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Case Files
Case Files: Psychiatry
Sixty high-yield psychiatry cases help you sharpen your diagnostic and problem-solving skills
You need exposure to high-yield cases to excel on the psychiatry clerkship and the shelf-exam. "Case Files: Psychiatry" presents sixty real-life cases that illustrate essential concepts. Each case includes complete discussion, clinical pearls, references, definitions of key terms, and USMLE-style review questions with detailed explanations of the correct answers. With this system, you'll learn in the context of real patients, rather than merely memorize facts.
You need exposure to high-yield cases to excel on the psychiatry clerkship and the shelf-exam. "Case Files: Psychiatry" presents sixty real-life cases that illustrate essential concepts. Each case includes complete discussion, clinical pearls, references, definitions of key terms, and USMLE-style review questions with detailed explanations of the correct answers. With this system, you'll learn in the context of real patients, rather than merely memorize facts.
477 pages, Paperback
First published January 4, 2004
43 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 4, 2013
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.
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.
November 12, 2020
Together with 1st aid psychiatry should suffice as a well rounded read for junior psychiatrists.
December 4, 2017
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.
They're kind of pricey.
They're kind of pricey.
March 6, 2026
AKA - Sam studies for SHELF - because for all the hours I clocked in, you best believe it counts towards the Goodreads reading goal. As with all my logged Case Files textbooks, I didn't read this one straight through, but used it sporadically over my clerkship to supplement my learning.
The strength of Case Files is step-wise discussion for specific patient diagnosis or problem presentations, with practice questions for each chapter, making it easy to tailor studying towards my weaknesses.
Let me just take a moment to say - Psychiatry is my LAST SHELF. Thank you. I used the Psychiatry Case Files less on my clerkship than some others in the series (we were also instructed to read The Mental Status Exam Explained 3rd Edition by Dr Robinson which cut into some study time, as did some of my beginnings of STEP 2 preparation). While not comprehensive, it is certainly a good crash course, and a good supplement to UWorld.
The strength of Case Files is step-wise discussion for specific patient diagnosis or problem presentations, with practice questions for each chapter, making it easy to tailor studying towards my weaknesses.
Let me just take a moment to say - Psychiatry is my LAST SHELF. Thank you. I used the Psychiatry Case Files less on my clerkship than some others in the series (we were also instructed to read The Mental Status Exam Explained 3rd Edition by Dr Robinson which cut into some study time, as did some of my beginnings of STEP 2 preparation). While not comprehensive, it is certainly a good crash course, and a good supplement to UWorld.
March 28, 2019
Does a good job covering all relevant shelf items. This combined with first aid for psych was just the right amount of depth
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews