Psychiatric Drugs Explained

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 eddects of principal drugs in each category are described. The text provides drug names in generic as well as both UK and US tradenames. 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.
This edition has been completely 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. New information in this edition deals with withdrawal from antidepressants, treatment of bipolar disorders and the controversial topic of the use of psychotropic drugs for children.

Organized by disorder

Comprehensive review of drug effects, action and side-effects

Designed to equip nurses with the information they need to impart to their clients

User issues clearly presented in highlighted boxes

Clear and attractive design ensures ease of reference for practitioners

Information about withdrawal from antidepressants

Topical discussion of the use of psychotropic drugs for children

Updated information about the treatment of bipolar disorders

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.