white papers, including Working for Patients (1989), Caring for People (1989), and The Health of the Nation (1992), may be valuable. The Psychiatric Bulletin touches on issues of management with regard to psychiatry. A brief acquaintance with industrial management styles may be of interest, with regard to links between audit and quality control circles.

Bhugra D, Burns A (eds) (1992) Management Training for Psychiatrists.London, Gaskell.

Imai M (1986) Kai-zen. The key to Japan's competitive success. New York, Random House.

Department of Health (1992) The Health of the Nation. Appendix C. Pages 81-91.

Exam-orientated Texts

There are many exam texts on the market, but we would only recommend a few. Exams often induce panic-buying close to the exam and unfortunately some books serve only to confuse. When you are close to the exam you certainly do not need to be confused. Some of the titles below are out of print, but you may be able to borow them. Books we would recommend include:

For Part One

Examination Notes in Psychiatry : A Postgraduate Text by Buckley et al.

Cohen RI, O'Halloran A (1989) MCQ Tutor: Psychiatry Today*. Bristol, Heinemann.

BHUGRA, D. & POTTS, S. Case Presentations in Psychiatry * Paperback Published by Butterworth-Heinemann Publication date: June 1993

BHUI, K. et al MRCPsych tutor: Part 1 MCQs* (1992) London: WB Saunders

BURNS, A.S., DAVID, A.S. & FARRELL, M. MCQs and short notes in psychiatry* (1988) London: Wright

EAGLES, J.M. & ALEXANDER, D.A. MCQ examinations in psychiatry* (1986) Aberdeen: Aberdeen University Press

FREEMAN, C. MCQs for psychiatric studies* (1988) Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone (Out of print)

HOLDEN, N.L. Examination techniques in psychiatry* (1987) London: Hodder & Stoughton

McKEON, P. & GILVARRY, E. Pocket examiner in psychiatry* (1988) Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone

MAGUIRE, J., McKEON, P. & POWER, K. MCQs in psychiatry* (1985) Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone

PURI, B.K. & SKLAR, J. Examination notes for the MRCPsych Part 1 * (1989) London: Butterworths (Out of print)

PURI, B.K. & SKLAR, J. Revision for the MRCPsych Part 1 * (1990) Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone

PURI, B.K. & TYRER, P.J. Sciences basic to psychiatry* (1992) Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone

RIX, K.J.B. (ed.) A handbook for trainee psychiatrists * (1987) London: Bailliere Tindall

SENSKY, T. (ed.) Learning psychiatry through MCQ: a comprehensive text * (1988) Chichester: John Wiley & Sons

For Part Two

Brown & Wilkinson (1998) Critical Reviews in Psychiatry. Gaskell, London.

(Essential reading for Critical review section of Part II)

Johnson BA (1991) Solving Conundrums in Clinical Psychiatry. Lancaster, Kluwer Academic Publishers.

(Useful for constructing ideas on how best to answer clinical management questions in the Clinical and Patient Management Problems.)

Dilemmas and Difficulties in the Management of Psychiatric Patients.
by Hawton & Cowen. (Excellent book describing how to tackle such apparently insoluble problems as drug-resistant depression and neuroleptic-resistant schizophrenia.)

MOODLEY, P., RAMANA, R. & DRATCU, L. Patient management problems in psychiatry for the MRCPsych oral examination * (1991) Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone (Out of print)

PATEL, A.G. The complete MRCPsych Part II * (1994) London: WB Saunders

Psychology

Several years ago a Royal College working party report, Psychology for Psychiatrists indicated how the College was going to put greater emphasis on training in psychological knowledge and skills. Increased weight is now put on the candidate's psychological understanding of patients in the clinical exam. Unfortunately no single text currently addresses the needs of psychiatrists in training. To address all the areas in the current Royal College guidelines for psychology will require you to read around the subject.

Psychology by Gleitman 1999 Edition Hardcover Published by W.W. Norton & Company Publication date: February 1996
(easily read text for psychology undergraduates - check for latest edition since fairly regularly updated)

Cognitive Neuropsychology : A Clinical Introduction
by McCarthy & Warrington. Paperback Published by Academic Press, London. Publication date: November 1990 ISBN: 0124818463

Psychology by Kassin 2nd Edition Hardcover, 832 pages Published by Prentice Hall. Publication date: November 1997 (easily read text for psychology undergraduates - check for latest edition since fairly regularly updated).

Theories of Personality gives you all the information you need on trait and state (type) based personality theories, by focusing on the contributions of key figures in the field such as Jung, Maslow, Skinner, Adler, kelly and such people.

Psychopharmacology

Psychopharmacology : An Introduction (3rd Ed)
by Spiegel et al. 3rd Edition Paperback, 312 pages Published by John Wiley & Sons
Publication date: June 1996

Handbook of Drug Therapy in Psychiatry

3rd Edition Hardcover, 582 pages Published by Mosby-Year Book Publication date: December 1995

Essential Psychopharmacology : Neuroscientific Basis and Clinical Applications
by Stahl.

Published by Cambridge Univ Press Publication date: May 1996
ISBN: 0521426200

Liaison Psychiatry

Seminars in Liaison Psychiatry The Royal College of Psychiatrists Gaskell 1996

(Essential part II reading..........reasonable coverage of the area and up to date, concise - useful for
references)

The psychological care of medical patients - recognition of need and service provision. The Royal College of Psychiatrists and The Royal College of Physicians

(Essential reading for Part II. Short, easily read, describes different models, prevalence, classification of disorders encountered in medical
settings, and problems and suggestions for service provision. Also useful source of references).

Psychiatric aspects of physical disease. The Royal College of Psychiatrists and The Royal College of Physicians
(1995)
(Gives examples of services, disorders and management in the area of HIV & AIDS, stroke, cancer care, coronary artery disease and
diabetes. Again, is short and easily read).

The general hospital management of adult deliberate self harm. The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Report CR32 (1994)

(A consensus statement on standards of service provision in relation to deliberate self harm).

Medical symptoms not explained by organic disease Royal College of Psychiatrists and Royal College of Physicians(1992)

(Examines the area of 'unexplained' medical symptoms such as irritable bowel disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, atypical chest pain and describes management strategies in the light of current research findings).

Psychological treatment in disease and illness. The Society for Psychosomatic research. (1993) (Discusses development in psychological treatments for 'psychosomatic' disorders in the light of current research findings).