Customer Reviews
essential reading - By: Kf Dunne, 28 Apr 2008 
this is a very comprehensive text-a must have for any student or nurse
I find it reassuring that my dissertation supervisor also has a copy in his office!
BARKER AT HIS BEST - By: , 05 Dec 2005 
I always hesitate to look at a new Barker book in the shops, as I am inevitably drawn to purchase. This was one of those fateful journeys.
Since then I have used the book to prepare lectures, to inspire students & to show service users some of the advances coming in mental health care.
Welcome distraction from the medical model - By: , 21 Mar 2005 I found that this book was informative & interesting. Having just completed my nursing training I was inspired by this book & its alternative slant on the world of psychiatry. I also felt that it was clearly written & would make an a wonderful addition to any reading list!
A breath of fresh air - By: , 27 Sep 2004 I would recommended this book as a comprehensive & powerful look at how nurses can help people with a large variety of problems relating to their mental health. By examining these problems from the perspective of nursing as a 'craft' it gives a more holistic perspective to bring out the person behind the problem. This is certainly in contast to many other nursing textbooks that focus primarily on the biopsychosocial model.
As a mental health nurse/ nursing student, it may not be the only textbook you buy, but I would certainly advise it be one of them.
Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing - By: , 09 Feb 2004 
This is comprehensive & up to date text. Particularly it is of value as providing a UK perspective, whilst many of the major texts are US oriented.
Unfortunately the work is blighted by Barker's personal politics which tend to colour the material with an anti-psychiatry, anti-inpatient slant.
A potentiallly useful text, but it can only be recommended for more experienced readers who will be able to set it in context.
Hopefully a book of equal quality, without the bias, will emerge shortly to assist the pre-registration student.
