Essential Psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications (Essential Psychopharmacology Series) [Paperback]

Stephen M. Stahl (Author), Nancy Muntner (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 26, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0521646154 | ISBN-13: 978-0521646154 | Edition: 2

Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology has established itself as the preeminent source of education and information in its field. This much expanded second edition enlists advances in neurobiology, and recent clinical developments, to explain with renewed clarity the concepts underlying drug treatment of psychiatric disorders. New neurotransmitter systems, new theories on schizophrenia, clinical advances in antipsychotic and antidepressant therapy, new coverage of attention deficit disorder, sleep disorders and drug abuse, and a new chapter on gender and sexual psychopharmacology--these are all features of this edition. The fully revised text is complemented by many new illustrations, instructive and entertaining as before, and enhanced to reflect new knowledge and topics covered for the first time. The illustrations and their captions may be used independently of the main text for a rapid introduction to the field or for review, and self-assessment tests follow each chapter. Even more, this will be the essential text for students, scientists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, enabling them to master the complexities of psychopharmacology, and plan sound treatment approaches based on current knowledge. A Teacher's Set of Essential Psychopharmacology, second edition, consists of the hardback book plus a Mac/PC compatible CD-ROM, which contains all the figures from the text in cleverly crafted PowerPoint® presentations in two versions: the complete sequence of more than 500 animated figures from the textbook, and the same images without animation. The CME credit for this book has been expired in April 2006.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is a bedrock for basic understanding of the complex and fast moving field of psychopharmacology, and should be a part of every prescribing clinician's library. It is highly recommended and will be useful in many contexts." Doody's Review Service G

From a review of the first edition...

"...very interesting...and should be of value to those among us who deal with the less happy encounters of people who interface adversely with current psychotherapeutic drugs... very informative and almost pleasurable to learn from. Two thumbs up for this offering." Journal of Clinical Toxicology

"The material is contemporary and extremely comprehensive, with complete lists of established drugs and descriptions of experimental drug therapies." Contemporary Psychology

"Those involved in teaching will find the text useful in preparation of lectures or seminars in psychopharamacology and the carroons make excellent teaching aids. Clinicians will find the book to be a painless source of basic information that they need to be informed practitioners of psychopharamacology really is well titled. It will become an essential source for the information that informs the teaching and practice of psychatric medicine over the next decade." Lancet 2001

"It is highly recommended for both novice and experienced researchers, who stand to gain a new or renewed appreciation for the complexity and beauty of how the nervous system mediates the behavioral effects of drugs." Contemporary Psychology

"It makes an excellent job of summarizing the history of disease categorization and treatment development in order to focus on current treatment and to convey neuropathological theories." Addiction Biology

Book Description

Much expanded, fully revised, with many new illustrations, and with self-assessment tests following each chapter, this second edition enlists advances in neurobiology and recent clinical developments to explain with renewed clarity the concepts underlying drug treatment of psychiatric disorders. Features of this edition are new neurotransmitter systems, new theories on schizophrenia, clinical advances in antipsychotic and antidepressant therapy, new coverage of attention deficit disorder, sleep disorders and drug abuse, and a new chapter on gender and sexual psychopharmacology. This remains the essential text for students, scientists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals.

Product Details

• Paperback: 660 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 2 edition (June 26, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521646154
• ISBN-13: 978-0521646154
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #477,317 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stahl is a must-read for those interested in psychopharmacology, March 16, 2006

By 

J. Calvert (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Essential Psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications (Essential Psychopharmacology Series) (Paperback)

More than one professor with whom I have worked have called Stahl their "hero." Although some professionals disagree with some of his assertions, I have not spoken to one colleague who hasn't been impressed by his insights and ability to present information in a clear fashion. Even if you find other books on psychopharmacology that you like better, you can't go wrong with getting Stahl's perspective on the topic. If you are very serious minded, then his diagrams might seem a little "cutesy" at times. However, for visual learners his diagrams highlight neurological mechanisms so you can get a clear picture in your mind about different mechanisms of action. Obviously, these physiological mechanisms are not as simplistic as drawn, but the drawings give the reader a clearer picture of what he is writing about. If you are serious about learning the essentials of psychopharmacology, then this is a great book to read.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well presented, August 13, 2006

By 

Michael G. Rayel, MD "Author, A 31-Day Series... (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essential Psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications (Essential Psychopharmacology Series) (Paperback)

This is one of the best books ever in psychopharmacology. Not only that it's written in a clear way and with much authority, it's also very entertaining. The tables and figures are effective in simplifying the complexity of the neural circuitry. Awesome text!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars After reading Essential Psychopharmacology:Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications, August 13, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Essential Psychopharmacology: Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications (Essential Psychopharmacology Series) (Paperback)

Almost all of us might feel that the psychopharmacology is complex and difficult to understand.But this book solves the problems.A lot of figures help us understand the psychopharmacology easily. I think that this book is essential to anyone who is interested in psychopharmacology.Illustrations in this book are clear and impressive. After reading this book the psychiatrists will be able to visualize the figures in this book when they treat the patients.For example if they treat a depressed patient,they will be able to visualize some figures in this book.One of them might be serotonergic projections from raphe to frontal cortex.Another might be monoamine receptor hypothesis of depression.This visualization make them understand deeply why they prescreibe the SSRIs for depressed patients.The visualization of the figures will be the good method for approaching the treatment.It will be the good method for diagnosing complex symptoms too.Psychiatrists should do not only thinking but also visualizing what is going on within the nervous system. And they should visualize during not only facing this book but also facing patients. Such practices of the visualization will help them understand deeply about psychopharmacological basis of psychotic state.I think such practice (bedside visualization)is the practice of Essential Psychopharmacology. And I think doing this practice will improve the quality of psychiatric treatment.How high quality this book is!