Mental health is an important public health issue. National survey data indicate that 48% of the U.S. adult population have reported a psychiatric disorder at some point in their lives and 30% have reported one in the past 12 months. With the changing healthcare environment, 60% of these patients are identified and receive treatment in the primary care setting. Recognition and Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders: A Psychopharmacology Handbook for Primary Care • developed to provide the busy primary care physician with practical and timely strategies for screening and treating patients who have psychiatric disorders. It covers• The continually growing number of drugs available for treatment of mental disorders.• An overview of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, presentation, diagnostic criteria, and screening tests for common psychiatric disorders including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, insomnia, somatization disorder, substance use disorder, eating disorders, dementia, and schizophrenia• Treatment algorithms and other step-by-step approaches to direct the physician who is treating patients with mental disorders including drug dosages, schedules, and routes of administration• Basic pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, drug interaction and safety concerns, and practical dosing issues for all classes of drugs used to treat mental disorders• Guidelines for primary care physicians on when to refer patients to psychiatrist colleagues This handbook is the quintessential resource for primary care physicians needing to screen and treat patients with mental disorders. Brief, but informative, this resource includes a glossary, a listing of printed and electronic mental health resources, a bibliography, and an appendix containing selected diagnostic rating scales.

I have been asked to write a foreword to the next edition of the Vademecum of Clinical Bio chemistry renamed to Differential Diagnosis by Laboratory Medicine. The Editor in-Chief, Professor Dusan Mesko, conceived the idea of the Vademecum during a very intensely, in tellectually active period as a visiting Olga Havel Fellow from Slovak Republic at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. It was here during his study stay that much of the conceptual planning and detailed realization was being completed. It was with much interest that I observed Professor Mesko in his effort, and I know while here he has gained admiration of those who had the privilege of interacting with him. When the first edition of the Vademecum ap peared and we received the copy for the Mayo Library and for myself, I was overcome with a genuine sense of joy. In this era of rapid information and the need to access usable infor mation book such as this cannot be but judged extremely useful. It is my hope that this work, which attests to the thoroughness of Professor Mesko's and his co-workers efforts will prove to be fruitful for the students quick reference, for clinicans and house officers lightening of burdens, particularly of on-call nights, and for the teaching staff as well to quickly access needed information. With these sentiments, we wish the authors and the book well and also hope that the potential widening circle of readers and users will benefit from the work pre sented.