This book presents a comprehensive overview of recent advances in evidence-based pharmacological treatment of psychiatric disorders. There have been very significant developments in our understanding of the methods for systematically reviewing literature, assessing clinical trials and optimizing decision making. The book explores these issues and applies the lessons learned to the practical management of major psychiatric conditions, addressing issues such as selecting the best first-line psychopharmacological intervention for a particular disorder, how long a particular intervention should be continued, and identifying the next-best treatment strategy should the first agent fail.
Dan J Stein is Professor and Chair of the Dept of Psychiatry and Mental Health at the University of Cape Town, Director of the Medical Research Council (MRC) Unit on Anxiety Disorders, and Visiting Professor of Psychiatry at Mt. Sinai Medical School in New York.
Dan did his undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Cape Town, and his doctorate (in the area of clinical neuroscience) at the University of Stellenbosch. He trained in psychiatry, and completed a post-doctoral fellowship (in the area of psychopharmacology) at Columbia University. His training also includes a doctorate in philosophy.
Dan's research focuses on the psychobiology and management of the anxiety disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and social anxiety disorder. His work ranges from basic neuroscience through to epidemiological and cross-cultural research. He is particularly enthusiastic about the possibility of clinical practice and scientific research that integrates theoretical concepts and empirical data across these different levels.
Dan's work has been continuously funded by extramural grants for close to 20 years. He has authored or edited over 25 volumes, including "Cognitive-Affective Neuroscience of Mood and Anxiety Disorders", and "The Philosophy of Psychopharmacology: Smart Pills, Happy Pills, Pep Pills". He has contributed to many articles and chapters. He is a recipient of CINP's Max Hamilton Memorial Award for his contribution to psychopharmacology.
