Psychiatry Test Preparation and Review Manual

This is not a textbook. It is not a review book. It is a question bank - arguably the best question bank available. If you are looking at this, you probably already know that the questions are top notch (albeit heavy on obscure neurological syndromes). When you buy the e-book version of this, you get an actual e-book that you can download if you want, but it's just the printed questions and answers in a format that maybe works ok in print but is awkward in e-book software. Don't even bother with that. You also get access to an interactive online "supplement." THIS is what you are really paying for! It is the same content as the book, but in a convenient q-bank format, plus a collection of video vignettes and associated questions. With the online software, this becomes one the best AND most affordable resources available. I was unable to access the online features at first, but the kind people at Elsevier got me up and running in about 15 minutes on their customer service phone line. Do not give up - the online features are crucial to getting what you're meant to get out of this book.

Access code did not work, called customer service and they added the book to my account. Video vignettes are included in the "Multimedia Resources" section. You don't even need the e-book access to see the video vignettes, its a separate link that can be found if you do a quick google search.

I used this as my only study tool for recert boards, and passed comfortably. I spent a concentrated cram type amount of time, maybe total 8 hours studying, and it was good. To be fair though I use a lot of this stuff day to day and was not out of practice, and also do not have test anxiety. It covers the right material, and will get you where you need if you take the tests and review the answers and keep reviewing.

I have just received the book. I didn't believe the first reviewer until I received and compared the entire first test and the last, and some random questions in the middle with those on the 3rd edition I borrowed from my friend. So far, it does seem like the questions are exactly the same as the 3rd edition. There are additional ~2 pages (when looking at the explanation of the last section of the book) so I also don't think much content is added either. To be fair, I have heard that Spiegel is "the exam itself" from a colleague. So, the quality of the content of the book is not in question. The only reason one should buy the new edition is for the online tests, which mimics the testing environment and provide video vignettes. I have no idea whether the older edition when newly bought provides the (same) online version of the tests so if anyone can clarify this, I'd appreciate it. As the other reviewer noted, I can also imagine some buyers getting angry over the 4th ed. having the same exact content from the 3rd. I do feel comfortable studying with the book and feel I will pass the exam with it, hence keeping the book and giving the review (generous) four stars.

De gran ayuda

Very helpful

On time delivery, book in good condition with access to online material. Yay!

I bought this e-book only in order to access the online version but after 3 hours of calling and holding (for an hour twice), none of the difficult to understand customer service people seems to understand/ can't help. The e-Book is not conducive for study as the questions come first, then the answers, then the explanation. Looking at the explanation alone is less useful as the question is many pages prior. Waste of time and money.

Not the comprehensive book I expected. Needs improving in terms of coverage and details. I’ve unfortunately scratched the code for online access so can’t retune it now. Not sure what to do with it!

Excellent book for abpn, but past errors are not corrected, nice to have access to online questions and vignettes, tests could be timed as well.