The frightening figures on premature mortality in schizophrenia have jolted government into action. The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ commitments on parity of esteem are inspiring and give great hope for the future. But how does the psychiatrist of today put their grand aspirations into practice? Many of us will have trained at a time when in some centres psychiatrists didn’t touch their patients, instead calling upon medical colleagues to sort out the most trivial of ailments. The ability to challenge diagnostic overshadowing rapidly atrophied - but it is time for psychiatrists to be seen as ‘real doctors’ again and it is our job to make sure our patients get the physical healthcare they are entitled to.

But some rapid revision is called for - you have to have the right lingo to advocate credibly! This book will give us confidence that we have an up-to-date handle on physical health, and just as importantly gives an idea of standards of clinical practice we should expect. Cormac & Gray’s book explains the problem at a big-picture level - then each chapter covers a topic in detail.

The book is divided into four sections. The first describes professional roles, addresses reversible lifestyle choices, details the general and neurological examination and has a particularly useful chapter on the legal aspects of physical care. The next section gives detailed updates on assessment and management of relevant conditions. The third, on psychiatric specialties, would be great for induction of new starters. The final part, on medical emergencies and injuries, would be handy to have beside you on call.

There is a lot to be learnt from each chapter and they are easy to read and assimilate. The excellent and detailed guidance on management will require regular updating as new evidence emerges. This book will be invaluable to any member of the psychiatry team and will refresh our knowledge so we can treat both mind and body once more.