Philip Barker, MB, BS, FRCPsych, FRCP(Ed), FRCP(C), is Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Canada. He has held senior appointments in child psychiatry in the United Kingdom and Canada. Professor Barker has made a wide contribution to the literature in the field, with a clarity of style that has made child psychiatry accessible to thousands of readers.

• 1. Developmental ConsiderationsLearning about normal child developmentDevelopmental stagesThe development of self-esteemDevelopment in adulthoodFamily developmentFurther reading 2. Causes of Child Psychiatric DisordersGenetic factorsIntra-uterine disease and injuryBrain disease and injuryTemperamental factorsEnvironmental factorsMultifactorial causation3. Classification of Child Psychiatric DisordersThe American Psychiatric Association's schemeThe World Health Organization's diagnostic schemeSummary4. EpidemiologyA classic studySubsequent studiesSummary5. Assessing Children and Their FamiliesFamily interviewsTaking the historyThe developmental historyExamining the childThe physical examinationOther sources of informationPsychological testsOther tests and investigationsThe formulation6. Conduct and Oppositional DisordersDefinition and classificationPrevalenceCausesDescriptionSpecific symptomsJuvenile delinquencyAssociated disordersTreatmentOutcome7. Hyperkinetic and Attention-Deficit DisordersDefinitions and prevalenceCausesDescriptionAssessment and treatmentOutcome8. Anxiety DisordersDefinition and classificationPrevalenceCausesClinical featuresA word of warningSchool refusalOther neurotic disorders: NeurastheniaTreatmentOutcome9. Mixed Disorders of Conduct and EmotionsClinical featuresTreatmentOutcome10. Major Affective Disorders, Suicide and DysthymiaClassificationDepression in children and adolescentsPrevalenceCausesDepressionSuicide, suicidal behaviour and deliberate self-harmMania and manic statesBipolar disordersDysthymiaCyclothymiaTreatmentOutcome11. Pervasive Developmental DisordersPrevalenceCausesAutismAtypical autismAsperger's disorderRett's syndrome or disorderChildhood disintegrative disorderOther pervasive developmental disordersNon-verbal learning difficultiesTreatmentOther treatment possibilitiesOutcome12. Specific Disorders of DevelopmentSpeech and language problems and communication disordersReading and spelling problemProblems with mathematicsDevelopmental disorders of motor functionMixed specific developmental disorders13. Schizophrenia and Other Psychoses of ChildhoodChildhood onset schizophreniaOutcomeSchizoaffective disordersAcute and transient psychotic disorders and brief psychotic disorderToxic confusional and delirious states14. Enuresis and EncopresisEnuresisEncopresis15. Reactions to StressAdjustment disordersPost-traumatic stress disorderAcute stress reaction and acute stress disorder16. Other Psychiatric SyndromesPersonality disordersPsychosexual problemsOther psychosexual problemsTics and Tourette's SyndromeStutteringElective mutism/selective mutismThe Kleine-Levin syndromeEpisodic dyscontrol syndrome/intermittent explosive disorderFactitious illness by proxy17. Mind-Body RelationshipsThe influence of the body on the mindThe effects of the mind on the bodyPsychosomatic considerations in child psychiatryAsthmaEating disorders18. Infant PsychiatryAssessmentDisorders of infants and young childrenRegulatory disordersSleep disordersFeeding difficulties and failure to thriveDepressionAggressive behaviour disordersTreatment in infant psychiatry19. Special Problems of AdolescencePrevalence of psychiatric disorders in adolescenceUnresolved childhood disordersDisorders related to puberty and adolescenceAdult-type disorders arising in adolescenceSuicidal behaviour in adolescenceDrug and alcohol abuseTreatment approachesOutcome20. Psychiatric Disorders in Mentally Retarded ChildrenThe prevalence of psychiatric disorders in the mentally retardedClinical associations and causes of mental retardationTypes of mental retardationClinical managementTreatment approachesSome other points about managementOutcome21. Child Abuse and NeglectBackgroundIncidenceCausesOther associations of abuse and neglectClinical considerationsThe role of psychiatristsSome points about managing abusive and neglectful familiesOutcome22. Treatment ApproachesTreatment goalsIndividual psychotherapyTherapy and counseling with parentsFamily therapyGroup therapyBehaviour therapyPharmacotherapyHypnosis and HypnotherapyDay treatmentInpatient and residential treatmentEducational measuresSpeech and language therapyRemoval from parental careChild psychiatric consultation and liaison23. PreventionVariations in vulnerabilityPrimary prevention methodSecondary preventionTertiary prevention.Conclusion

"This present [7th] edition is succinct and clearly written... I recommend this text as a reference for medical students and residents in family medicine, pediatrics, and general psychiatry. It would also be a useful text on the shelf of a family doctor." Canadian Journal of Psychiatry Review comments on previous editions "Its strengths are the systematic coverage of all the major disorders in a fashion that can be easily read and understood."Journal of Paediatric Child Health "Thoroughly revised, well referenced and written in an easy flowing style, this is an excellent introduction to child psychiatry."Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology "A book does not reach a sixth edition unless it has proved itself a leader in its field, and Basic Child Psychiatry is certainly a first choice for many readers seeking an introduction to the topic."Nursing Times