From Book News, Inc.
This substantial reference provides the practitioner with the general principles of psychopharmacological treatment before turning to diagnosis and classification. The remainder of the volume is devoted to the various treatments, with chapters as well on emergency room treatment, substance use disorders, pregnancy, pediatrics, geriatrics, and medical conditions, among other special situations. New to the fourth edition is a section on herbal remedies and dietary supplements.Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Book Description
Psychopharmacology has changed the face of modern psychiatry. Yet it is rare to find in the literature such a deeply informative yet eminently practical manual on this complex subject. Here, three senior psychopharmacologists offer a unique clinical perspective and practical advice on applying psychotropic medications to the treatment of specific psychiatric conditions. Clearly written in a collegial, narrative style for easy reading and comprehension, the fourth edition of this bestselling manual offers extensively updated chapters with new sections and summary tables for quick reference, including the latest information on antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, antianxiety agents, hypnotics, and stimulants. This comprehensive clinical guide emphasizes practical advice—i.e., specific recommendations about dosing, titration, and combining medications—derived from the authors’ extensive clinical experience. It begins with general principles of psychopharmacological treatment, including advice on legal, ethical, and economic issues. Subsequent chapters cover past, current, and future treatments for all major classes of medications, including mechanisms of action and pharmacokinetics. It also features chapters on augmentation strategies for treatment resistant disorders, emergency room treatment, pharmacotherapy for substance use disorders, and special topics such as pregnancy and mental retardation, with a fascinating final chapter on herbals and dietary supplements. With its liberal use of tables and illustrations, and dual appendixes on medication strengths and costs and suggested readings, this up-to-date, practical manual will be warmly welcomed by not only practitioners, but also students (including those in nursing and pharmacy) and psychopharmacology residents.

Book Info
Stanford Univ., CA. Pocket manual on selection and prescription of appropriate drug therapies. Compatible with the DSM-IV. Additional sections added to this edition include summary tables with key information on classes of psychotropics and a chapter on herbals and dietary supplements. Chapters have been updated and revised. Softcover.

About the Author
Alan F. Schatzberg, M.D., is Kenneth T. Norris, Jr., Professor and Chairman, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, at Stanford University School of Medicine in Stanford, California. Jonathan O. Cole, M.D., is Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School in Boston; Senior Consultant to McLean Hospital in Belmont; and Psychiatric Training Consultant at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton, Massachusetts. Charles DeBattista, D.M.H., M.D., is Assistant Professor and Chief of the Depression Clinic, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine in Stanford, California.

ANNOTATION

The book contains black-and-white illustrations.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Compatible with DSM-IV, this manual provides concise and updated guidance in the selection and prescription of appropriate drug therapies for individual patients. It reviews all classes of psychiatric medications, including new drugs such as olanzapine, sertindole, gabapentin, mirtazapine, and venlafaxine. Updated information on side effects and dosages is included. Special chapters address the pharmacotherapy of chemical dependence and abuse and emergency room treatment, as well as treatment recommendations for children, mentally retarded people, elderly people, and other special patient groups.

SYNOPSIS

Psychopharmacology has been accepted as an important therapy that clinicians can use to improve the lives of their patients and manage their conditions. Written by acknowledged experts in the field, the third edition of this acclaimed manual builds a solid practical and theoretical basis that will help clinicians incorporate drug therapy into their practices.

The new edition of this bestseller provides concise and updated guidance in the selection and prescription of appropriate drug therapies for individual patients. It reviews all classes of psychiatric medications, including new drugs such as olanzapine, sertindole, gabapentin, mirtazapine, and venlafaxine. Updated information on side effects and dosages is included. Special chapters address the pharmacotherapy of chemical dependence and abuse and emergency room treatment, as well as treatment recommendations for children, mentally retarded people, elderly people, and other special patient groups.

About the Author
Alan F. Schatzberg, M.D., is the Kenneth T. Norris Professor and Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California. Jonathan O. Cole, M.D., is Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts and Senior Staff Consultant at the Affective Disorders Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts.

FROM THE CRITICS

Katherine A. Tracy

This third edition provides up-to-date information on drug therapies for psychiatric disorders to aid the clinician in making informed decisions regarding treatment selection as well as subsequent management. The authors present basic and practical information regarding psychiatric medications and provide current information regarding newer agents in a usable clinical guide. Information is derived from scientific literature and common clinical use. This is a useful manual for all practitioners of clinical psychopharmacology. In particular, it should be a valuable resource for medical students and psychiatric residents. Nurses and therapists who care for patients receiving psychotropic medications may also find it useful. An adequate number of tables and figures complement the text. References are current, but the text is sparsely referenced (as acknowledged by the authors). An extensive bibliography follows each chapter, and the appendixes include suggested reading lists for clinicians and for patients and their families. This third edition is a valuable, extremely readable resource for residents in training as well as those currently practicing psychopharmacology. Classes of psychotropic medications are reviewed, including recommendations on selection, dosing, and management of side effects. The authors will often highlight changes in treatment recommendations that have evolved since the earlier edition of 1991. Agents approved since the second edition are reviewed, such as nefazodone, venlafaxine, mirtazapine, risperidone, and olanzapine. Agents not yet approved or not approved for certain indications are also discussed, such as sertindole, quetiapine, gabapentin, andlamotragine. Chapters address varied topics: medicolegal issues, psychoeconomics, combination therapy, and special populations (pregnant women, children and adolescents, mentally retarded, geriatric , and others). This useful and practical reference replaces the earlier edition.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer: Katherine A. Tracy, MD, PhD (Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center)Description: This third edition provides up-to-date information on drug therapies for psychiatric disorders to aid the clinician in making informed decisions regarding treatment selection as well as subsequent management. Purpose: The authors present basic and practical information regarding psychiatric medications and provide current information regarding newer agents in a usable clinical guide. Information is derived from scientific literature and common clinical use. Audience: This is a useful manual for all practitioners of clinical psychopharmacology. In particular, it should be a valuable resource for medical students and psychiatric residents. Nurses and therapists who care for patients receiving psychotropic medications may also find it useful. Features: An adequate number of tables and figures complement the text. References are current, but the text is sparsely referenced (as acknowledged by the authors). An extensive bibliography follows each chapter, and the appendixes include suggested reading lists for clinicians and for patients and their families. Assessment: This third edition is a valuable, extremely readable resource for residents in training as well as those currently practicing psychopharmacology. Classes of psychotropic medications are reviewed, including recommendations on selection, dosing, and management of side effects. The authors will often highlight changes in treatment recommendations that have evolved since the earlier edition of 1991. Agents approved since the second edition are reviewed, such as nefazodone, venlafaxine, mirtazapine, risperidone, and olanzapine. Agents not yet approved or not approved for certain indications are also discussed, such as sertindole, quetiapine, gabapentin, and lamotragine. Chapters address varied topics: medicolegal issues, psychoeconomics, combination therapy, and special populations (pregnant women, children and adolescents, mentally retarded, geriatric , and others). This useful and practical reference replaces the earlier edition.

Booknews

Updates the first edition of 1986 with added sections on new drugs, expanded sections on important agents, more detailed treatment strategies for various disorders and situations, and other updates with the latest information from the literature and the authors' clinical practice. Spiral binding. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Doodys Health Sciences Book Review Journal - Doody's Health Sciences Book Review Journal).

This third edition is a valuable, extremely readable resource for residents in training as well as those currently practicing psychopharmacology. Four stars

RATING

4 Stars! from Doody

ACCREDITATION