Prescribing Mental Health Medication: The Practitioner's Guide [Paperback]

Christopher M. Doran (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0415282225 | ISBN-13: 978-0415282222 | Edition: 1

Prescribing Mental Health Medication is a text for nursing and medical practitioners who are learning how to diagnose and treat mental disorders with medication. Skills-based, it focuses on the following key issues:

• how to start and stop medication
• how to dose
• when to change medication
• dealing with particular kinds of patients
• specific illnesses and their medication
• special populations and conditions
• the management of side effects
• practical issues such as monitoring medication with blood levels
• administrative issues such as record-keeping.

Special icons used throughout the text highlight clinical tips, advice on how to talk to patients and differences in practice in primary care settings.

Based on the author's considerable experience of training nursing and medical staff, Prescribing Mental Health Medication presents complex topics in an organized, logical and easily assimilated format. It provides a supportive text for those new to prescribing and a comprehensive source of reference for more experienced practitioners or teachers.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This book answers virtually all the questions that come up in the day-to-day use of psychoactive medications in primary care and other clinical settings - the author provides pragmatic, well researched guidance coupled with loads of practical suggestions for ways to talk with patients and improve the effectiveness of treatment. It is easy to quickly find the information desired, and the writing is unambiguous, succinct and well-reasoned. While a must especially for those of us on the front lines of primary care, it thoroughness and responsiveness to the full range of concerns voiced by patients and their families will make it as valuable to mental health professionals and those in medical specialties as well..
–Larry Culpepper, Professor Chairman of Family Medicine, Boston University Medical Center

About the Author

Dr. Doran brings twenty-five years experience as a mental health clinician and prescriber to this text. His professional career has included outpatient, inpatient and university settings as a practitioner, supervisor and teacher. He teaches psychopharmacology to medical and nursing students, interns, residents and practitioners in the community. Sought as a speaker at conferences and symposia, Dr. Doran has lectured throughout America and the UK on topics of psychopharmacology and mental health. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (July 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415282225
• ISBN-13: 978-0415282222
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #883,764 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent practical guide, May 12, 2006

By 

K. Reimer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prescribing Mental Health Medication: The Practitioner's Guide (Paperback)

Prescribing Mental Health Medication - The Practitioner's Guide provides essential, practical and accessible information on how to prescribe and manage psychiatric medication. The layout and format of the book includes clinical tips, practice strategies and sample "scripts" for talking with clients. While there are several psychopharmacology drug guides, this reference book actually details both the conceptual and practical processes involved in prescribing psychotropic medication.

There are several comprehensive tables and mental health practice tools for medication management included with the text. Parts of the book that were especially useful and salient to every day situations included: Medicating Special Populations (children & adolescents, pregnant women, older patients), and Competent Clinical Practice (generic meds, telephone/email considerations, recordkeeping, keeping current). Several chapters also provided clear and comprehensive yet concise information on what can be complicated issues; these included the chapters on myths & truths, danger zones, starting, monitoring & stopping medication and side effects - (the author does an excellent job detailing how managing side effects is the hallmark of a knowledgeable and successful mental health practitioner).

The clinical gems offered by the author from his years of experience are outstanding and have already made a difference in my practice.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable Resource, August 30, 2006

By 

J. Kent Miller (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prescribing Mental Health Medication: The Practitioner's Guide (Paperback)

Dr. Doran covers the basics as well as some of the fine points of prescribing psychotropic medication. The book is very reader friendly and is a must have for anyone prescribing in mental health treatment.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for the novice, July 17, 2006

By 

Lynn Bodensteiner (Boulder, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prescribing Mental Health Medication: The Practitioner's Guide (Paperback)

I am new to the field of psychiatry and I found this book to be incredibly comprehensive, practical, and informative. As someone new to prescribing, I envision using much of Dr. Doran's information as a foundation to my practice.