This eagerly awaited volume occupies an important place in the series Critical Issues in Psychiatry. Most mental health professionals are quite at home with ordinary day-to-day crises of clinical practice but relatively unprepared for the true psychiatric emergency. Such emergencies are too infrequent for most of us to experience a real sense of competence. On the other hand, emergency room psychiatrists as well as residents and other trainees have long wished for a truly comprehensive textbook that would cover the spectrum of emergency psychiatry. This book is just such a definitive and comprehensive volume for the specialist, while at the same time a clear, succinct, and comprehensive reference for the clinician. of emergency care, The authors consistently present a systematic model emphasizing the interconnection between the process of emergency interven tion and the specific features of clinical crisis. They are true to the principle that one's system of care should be built on priorities. It is immediately apparent that these are highly experienced clinicians as well as teachers. It is difficult to imagine a clinical situation that is not addressed by this book. It includes chapters on triage, assessment, and treatment planning; emer gencies associated with all the various psychopathologies; age groups from childhood to old age; the emergency management of violent and suicidal pa tients as well as rape and disaster victims; emergencies secondary to substance abuse and prescribed medications; psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacol ogic intervention; as well as the relevant legal, social, and community issues in emergency care.