Around 760 candidates sit the MRCPsych Part 1 each year, with 560 taking Part 2. In the written papers, basic sciences and clinical topics are given equal weightage - a good knowledge of basic science is therefore essential for success. Since Sciences Basic to Psychiatry was first published in 1992, it has established itself as probably the most successful among the exam-orientated basic science texts. This new edition builds on that success by strengthening coverage in some areas, and by using better illustration to aid comprehension and learning.