This invaluable clinical companion begins with an overview of the general principles relevant to the safe and effective use of psychotropic medications. Subsequent chapters present clinically relevant information (e.g., mechanisms of action, clinical use, contraindications, risks and side effects, drug interactions, dosing strategies, and monitoring guidelines) about the major classes of psychotropic medications (antidepressants, anxiolytics, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, stimulants, and cholinesterase inhibitors) and the disorders for which they are prescribed& mdash;with the caveat that the nomenclature is somewhat artificial because, for example, many antidepressant medications are also used to treat anxiety disorders.
The authors also highlight critical differences and similarities among medications, for example, although antidepressants appear to be equally effective in treating major depression, they differ significantly from each other in side effects, lethality in overdose, pharmacokinetics, efficacy in treating comorbid psychiatric disorders, and individual patient response.
Packed with practical information that is easy to access via detailed tables and charts, this pocket-sized volume (it literally fits into a lab coat or jacket pocket) is designed to be immediately useful for students, residents, and clinicians working in a variety of treatment settings, such as inpatient psychiatry units, outpatient clinics, consultation-liaison services, and private offices. |