Sullivan vs Shea & Sullivan vs Gabbard

[BabyPsychDoc]

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Those of you who are psychodynamically/psychotherapeutically oriented, I hope you could help me out with advice...

I am going to make myself a Christmas present🙂, and looking into books to buy. It looks like Gabbard's The Psychodynamic Psychiatry in Clinical Practice and Sullivan's Interpersonal Theory of Psychiatry would both be interesting and useful reads, though from looking at the excerpts from both books at Amazon.com it feels like there is a certain amount of overlap between the two. Or, is there? Would I be wasting my time and money by buying/reading them both? And if not, which one would you recommend as a starting point?

In a similar vein, I cannot decide between Sullivan's and Shea's texts on the psychiatric interview. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Chimed]

We are reading the Gabbard book for our psychodynamic training. I know this book is broadly recommended and has gotten high praise. However, I personally don't think it's that great. It is sometimes difficult to understand and I think he makes some of the concepts sound more complicated then they really are. There are 3 other residents in my group that feel the same way. Just an N of 4. For what it's worth...

 

[Faebinder]

I am not too impressed by Gabbard despite it being highly recommended. I am unsure why, but it seems too conceptual with little examples. We are currently going through it in my residency, we are only quarter through it and i am told later it will produce more examples. Somehow I am doubtful considering the current style.

 

[BabyPsychDoc]

Thanks, guys.

Just wondering: are you talking about Gabbard's textbook on Psychotherapy or Psychodynamic Theory of Psychiatry?

Anyone any comments on Sullivan's works?

 

[Faebinder]

Psychodynamic Theory of Psychiatry

 

[Chimed]

Long-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: A Basic Text (Core Competencies in Psychotherapy)


BTW, the Shea books is very good. I had big dreams of reading it, but never really got around to it.

 

[slope]

babypsychdoc,

the books you mention are somewhat different in scope. But whatever your goal is, I don't think you could do much without properly reading Shea's book. It is beautifully written, it teaches you a wealth of interviewing skills, and helps you understand better "psychodynamically oriented" books. It's worth the money! Treat yourself with that!

 

[BabyPsychDoc]

Yeah, the Shea's book has been recommended to me by a colleague, but I am a little hesitant about it... I read another book of his, The Suicide Risk Assessment, and though it was very useful it was not exactly light reading. SOmetimes I felt there were too many details in there - not all of them necessary. This is why I am trying "to weigh" Shea and Sullivan (whose book appears to have been written in a much more conversational manner).

ARRRGHHH....Decisions, decisions...

 

[erg923]

This is funny, because I have found Gabbard to be much better in person than in his books. He has given several grand rounds talks that i have attended that were great, and he has given some great examples during talks. I also have the book and have not found it be that great.