Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry (2 Volume Set)

If you are in psychiatry, then you know that this is the basic textbook of psychiatry training. If you are a medical student (unless you are going into psychiatry), this book is to comprehensive as a reference, and I strongly recommend the 10th edition synopsis book, which itself is around 1500 pages. This book has everything in it, and great tables to boot. I don't find it overwehlming to read as well. Though it may explain a lot of history behind a diagnosis and diffent changes throughout the course of it, it does not come off as being an "overwordy" text, like many comprehensive textbooks can be. It does not leave me with the "what did I just read, i need to re-read that" sense. So this is a good investment for the psychiatrist, and an absolute investment for any resident. This book, when actually used, will allow you to pass the boards.

This 2 volume text came to me in great condition. You cant beat the price- If you are debating between the 9th and 8th edition, go for the 8th and save about $300. Besides, the DSM-V will be out soon rendering both editions "obsolete" as far as following DSM structure. Sure the 8th edition is missing a few of the newer pharmacological agents; but, again, save some money. Great text.... maybe too much information. Invaluable reference.

This is a 2 volume set. I received volume 2 only, and this is not very useful without the companion volume, which has the contents. Therefore I have to go through the hassle of returning it.

This is probably the best reference/text to be found concerning psychiatry (and related fields). Anyone in a behavioral science field could benefit from this 2 volume, 55 chapter text. Excellent information, case studies, algorithms, tables & figures, & DSM-IV-TR/ICD-10 dx criteria, etc.A major shortcoming is the index. The index could be much more detailed considering how much detail is in the text. As noted by another reviewer, one might have to tediously comb through an entire chapter or section to find information not indexed. However, the lackluster index doesn't outweigh the utility of this product.

This book is not as useful as the synopsis of psychiatry by the same author. It seems to me that it is written for commercial purpose and not to communicate information. Thats because some of the text in the synopsis is reproduced in the comprehensive text about psychiatry. Taking its high price i do not recommend it for you to buy it.