Review
"This is a welcome addition to Essential Psychopharmacology and I recommend it unreservedly. It may be wise to purchase two copies as one is sure to be 'borrowed' very quickly." Chris McWilliam, International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry

"This text is highly recommended for those students and clinicians who are interested in the psychopharmacology of antipsychotics and mood stabilizers. It should also sit on the shelf of every postgraduate medical library..." Journal of Intellectual Disability Research

"The second edition of Stephen Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology will become the vehicle that practitioners currently working in the field, teachers in faculties of medicine, and clinical trainees in psychiatric medicine preferentially use to inform their understanding of the essentials of neuroscience and psychopharmacological treatments. If there is one basic psychopharmacology text for a practitioner or teacher of psychiatric medicine to own, this is it...Thus, Essential Psychopharmacology really is well titled." Lancet

"This is a very useful and easy to read update that clinicians can use in daily practice as a quick reference. The book is written in a very practical, user-friendly format differentiating itself from other books in this category." Doody's Review Service G

"All of his writing is characterized by a clarity of presentation and a notable ability to transform complicated scientific principles into readily understood prose. Characteristically, he illustrates his instructions with informative, charming, and sometimes witty cartoon figures and diagrams...Dr. Stahl has a gift for teaching, and it is a pleasure to recommend this book." Journal of Clinical Psychiatry


Book Description
Drawn from the best-selling second edition of Essential Psychopharmacology, Steve Stahl has revised and updated the chapters covering antipsychotics and mood stabilizers in this separate volume. This new book covers the many dimensions of psychosis, particularly as associated with schizophrenia, and examines the role of dopamine in psychosis along with the various theories about the causes, pathophysiology, and treatment of schizophrenia. New material includes discussion of a promising new agent, aripiprazole, the first in a new class of dopamine stabilizers; the use of anticonvulsant agents to treat manic psychosis as well as being used as adjuncts to more traditional antipsychotic treatments for psychosis and schizophrenia; and the newest atypical antipsychotic ziprasidone. CME self-assessment tests are included.


Book Info
Univ. of San Diego, CA. Update of two chapters from the second edition of Essential Psychopharmacology, c2000. New material includes a discussion of two new theories about dopaminergic modulation of receptors by new antipsychotic drugs and the use of anticonvulsant agents to treat manic psychosis. Color illustrations. Softcover.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Updated from the best-selling second edition of Essential Psychopharmacology, in this new book Stephen Stahl has revised the chapters covering antipsychotics and mood stabilizers. New material includes discussion of two new theories about dopaminergic modulation of receptors by new antipsychotic drugs: firstly, the "fast dissociation" (hit and run) hypothesis for how the atypical antipsychotics act, and secondly, a whole new class of antipsychotic agent, known as dopamine system stabilizers, with the protypical agent aripiprazole. Also covered is the use of anticonvulsant agents to treat manic psychosis and the newest atypical antipsychotic ziprasidone. The antipsychotics chapter has increased by a third, with nearly fifty new images to illustrate the stunning advances in antipsychotic and mood stabilizer treatments since the publication of the second edition. This book will be essential reading for all professionals treating psychosis, and students who need to know the mechanisms of drug actions. CME self-assessment tests are included.

FROM THE CRITICS

Doody Review Services

Reviewer: Raj Tummala, MD (Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center)Description: This is an update to the second edition of Essential Psychopharmacology. The book presents new theories about dopaminergic modulation of receptors along with information on the new class of antipsychotic agents: dopamine system stabilizers. The book also covers extensive uses of mood stabilizers for the treatment of psychosis. This version, like the previous edition, presents materials in an easy to read format with excellent illustrations. Purpose: The purpose is to provide an update on the latest advances in the treatment of psychosis and schizophrenia in an easy to read, simplified format. This book's primary value is the extensive illustrations with repetition and interaction. Audience: This book is targeted towards anyone dealing with psychotropics such as students, residents, clinicians, and psychopharmacologists. Features: The book starts with a review of the fundamentals of psychosis and goes into detail about schizophrenia including etiology from a neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative hypothesis. The second chapter deals with the antipsychotic agents; first with conventional agents and then the newer, atypical agents. The book details neuroanatomical and neurophysiological mechanisms of the antipsychotic agents with excellent illustrations. The book focuses on repetition and interaction, which help readers retain the material. The author describes the pharmacokinetics of these agents and their use in clinical practice. The book also covers novel theories about antipsychotic mechanisms and their use as mood stabilizers in bipolar disorder. The book ends with a review of future antipsychotics. Assessment: This is a very useful and easy to read update that clinicians can use in daily practice as a quick reference. The book is written in a very practical, user-friendly format differentiating itself from other books in this category.

RATING