-- Geared toward nursing programs that devote less than six weeks to psychiatric/mental health nursing
-- Uses the stress-adaptation model as its conceptual framework
-- Each disorder includes: historic and epidemiologic factors, background assessment data, predisposing factors/symptomatology, common nursing diagnoses with standardized guidelines for intervention in care, outcome criteria, reassessment, evaluation, and medications/treatment modalities
-- Assessment based on criteria from DSM IV
-- Chapters include objectives, glossary, case studies with critical thinking exercises, NCLEX-style chapter review questions, care plans and critical pathways, and approved NANDA diagnoses
-- Special topics include crisis intervention, psychobiology, psychopharmacology, sociocultural concepts, therapeutic groups, family as a group, and the suicidal client
-- Contains selected case studies or "Build Your Critical Thinking Skills" boxes with three questions per case
-- Includes standardized care plans with scientific rationales for every nursing intervention
-- Appendix includes critical pathways and a list of common psychiatric behaviors and associated NANDA nursing diagnoses
