Mental Health Nursing: An evidenced-based approach

Mental Health Nursing,  Jun 2000  by Young, Norman

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Mental Health Nursing: An evidenced-based approach

Newall, R and Gournay K (eds) (1999) Churchill Livingstone ISBN: 0443058733 pp 448 Price L25.00

This publication reflects the current emphasis placed on evidence-based mental health care. It succeeds in providing nurses not only with evidence but also clear examples of its application. It does this through three sections: first, several chapters are spent orientating the reader to past and current issues in mental health; second, and the heart of the book, are chapters presenting evidence-based intervention for a series of mental health problems. Finally, future issues in mental health are examined.

The strengths of this book are its clear presentation, and the inclusion of contributions from authorities in each subject area. At every point chapter themes and sections are clearly organised and appropriately detailed. Helpful reading lists and revision exercises are given which deepen one's understanding of the material.

The evidence, presented fairly uncritically, largely represents cognitive behavioural interventions as solutions to mental health problems. Those wishing to develop or understand the role of the cognitive behaviour nurse therapist will gain much from this book. However, Kevin tourney's modest chapter on schizophrenia perhaps reflects not only the poverty of evidence but also the difficulties in gaining 'gold standard' evidence for effective ways of working with people with long-term severe mental health problems.

It is left to Peter Nolan, in. describing the history of mental health nursing, to state that working effectively with people is more than managing symptoms, and those interested in this area will need to look further than this publication.

Norman Young

Copyright Community Psychiatric Nurses Association Jun 2000
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