Psychology and Sociology Applied to Medicine: An Illustrated Colour Text » (Older Edition)

Emeritus Professor, Napier University, Edinburgh, UK

Senior Lecturer, General Practice Section, Division of Community Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, UK

Professor of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK

Reader in Public Health, Dugald Baird Centre for Research on Women's Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK

This unique reference offers an integrated "behavioural science" approach to psychology and sociology as they relate to medicine. The 2nd Edition has been completely revised and updated to reflect all of today's trends, as well as suggestions from student readers. Each single topic is presented on double-page spread with a short case study followed by the appropriate clinical examination, diagnostic procedure, treatment, and prognosis. A wealth of illustrations, photographs, algorithms, radiological images, and summary boxes make the content exceptionally easy to grasp.

• Emphasizes the roles psychology and sociology as the "behavioral sciences".
  
• Features case studies and "Stop/Think" boxes to encourage critical thinking.
  
• Uses illustrations and photographs to bring the text to life.

• Offers new coverage of death and dying, families and health, eating, body shape and health, and post-traumatic stress disorder and the biopsychosocial
• Updates the sections on understanding groups, with a focus on teamwork • new genetics • and aging.
  
  With 23 additional contributing experts.

The book doesn't claim to be a complete text of everything that health care students need to know about the behavioural sciences, and it benefits from this. Each topic has references that enable students to read further if they wish, which also encourages the development of self-directed learning. Most importantly, students have responded positively to this text as a reference. It also has potential for academics and clinicians to use to introduce/remind themselves about a topic!

In summary, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book as an introduction to undergraduate medical students, and as a platform for further reading, as well as to colleagues who are interested in understanding more about the many important applications of behavioural sciences to medicine.
Medical Student, Division of Primary Care, School of Medicine, University of Manchester, January 2006.

An integrated textbook of sociology and psychology for medical students which makes the maximum possible use of colour and illustration. Use of case studies and "Stop/Think" boxes encourages critical thinking and discussion. Covers all aspects of behavioural sciences from public health to disability and life cycle. Essential for the new integrated medical curriculum."
3rd Year Medical Student, Edinburgh University, September 2004.

An excellent and focused framework for thinking about a wide range of psychological and social topics and manages to coherently gather together many threads of thought. The book's style is focused towards active learning...each chapter also contains case studies which were helpful and illluminating...there are also useful website addresses at the end of each section."
Medical Student, GKT Gazette, November 2004.

Cracking good read...it should be compulsory reading for Year 4 to help them to make sense of and contextualise their developing clinical experience."
Lecturer of Psychology, Sphincter - Liverpool Medical School, November 2004.

If you're a fresher and want to buy two books this year well this should definitely been one of them. It has all the social information you will ever need on many different issues. For non-freshers this is also a good book to have as it emphasises the psycho-social factors which as medical students we sometimes overlook.
MAD magazine, the official journal of Barts and The London Students' Association

This textbook is a succinct explanation of the most significant aspects of psychosocial behaviour related to medical practice. The most convenient feature is the short summary bullet-points giving concise "take home messages" from each topic. The book is a must for those who have left revision of health and society to the last minute. Recommended for gaining an insight and empathy towards patients' occasionally baffling behaviour.
Edinburgh Medics, a Res Medica supplement courtesy of the Royal Medical Society, July 2005