INCREASE YOUR SHELF EXAM SCORES WITH THIS AWARD-WINNING LEARNING SYSTEM 4 STAR DOODY'S REVIEW "The Case Files series is well known to medical students, and this second edition for psychiatry provides an excellent review of this subject. I particularly liked the way the clinical vignettes are presented in random order, much like real-life scenarios. The clinical pearls are very helpful, and the answers explaining the diagnoses excellent and thorough. Students should strongly consider carrying this book with them while doing their rotation in psychiatry."-- Doody's Review Service Students need exposure to cases to pass the USMLE Step 2 and shelf exams-and here's how they can get it. This resource presents 60 clinical cases illustrating essential concepts in psychiatry. Perfect for the clerkship and the USMLE Step 2, each case includes an extended discussion, definitions of key terms, clinical pearls, and USMLE-style review questions. This interactive learning system helps you to learn instead of just memorize.
This book follows the standard Case Files format, which I won't review here. Content-wise, I found it was a good mix of clinical problems - it covers all the major DSM diagnoses and many of the less common ones. It also covers toxicology (e.g. for drugs of abuse or prescription overdose). My rotation was in general psychiatry, so I was exposed to many of the common reasons for psych admission through that, but this book helped cover the gaps left from my rotation. As I read it I was concerned that the information was not in-depth enough for exam prep, but in retrospect it was adequate when combined with other resources (e.g. Lange Q&A). Overall, I found it more user-friendly and more well-written than other iterations in the Case File series. Overall, a good book from a good series of test prep books.
I've read a handful of Case Files books so far in 3rd year and this one is definitely my favorite. Good mix of cases and depth wise I think it was perfect for the shelf. Kind of a less formal tone for my money too than some of the other, more buttoned-up books in the series.