The book demonstrates the fundamental features of DSM-IV-TR disorders through clinical vignettes, and questions and answers. These vignettes help beginning students and experienced clinicians visualize a disorder in the context of a multidimensional patient who is characterized by more than just the fulfillment of individual diagnostic criteria.
A valuable resource for students and clinicians alike, Fuaman's _Study Guide to DSM-IV-TR_ brings life to the clinical diagnoses of the DSM-IV-TR. Like the DSM-IV-TR itself, the book is incredibly well-organized and predictable (great for those with Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder traits, I might add), and each chapter (which corresponds to a DSM-IV-TR section) contains the following sections:
1.Clinical Vignette(s)--interesting opening vignettes that illustrate clinical presentations for some of the diagnoses of the section 2.Core Concept of the Diagnostic Group--includes the key criteria applicable to multiple disorders of the section 3.Definitions--succinct explantations of terms used in the DSM-IV-TR 4.Synopses and Diagnostic Prototypes of the Individual Disorders--includes some more juicy vignettes to personify the individual diagnoses 5.Necessary Clinical Information--includes the information needed to be obtained during the clinical assessment in order to make a diagnosis 6.Making a Diagnosis--includes a list of hierarchical questions used to rule out or consider various individual diagnoses 7.Common Problems in Making a Diagnosis-- vignettes used to show diagnostic rationale for both clear cut and "fuzzy" cases 8.Precedence of Diagnosis--includes table which clearly delineates diagnostic hierarchies and exclusions 9.Discussion of Clinical Vignette(s)--revisits opening vignettes of chapter 10.Key Diagnostic Points--summary of salient diagnostic points for the section 11.Common Questions in Making a Diagnosis--vignettes with more challenging diagnoses
Whether you're a student new to the (potentially overwhelming) land of diagnoses or a clinician needing to brush up on diagnostic criteria (to pass a licensing exam, perhaps?), this guide is a perfect complement to the DSM-IV-TR.