Customer Reviews

Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Update & Board Preparation, Second Edition

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is REALLY helpful. Each of the 83 chapters gives a comprehensive yet succinct review of a specific topic with an eye towards the "must know" facts. The chapters are grouped into 5 sections: 1) test-taking strategies, 2) psychiatric diagnosis and conditions, 3) neurological disorders, 4) treatments, and 5) special topics in psychiatry. Plus there is a Q & A section with 400 practice questions and answers explained. The psychopharm stuff is thorough and very up-to-date. I especially like the short "Suggested Readings" at the end of each chapter, which has been a great resource for those topics that I wanted to review more thoroughly. The test-taking strategies give great pointers and outline what to expect during the exam, as well as how to avoid common errors. This book is a no-nonsense, nuts-and-bolts practical guide to passing the Psychiatry Boards, and a gold mine for saving time in the process. Overall, an A+++.

I bought this book to brush up for my 10 year board recertification exam and, after the exam, I would say I have mixed feelings about having used it. First, if you are someone who believes that studying the material of your chosen profession should be a slightly rewarding experience, I suggest you look elsewhere. Reading through this book is about as engaging as reading the phonebook, with the crucial difference that in many towns you would get through the phonebook faster. The chapters are typically written in outline form and are quite dry. Unlike other books, each chapter is not followed by review questions (which can break up the reading experience). Instead, the 400 review questions are left for the back of the book. This also means that it is tricky to use the questions as a way of learning which chapters you need to read more carefully as they don't obviously map to the chapters.

A few years since its publication, the book is already slightly out of date, if only in emphasis. For example, a full 5% of the 200 questions on the test (yes, I counted) related to the use of buprenorphine, naltrexone, naloxone, and acamprosate in the management of substance abuse disorders. These treatments, which were newer when the book was published, get scant attention here. In addition, the test at the back of the book contains many K-questions, those often perplexing multiple-multiple choice questions, but they are (thankfully) no longer used in the actual exam.

Nevertheless, reading this book, painful as it was, did help, and I am sure that I got a number of questions right that I would otherwise have missed. As recertification is still new, I expect that there will be better books coming out soon. I would recommend looking for them.

After ambitiously planning on reading Kaplan and Sadock before taking the boards, reality set in and I settled on this book. It is in depth enough to serve as the main study text, with reference as necessary to psychopharm or general textbooks as the need arises. If you learned during your residency, you only need a brief refresher to illustrate your deficiencies. I'm lazy but managed to make it through this book twice and I passed.

Very thorough in covering the field. This second edition is even better than the first one. Chapters are short and focused. Data was updated to the date of publication. However, the format is plain and a little boring to me. I can read through a chapter in short time but retain not much information besides what I already know. I think it is the dry format design that is not exciting. It is a condensed volume with a lot of good information with no illustration. It should be good for those who prefer this style of reading. It is 6 year old so needs some update, particularly in neuroscience and psychopharmacology.

Pros: You can use it as a broad guideline to prepare for Part I/PRITE but it has to be supplanted by the synopsis or other texts. Solid info on major DSM d/o, psychopathology, psychopharm, CL psychiatry, special populations, health-care delivery, risk issues and neurology.
Cons: The questions are too basic and short-stemmed and do not reflect the complexity of the board questions. Your old PRITE papers will be more helpful for the practice. Some of the figures are questionable and do not tally w/ the major texts. Child and social sciences sections are inadequate and too sketchy. Psychotx sections inadequate and ill-organized for review.

... but I have never managed to find any information in it to help me deal with a psychiatric issue in a medically ill patient. I'll keep looking.

i am a psych resident and finding time to study is always a challenge, given my busy clinical schedule. i found this book to be a concise and powerful tool for psych boards preparation.

MGH Update and Board Preparation has all the elements of a good review book: easy to read, full of information, and organized. It even highlights the important stuffs to remember. Overall, this is a great reviewer.

I got this book my first year of residency, and it is very helpful and quick, especially the child sections. But, I find that I still need to pull out Kaplan & Saddock (full book or synopsis) for some information. This book is more consice than both of the other books, so it is quicker. For medical students it would be a great textbook as well. So, recommend this book as that quick reference and review book to take with you, but still keep Kaplan & Saddock handy and Use it.

I used this book (1st edition) for both Part I & II of my board preparation. Simply the best book available in the market!!!!!