A practical manual on dealing with physical diseases that commonly affect psychiatric patients. As a psychiatrist, you may be the only medically qualified person caring for your patient. So what do you do when your patient with bipolar disorder also has poorly controlled asthma? Someone taking antipsychotic medication complains of chest pain - what action do you need to take? Your elderly patient with dementia shows signs of respiratory distress following a fall - do you manage this yourself, or arrange a transfer to the emergency department? People with a mental illness or intellectual disability are especially vulnerable to physical illness but may not have easy access to a primary care doctor. All psychiatrists must be able to deal with medical emergencies and minor injuries, interpret basic medical investigations and recognise where and when to get help from a general practitioner or another specialist. Essentials of Physical Health in Psychiatry addresses this need.
