As health and social care organisations respond to the health modernisation agenda, the use of integrated care pathways in mental health is fast growing. Care pathways, which detail expected multidisciplinary interventions within a care experience and use variances to monitor care and facilitate quality improvement have been emerging throughout UK mental health services over the last few years. Although advocated in health policy their introduction has been generally uncoordinated. "Integrated Care Pathways in Mental Health" is a timely gathering together of the recent developments in the field. It combines discussion of relevant and developing theory, with accounts of real time developments in practice. The combination of knowledgeable discussion and credible experience of the contributors make this is an innovative text which will be of great value to those who are challenged with developing mental health care.
