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What are the BEST books on each topic related to psychiatry/ mental health?


“The books we read should be chosen with great care, that they may be, as an Egyptian king wrote over his library, ‘The medicines of the soul.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

On this page are links to the BEST books on different topics–for mental health clinicians and their patients.

We should *routinely* recommend to patients (and their loved ones) very *specific* book(s) about their illness because this allows patients to educate themselves. Two rules about this that I follow are:

1) Only one or two of the best books for that purpose, NOT a list of twenty. Listing twenty usually guarantees that the person will read none.

2) Only books that are practical and will be USEFUL, not those that are just “interesting.”

If you have other books that you would highly recommend, please share them at the bottom of this page (under “Leave a Reply”)


For clinicians

Psychiatric Evaluation

BEST books on psychiatric interviewing


Psychiatric Disorders

BEST books on suicide risk assessment and management

BEST books on adult ADHD: For clinicians

BEST books on geriatric psychiatry for clinicians 

BEST books for clinicians about evaluating and treating personality disorders

BEST books on Adult Asperger’s Syndrome: For clinicians

BEST books on inpatient psychiatry

BEST books on body dysmorphic disorder: For clinicians

BEST books about eating disorders: For clinicians


Medications and Side Effects

BEST books on psychological factors in effectively prescribing medications

BEST books on managing side effects (adverse effects) of psychotropic medications


Non-Medication Interventions

BEST books on learning psychotherapy

BEST books for clinicians: Learning motivational interviewing

Best books on mindfulness and mindfulness meditation

BEST books on psychological factors in effectively prescribing medications

BEST books on time management


Interpreting and using the research literature

BEST books on Evidence-Based Medicine

BEST Books on Statistics: For Clinicians


Other

BEST books about doing presentations



For patients and their families

Addictions

How to choose a rehab (recommended book for persons with substance use disorders and their families)


ADHD

BEST books on adult ADHD: For patients and families

Book review: ADHD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life

Book review: Mindfulness prescription for Adult ADHD


Anxiety disorders

BEST books for patients with “anxiety”

BEST books for patients with panic disorder


Bipolar disorder

BEST books on bipolar disorder: For patients and families


Body Dysmorphic disorder

BEST books on body dysmorphic disorder: For patients and families


Dementia

BEST books on dementia


Depressive disorders (“Depression”)

BEST books on depressive disorders: For patients and families


Eating disorders

Best books about eating disorders: For patients and their families


Fear of death

BEST books on overcoming fear of death


Grief

BEST books on dealing with grief: For patients and their families


Meditation

Best Book on Mindfulness Meditation


Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Best books on OCD: For patients and families


Schizophrenia

BEST books on schizophrenia: For patients and families


Social skills

BEST books about improving social skills


Substance use — see Addictions


Other

BEST book on Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias

BEST books on how to change habits

BEST books about how to get to and maintain a healthy weight

BEST books on time management

BEST books on yoga


Disclosure: The links above are Amazon affiliate links. Buying products from Amazon.com using links on this website helps to support this website at no additional cost to the purchaser. But we still want to be fully transparent about this.


Copyright © 2018 to 2023, Simple and Practical Medical Education, LLC.  All rights reserved. May not be reproduced in any form without express written permission.

Disclaimer: The content on this website is provided as general education for medical professionals. It is not intended or recommended for patients or other laypersons or as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Patients must always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding their diagnosis and treatment. Healthcare professionals should always check this website for the most recently updated information.

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Comments

  1. Julie Fitzwilliam says

    October 4, 2019 at 11:26 am

    The Medication Interest Model by Dr. Shawn Christopher Shea is a must-read for all prescribing providers

    Reply
  2. SABA MANSOOR says

    May 2, 2019 at 1:08 pm

    Looking for a book for an 83 year old female patient. First episode of depression precipitated by fear of death. Is physically very healthy and has a great life. Thanks

    Reply
    • Rajnish Mago, MD says

      May 2, 2019 at 5:11 pm

      In response to your request, Dr. Mansoor, we have added a page that addresses this need. Please see https://simpleandpractical.com/recommended-best-books-fear-of-death/

      Reply
  3. deanaha says

    October 5, 2018 at 7:28 am

    So glad the second edition is now available. Along with this site “Simple and Practical” I look forward to another very useful reference

    Reply
  4. Dr. Chris Cotner says

    April 24, 2018 at 9:51 pm

    Excellent news about the upcoming interview and the new 2nd edition! Agreed, this book is a very useful resource and I use it on a regular basis.

    Reply
  5. Giuseppe Guaiana says

    April 23, 2018 at 9:26 pm

    A great book is: “Managing the side effects of psychotropic medications” by Joseph Goldberg and Carrie Ernst. A second edition will be released in July 2018. This book is complete and very helpful.

    Reply
    • Rajnish Mago, MD says

      April 23, 2018 at 9:41 pm

      Absolutely agree! It is a terrific book. I am waiting for the second edition to add it to this page. I will also interview Dr. Goldberg on video about the book. As you know, Dr. Goldberg is on the Editorial Board of Simple and Practical Mental Health.

      Reply

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