Drugs and Behavior: An Introduction to Behavioral Pharmacology (5th Edition) [Paperback]

William A. McKim (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0130481181 | ISBN-13: 978-0130481184 | Publication Date: July 9, 2002 | Edition: 5

This accessible, comprehensive book provides the reader with a thorough introduction to the field of behavioral pharmacology and prepares one to analyze drug information from a variety of sources. The text describes the effects of drugs on behavior, facilitating an understanding of both the actions of drugs and the way people use them. Starting with an overview of basic pharmacology, the book is divided by chapter into each class of drugs, and explains the historical and social contexts of each. It covers alcohol, tranquilizers and sedative hypnotics, inhaled substances, tobacco and nicotine, caffiene and the methylxanthines, psychomotor stimulants, the opiates, antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants and mood stimulators, cannabis, and hallucinogens. For those working in the fields of behavioral psychology, psychopharmacology, and pharmacists, doctors, nurses, and others in the medical profession.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Designed for students from diverse backgrounds, this highly accessible text provides students with a thorough background in the field of behavioral pharmacology and prepares them to analyze drug information from a variety of sources. Written in a clear and sensible manner, it not only describes the effects of drugs on behavior, but also the various ways that behavior principles facilitate an understanding of both the actions of drugs and the way people use them. Each chapter provides comparable information on many classes of both drugs of abuse and psychotherapeutic drugs, including their neurophysiological mechanism of action, their effects on behavior, and a discussion of the historical and social context in which the drug is used. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

This accessible, comprehensive book provides the reader with a thorough introduction to the field of behavioral pharmacology and prepares one to analyze drug information from a variety of sources. The text describes the effects of drugs on behavior, facilitating an understanding of both the actions of drugs and the way people use them. Starting with an overview of basic pharmacology, the book is divided by chapter into each class of drugs, and explains the historical and social contexts of each. It covers alcohol, tranquilizers and sedative hypnotics, inhaled substances, tobacco and nicotine, caffiene and the methylxanthines, psychomotor stimulants, the opiates, antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants and mood stimulators, cannabis, and hallucinogens. For those working in the fields of behavioral psychology, psychopharmacology, and pharmacists, doctors, nurses, and others in the medical profession.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 5 edition (July 9, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130481181
• ISBN-13: 978-0130481184
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #285,400 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > Medical Books > Pharmacology > Neuropsychopharmacology
  • #84 in Books > Medical Books > Pharmacology > Pain Medicine

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Concise, and good for a short course, but a bit repetitive, June 29, 2009

By 

bbbPhD (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Drugs and Behavior: An Introduction to Behavioral Pharmacology (6th Edition) (Paperback)

I am using this book to teach an undergrad course on neurochemistry and behavior. Since we are squeezing a semester into 6 weeks, this book (which is fairly concise at just over 400 pages) was good choice. The first 5 chapters are a solid overview of pharmacology, behavior analysis, and the (very) basics of neuroscience. The remainder of the chapters deal with specific drugs (or classes thereof).

However, I don't think I would use it to teach a full-term course. The depth is rather uneven, with some chapters barely skirting the surface of some topics and digressions into experimental minutae in others. Also, the drug chapters fall into a very predictable pattern (history, pharmacokinetics, effects on unconditioned behavior, effects on conditioned behavior, self-administration, etc., etc.) which, though I can appreciate it from an organizational standpoint, became very tedious to teach (and read) after the first few.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast and good service!, January 5, 2012

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College_Girl_12 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Drugs and Behavior: An Introduction to Behavioral Pharmacology (6th Edition) (Paperback)

Book was how it was described online, and it arrived on time. Perfect for my class. Great service, thank you!

3.0 out of 5 stars Eh..., May 5, 2011

By 

DTurner - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Drugs and Behavior: An Introduction to Behavioral Pharmacology (6th Edition) (Paperback)

It gets the job done, if you can manage to read it. Considering the day and age of science, this book could be a lot less dry. It sounds like it was written by someone who didn't really care for the topic.