Recent mental health policy has focused on developing community-based services, but the reality remains that patients experiencing acute episodes of illness are mainly cared for in hospital settings. Acute Mental Health Nursing has been developed as a guide to the core knowledge and skills required for working in inpatient settings.

'This is an exciting and timely contribution to the resources available for policy makers, and practitioners wishing to improve standards and health and social outcomes in inpatient care within the context of community oriented comprehensive care for people with mental illness' - Professor Rachel Jenkins, Director, WHO Collaborating Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London

'This book is a valuable addition to the growing literature on acute care and should provide great encouragement to the frontline staff in this area... By bringing together this range of excellent material the editors have also been able to produce a book which addresses the most thorny problems which face most frontline staff for much of their working day' - From the Foreword by Professor Kevin Gournay, CBE Health Services Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry

'Inpatient mental health care has had a rough ride in recent years. Its shortcomings have been highlighted, while policy emphasis and cash have been directed to community services. This very welcome book reminds us that inpatient care and treatment are an essential element in the spectrum of mental health services and shows how they can be re-thought and fine-tuned in ethos, practice and training, for the benefit of service-users, staff and the wider community. It deserves a wide readership' - John Bowis MEP (former Health Minister for Mental Health)

'By concentrating on describing the skills of practitioners the editors and authors of Acute Mental Health Nursing have developed a unique resource for both students and practitioners of acute inpatient care. Their no nonsense evidence- based approach will be an invaluable aid to developing practical responses to this important though challenging area of mental health practice' - Richard Bradshaw, Director of Nursing Prison Health Department of Health England formerly Professional Office Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Nursing UKCC

'Comprehensively tackles a range of key issues that the student or advanced practitioner in acute mental health nursing will face... I recommend this book, which will provide a useful resource for anyone interested in this important area of nursing' - Journal of Community Nursing

Recent mental health policy has focused on developing community-based services, while the reality remains that patients experiencing acute episodes of illness are mainly cared for in hospital. Acute Mental Health Nursing has been developed as a guide to the core knowledge and skills required for working in inpatient settings.

Bringing together a vastly experienced and multi-professional team of contributors, the book covers core areas of practice including:

· assessment

· risk management

· case management and integrated care pathways

· observation

· cognitive behavioural therapy

· psycho-social interventions

· medication management

· user involvement

· social inclusion

· measurement of health and social functioning.

Drawing on the latest developments in policy and planning, Acute Mental Health Nursing addresses issues which are specific to working in inpatient settings. It has been designed for use in training and is also an excellent source of reference for use in practice.