Psychiatry. Textbook for students and specialist doctors

Medical University "Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov" - Varna published a textbook on psychiatry for medical students and specialist doctors of the Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, which is edited by Prof. Dr. Hristo Kojuharov. The textbook is a first edition and is intended both for medical students entering a psychiatric clinic for the first time and for doctors specializing in psychiatry. "We have also considered their knowledge needs for the post-graduation period, aiming to prepare them for the psychological aspects of medical practice. The textbook presents the basic modern knowledge necessary to understand the most common mental disorders. It will provide a useful introduction to psychiatry. The need for basic mental health knowledge and skills arises from the essence of clinical work. Any treatment requires contact with the world of experiences of another individual.

The subject of psychiatry has two sides. One covers prevalence, etiology, pathogenesis, clinic, course and treatment of mental disorders. The other side is related to illness behavior and covers a wide range of issues in any illness: from recognizing symptoms and the meaning attributed to them to accepting the role of the patient and assisting with treatment. Both aspects are closely related to the practice of medicine in general and to the need to be prepared to recognize and intervene in the most common mental health problems. Teaching psychiatry also meets more general needs, such as interviewing skills and establishing a therapeutic relationship, unconditional respect for the patient's personality with recognition of his experiences, and the basic ethical norms of treatment. One in four people in the world will develop a mental disorder at some point in their lives. The most common are depression, anxiety disorders, and abuse of alcohol and other substances. Four of the ten leading causes of disability in the world, and also 12% of the so-called global burden of disease are due to mental disorders. All medical professionals see patients with mental disorders. They must be able to diagnose the mental illness and, at their discretion, treat it or refer the patient to a psychiatrist. Knowledge about the mental in general, regardless of the profession, makes the worldview wider. We hope that by using this textbook, our students and interns will master the knowledge and skills of modern psychiatry for the benefit of psychiatric patients," says Prof. Kozhuharov in the foreword of the publication.