Synopses & Reviews
Review
"This excellent volume is a very practical, well-organized, and elegant guide to the diagnosis of mental disorders. As readers of his other books know, Morrison is a great writer with a wealth of clinical knowledge, wit, and great common sense. This volume will be highly appreciated by medical students, psychiatry residents, psychology interns, and their teachers. It is a terrific teaching text."--Richard Balon, MD, Wayne State University School of Medicine
"This introduction to the process of mental health diagnosis is the best and most readable book on the topic I have seen. The author has an engaging, even entertaining manner of introducing the reader to basic principles of diagnosis. He uses excellent examples to apply these principles to a variety of common Axis I and II diagnostic categories. I was particularly impressed with the inclusion of tables that succinctly summarize the complex material. This book would be appropriate for any graduate-level course on the topic of DSM-IV diagnosis in any of the human service professions."--Joseph Walsh, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
"Dr. Morrisons extensive clinical experience shines through in this well-written, accessible guide to the complexities of mental health diagnosis. The book is brought to life with numerous clinical case examples, providing students and clinicians with rich illustrations of how diagnostic principles can be applied across a wide range of presentations. This text is particularly well suited for courses in clinical assessment and interviewing, though seasoned practitioners will also find it useful for sharpening their skills."--Martin M. Antony, PhD, Ryerson University, Toronto
"Morrison has again written a very useful book for mental health practitioners. This easy-to-read book is spiced with pertinent clinical vignettes and flow charts. The book provides a series of diagnostic algorithms that nicely complement the treatment algorithms increasingly being used in clinical practice. After all, treatment algorithms are of little use if the diagnosis is incorrect. Students and residents will find this a most helpful contribution, and experienced clinicians also will have much to gain."--David L. Dunner, MD, University of Washington
"This book presents a clear, easy-to-follow framework for understanding the process of diagnosis."--Carolyn A. Bradley, PhD, Department of Social Work, Monmouth University
Review
"This book pulled me in, because it is different than most other books on diagnosis, it fills a niche, and the writing style is marvelous....Morrison adopts the role of a friendly tutor, one who has a wealth of clinical experience but assumes that some readers are new to this and that some seasoned clinicians were trained poorly or have developed bad habits that interfere with their capacity to reliably diagnose patients with precision. He writes in a style that is both scientific and professional, but also conversational....This book would be of value to students in training, as the basis for a course on diagnostics, or as a reference honing the skills of experienced clinicians, which is exactly how I used it. This is an exceptional book that must be read and reread because of the wealth of information it contains."--PsycCRITIQUES (on the first edition)
Review
"A useful resource for clinicians to learn a systematic approach for arriving at diagnoses....Appropriate for students and those in early postgraduate training, as well as more experienced clinicians endeavoring to teach this material."--Psychiatric Services (on the first edition)
Review
"This second edition is a welcome resource for students and residents and their instructors, as well as for practicing clinicians. Written in an easy-to-read, eloquent style, the book guides the reader through decision trees that simplify the complex process of making a diagnosis. It is filled with interesting case examples and handy roadmaps, and is updated for DSM-5."--Richard Balon, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Wayne State University
"Morrison is an excellent writer, and Diagnosis Made Easier, Second Edition, is an easy read filled with useful clinical pearls. Numerous cases illustrate over 20 diagnostic principles. This book is an excellent choice for mental health trainees. The emphasis on syndrome identification can be quite helpful when undertaking a diagnostic evaluation."--David L. Dunner, MD, Director, Center for Anxiety and Depression, University of Washington
"Diagnosis Made Easier, Second Edition, retains what made the first edition so useful, while fully updating it for DSM-5. It is well written, engaging, and filled with practical tips and rich illustrative examples, both from clinical practice and popular culture. The emphasis is on core principles that are essential for sound diagnostic decision making. Although this book is particularly well suited for courses on psychodiagnostic assessment, experienced practitioners will find it useful, as well."--Martin M. Antony, PhD, ABPP, Department of Psychology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Synopsis
This authoritative, user-friendly book offers a complete introduction to the art and science of mental health diagnosis. Meeting a key need for students and novice clinicians, James Morrison, the author of the bestselling
DSM-IV Made Easy, systematically takes the reader through every step of the process. He provides clear-cut principles and decision trees for evaluating information from a variety of sources and for constructing a valid working diagnosis that serves as a foundation for treatment. Special features include quick-reference tables, sidebars explaining key concepts, and over 100 case examples that bring the approach to life.
Synopsis
This popular practitioner guide and course text takes the reader step by step through diagnostic decision making in mental health. Acclaimed for both the clarity of his writing and his clinical expertise, James Morrison provides principles and decision trees for evaluating information from multiple sources and constructing a valid, clinically useful working diagnosis. More than 100 vivid vignettes--from the straightforward to the toughest cases--illustrate the practical application of these methods. Essential topics include developing a differential diagnosis and dealing with comorbidity.
New to This Edition
*Revised throughout for DSM-5.
*Updated resources and suggested readings.
About the Author
James Morrison, MD, earned his BA at Reed College in Portland, Oregon, and obtained his medical degree and psychiatric training at Washington University in St. Louis. With an extensive work history in both the private and public sectors, he is currently Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. Dr. Morrison’s other books for professionals include The First Interview, DSM-IV Made Easy, When Psychological Problems Mask Medical Disorders, and Interviewing Children and Adolescents. He is also the author of Straight Talk about Your Mental Health, a comprehensive guide for consumers.
Table of Contents
Introduction
I. The Basics of Diagnosis
1. The Road to Diagnosis
2. Getting Started with the Roadmap
3. The Diagnostic Method
4. Putting It Together
5. Coping with Uncertainty
6. Multiple Diagnoses
7. Checking Up
II. The Building Blocks of Diagnosis
8. Understanding the Whole Patient
9. Physical Illness and Mental Diagnosis
10. Diagnosis and the Mental Status Examination
III. Applying the Diagnostic Techniques
11. Diagnosing Depression and Mania
12. Diagnosing Anxiety, Fear, Obsessions, and Worry
13. Diagnosing Psychosis
14. Diagnosing Problems of Memory and Thinking
15. Diagnosing Substance Misuse and Other Addictions
16. Diagnosing Personality and Relationship Problems
17. Beyond Diagnosis: Compliance, Suicide, Violence
18. Patients, Patients
Appendix. Diagnostic Principles