How to Pass the MRCPsych CASC: (Oxford Specialty Training: Revision Texts)

Following the recent changes to the psychiatry training curriculum by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, this is the first book of its kind specifically written to offer revision support for the new Clinical Assessment of Skills and Competencies (CASC) exam. It combines practical information with invaluable suggestions of how one might phrase particular questions and direct the conversation during the client interview. It confidently summarises history-taking, mental state examination, clinical management, risk management, diagnostic criteria as well as key clinical guidelines. It also includes a large bank of mock examination scenarios for candidates to practice. As part of the Oxford Specialty Training series, it complements and cross-references to key titles in the field of psychiatry.

Table of Contents:
1: Preface 2: The CASC 3: Key skills 4: General adult 5: Old age and neuropsychiatry 6: Learning disability 7: Child and adolescent 8: Substance misuse 9: Forensic 10: Psychotherapy 11: Legislation and resources 12: Practical skills 13: Mock examinations

About the Author :
Andrew Iles was awarded the BMJ Clegg Scholarship in 2003 which gave him the opportunity to undertake a placement in medical journalism in the BMJ offices, London. After graduating with a degree in medicine from the University of Wales, College of Medicine in 2004, he completed his general hospital training in South Wales. He went on to specialise in psychiatry, completing his basic psychiatric training in South Wales and Oxford. After achieving membership to the Royal College of Psychiatrists in June 2008, he chose to sub-specialise in forensic psychiatry. He is currently employed as an ST4 Specialty Training Registrar in forensic psychiatry on the Maudsley Training Scheme at Broadmoor Hospital. Rose Woodall completed her medical training at the University of Wales College of Medicine in 2004. After completion of her house officer year in South Wales she entered the Mid Glamorgan and Powys Psychiatric SHO rotation. She completed basic training in 2008 and gained membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists shortly afterwards. She is presently locum consultant at Talygarn Unit, Pontypool, Gwent, where her substantive post is that of speciality/staff grade doctor for North Torfaen. After a degree in English I studied medicine at the University of Birmingham Medical School. I trained as a GP and was a partner in general practice before changing to psychiatry. My registrar rotation was based at Charing Cross Hospital and my higher training at the Royal London Hospital. I was appointed as a consultant in adult general psychiatry for Berkshire and South Oxfordshire in 1992 and now work in West Berkshire. On several occasions I was senior organiser of the Royal College of Psychiatrists clinical examinations at Fair Mile Hospital, then as the system changed I became an examiner of the OSCE (objective structured clinical examinations) and now of the CASC (clinical assessment of skills and competencies). Many trainees have been attached to my firm over the years and most have been successful in their examinations. As a trainer I am particularly interested in interviewing skills, which so important in psychiatry and in the whole of medicine.

Review :
`Got this book recently and am in teh process of reading it in preperation for my CASC exam (read money making machine for the RCPych). Anyways the book is quite detailed and the format is very helpful in preparing for the exams as it not only gives you small scenarios and common cases but also how one would need to rephrase a question which is what i strugle with at times. All in all recomended read. The rest is all damn luck anyways :P' Amazon review