Boarding Time: The Psychiatry Candidate's New Guide to Part II of the Abpn Examination

by James R. Morrison

Why should psychiatrists become certified? Board certification today is not just a mark of excellence that qualifies psychiatrists for more pay; it also has become a necessity--required by hospitals, managed care providers, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The third edition of this eminently practical volume offers a proven roadmap for successfully navigating one of the most stressful events of the psychiatrist's professional life--Part II of the ABPN examination, the live patient interview . During this ordeal, candidates must put away their accustomed mantle of authority and, within a rigid time limit and under the spotlight's glare, obtain a body of information, formulate and defend a diagnosis, and discuss etiology, prognosis, and therapy. Because the ABPN serves the public and is evaluative rather than educational, it is not prepared to offer the assistance candidates require. Instead, candidates look to individuals, psychiatric training programs, organizations such as the APA--and now, the third edition of this meticulously detailed and, above all, proven guide to passing this often-traumatic exam. The authors have called on virtually every available resource in updating this new edition, including interviews with dozens of candidates and examiners. An important inclusion is the ten most common reasons why candidates fail, and the authors explain in detail how to overcome these Inadequate mock board experience2. Low level of concern for patient's feelings and well-being3. Poor follow-up on cues4. Insufficiently broad differential diagnosis5. Lack of broad-based treatment plan (biopsychosocial)6. Poor time management (so data isn't obtained for some areas )7. Inadequate case formulation8. Examination anxiety9. Allowing patient to control the interview10. Inadequate familiarity with diagnostic criteria Meticulously referenced and indexed, with 13 chapters (one of them an actual recorded MBE) and 5 appendixes, this indispensable guide will be welcomed by ABPN candidates everywhere as an invaluable aid to passing this most rigorous of examinations.

220 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Diana Ubilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't imagine that too many people will be interested in this book BUT if there are any psych residents out there. It is a really good book for oral boards prep. It lays out EXACTLY what you will need to do. It lays out timeline, content. My criticism would be that at times it falls short on details in describing the "formulation" which is a very important part of the boards and needs to be presented in a very specific way. To get a better understand I asked some collegues who had taken and passed the Orals. So this PLUS several mock boards and you should be ok.

[Catherine Woodman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Morrison is very good--I like his book on interviewing as well