Psychiatric Drugs Explained: For Health Professionals and Users

The new edition of this book will continue to provide a comprehensive and clear guide to the uses, benefits and impact of psychotropic drugs. The major drug categories are listed and the clinical uses, modes of action and side effects of principle drugs in each category are described. The text provides drug names in generic and both UK and US trade names. In addition to a comprehensive review of drug treatment organised by condition, the text also addresses important issues for professionals and their clients concerning, consent, liability and the management of side- effects and withdrawal. The book provides a readable reference source of essential information for professionals to work with their clients in considering treatment options.

The book has been thoroughly revised and updated to include new drugs and treatment options, and continues to address the key concerns for health care professionals around compliance, partnerships in treatment options and issues of accountability in practice. It also contains a unique section on the pharmacological industry critically appraising its significant role in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.

Organised by disorder

Comprehensive review of drug effects, action and side-effects

Insightful explanation of the overall impact of psychotropic drugs

Specifically designed to facilitate the knowledgeable exchange of information between nurses and their clients.

Highlighted sections on managing problems which arise and specific issues in relation to the user's point of view

Specific chapters on consent, the management of withdrawal and liability

Clear accessible design ensures easy reference for practitioners

New drugs in the areas of anti-psychoses, anti-depressants, sexual functioning and dementia

Increased information on dependence on and withdrawal from psychiatric drugs

New chapter on psycho-stimulants

Includes all the latest anti-psychotics

New material on prescribing issues and liability

Section on the management of sexual dysfunction side effects includes Viagra

Section 6 thoroughly revised to include the latest materials on cholinerase inhibitors for dementia - key area for professionals

Section 9 contains a new chapter on pharmacological abuse

New text feature highlighting user issues and problems arising for practitioners

Expanded chapter on evidence-based medicine

New chapter on monitoring strategies/instruments and compliance

New appendix on user websites and discussion groups

Clear chapter overviews and revised design to improve access

A professor of Psychiatry in Wales, David studied medicine in Dublin, and at Cambridge University. He is a former Secretary of the British Association for Psychopharmacology, and has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed articles, 200 other pieces, and 20 books, including The Antidepressant Era and The Creation of Psychopharmacology from Harvard University Press, The Psychopharmacologists Volumes 1-3 and Let Them Eat Prozac from New York University Press, and Mania from Johns Hopkins University Press.

David’s latest book, Pharmageddon, documents the riveting and terrifying story of how pharmaceutical companies have hijacked healthcare in America and the life-threatening results.

David’s main areas of research are clinical trials in psychopharmacology, the history of psychopharmacology, and the impact of both trials and psychotropic drugs on our culture.