Library services

Literature searches

We offer a literature searching service for members of the College, where our expert librarian will perform a search on your behalf. This service is designed to help answer clinical questions related to patient care, keep you up to date on a topic or help you with any research you may be carrying out.

Depending on the query, one or more databases of academic journal articles will be searched to provide good quality information to support you in evidence-based practice. The results of a search will be a list of bibliographic references which will be emailed to you.

Examples of requested topics include:

• OCD in the elderly
• Psychological interventions to reduce recidivism
• Impact of homicide on the victim's family
• Tools for assessing internet usage
• Screening for dementia in patients with vascular diseases
• Lithium and chronic kidney disease

We can also assist with systematic reviews.

If you are interested in requesting a search please email the Library. You should include:

• the key terminology related to your query
• how far back you are interested in seeing results from
• whether you are interested in seeing results from outside the UK.

Please allow at least five working days for the return of your results.

Members are also very welcome to undertake their own literature searches using the resources provided by the library, including Medline, Embase and our own Library Catalogue. If you would like to brush up your literature, library staff will be happy to help. All of our training is conducted over Teams unless requested otherwise.

For most databases, you need to login to the host provider (EBSCO or Ovid) using your OpenAthens account. If you don't have an account yet, please email the Library to register for access.

Inter-library loans

Articles from outside our collection can be obtained through various inter-library arrangements. Requests are limited to five article requests per person per week. We may not be able to provide what you are looking for but we also don't charge for inter-library loans, so it is always worth asking. 

Information for researchers, patients and non-members

Patient and carer representatives who work with the College have the same access to the Library as member psychiatrists.

Non-members may visit the library by prior arrangement with the Librarian if they cannot find what they need in a public library. 

If you have more general questions about the College or care that you have received from a psychiatrist please see our FAQs.