It was written for medical students and specialists or anyone with an interest in the field. “Casos Clínicos em Psiquiatria e Saúde Mental” (Clinical Cases in Psychiatry and Mental Health) is a book coordinated by Lia Fernandes, professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP) and a researcher at CINTESIS, that intended as a very useful manual for the entire medical class.
“Currently, the practice of Psychiatry and Mental Health inevitably implies the perception of the human being as a whole”, explains Lia Fernandes.
According to the doctor and member of the Executive Council of FMUP, the practice of Psychiatry “can never be reduced to simply treating brain diseases”.
The idea of the book emerged in the context of the preparation of FMUP’s graduating medical students for the National Access Test (PNA). “The reformulation of the well-known exam for access to specialized medical training is now based on reasoning and the resolution of clinical cases”, says Lia Fernandes.
Based on the analysis of several clinical cases, the work aims to contemplate a true interception of knowledge. It is, therefore, organized into six areas, including neurocognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, or addictive disorders, such as alcoholism and drugs, among others.
Daniel Sampaio, the author of the preface, refers to the work as “a stimulus to teamwork”. The renowned psychiatrist highlights the debates this book can bring about on different topics and the necessary reflection on Psychiatry, “a branch of Medicine increasingly important for all doctors and their patients”, says the retired university professor.
More than 40 doctors and specialists participated in this project as a result of the joint effort of several psychiatry interns of the University Hospital Center of São João and several hospitals affiliated with FMUP.
Also Ana Rita Ferreira, Lídia Sousa, Susana Almeida, Pedro Morgado and Aníbal Fonte participated with Lia Fernandes in the scientific coordination of the book.