Includes bibliographical references and index

Contents: Foundations in theory: Mental health and mental illness -- Relevant theories and therapies for nursing practice -- Biological basis for understanding psychotropic drugs -- Psychiatric mental health nursing and managed care issues -- Foundations for practice: Mental health nursing in acute care settings -- Mental health nursing in community settings -- Culturally relevant mental health nursing -- Legal and ethical guidelines for safe practice -- Psychosocial nursing tools: Assessment strategies and the nursing process -- Developing therapeutic relationships -- The clinical interview and communication skills -- Understanding stress and holistic approaches to stress -- Understanding anxiety and anxiety defenses -- Psychobiological disorders: moderate to severe: Anxiety disorders -- Somatoform and dissociative disorders -- Personality disorders -- Eating disorders -- Psychobiological disorders: severe to psychotic: Mood disorders: depression -- Mood disorders : bipolar -- Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders -- Cognitive disorders -- Psychiatric emergencies: Crisis -- Suicide -- Anger and aggression -- Family violence -- Sexual assault -- Interventions for special populations: Care of the chemically impaired -- Severe mental illness: crisis stabilization and rehabilitation -- Psychological needs of the medically ill -- Care for the dying and for those who grieve -- Lifespan issues and interventions: Disorders of children and adolescents -- Adults requiring specialized interventions -- Psychosocial needs of the older adult -- Other intervention modalities: Therapeutic groups -- Family therapy -- Alternative and complementary therapies and practices --