Psychopharmacology: Drugs, the Brain and Behavior [Hardcover]

Jerrold S. Meyer (Author), Linda F. Quenzer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2004 | ISBN-10: 0878935347 | ISBN-13: 978-0878935345 | Edition: 1

Recent advances in molecular pharmacology and brain imaging have revolutionized our understanding of how psychoactive drugs work. Now, from the authors of Principles of Neuropsychopharmacology, comes a new undergraduate textbook integrating these developments. The first section of the book provides extensive foundation materials, including the basic principles of pharmacology, neurophysiology and neuroanatomy, synaptic transmission, and methods in psychopharmacology. The second section describes key features of major neurotransmitter systems, including the catecholamines, serotonin, acetylcholine, glutamate and GABA. The third and fourth sections discuss theories and mechanisms of drug addiction and psychopathology. All major substances of abuse as well as drugs used to treat mental illness are covered. <P>Psychopharmacology: Drugs, the Brain and Behavior is unique in its breadth of coverage, ranging from historical accounts of drug use to clinical and preclinical behavioral studies to the latest research on drug effects in transgenic mouse models. Student engagement with the material is fostered by opening each chapter with a relevant vignette and by providing breakout boxes presenting novel or cutting-edge topics for special discussion. The book is extensively illustrated with full-color photographs and line art depicting important concepts and experimental data. Psychopharmacology: Drugs, the Brain and Behavior is appropriate for undergraduate psychopharmacology or drugs and behavior courses that emphasize relationships between the behavioral effects of psychoactive drugs and their mechanisms of action.

Editorial Reviews

From The New England Journal of Medicine

In the preface to this book, the authors point out that for thousands of years humans have used psychoactive substances to modify their perceptions and mood. Indeed, some observers believe that such behavior may be a defining characteristic of the human condition. In contrast to the millennial history of drug taking, the era of scientific psychopharmacology is very short; perhaps its proper beginning can be dated to the middle of the 20th century. Since then, the rate of accrual of new knowledge in the field has increased enormously. (Figure) The authors aim to produce an introductory textbook on psychopharmacology and to convey some of the excitement that they find in this discipline. They attempt to create an integrated work, linking the basic principles of pharmacology, neurophysiology, and related neuroscience; the key features of the neurotransmitter systems; and the theories and mechanisms of related illnesses, including substance abuse and major psychiatric disorders. The authors have succeeded in reaching all these goals. They cover the important topics with great clarity, and the reader will find all the subjects accessible. "Hooks" at the beginning of each chapter -- such as an image of the title page of Uber Coca, Sigmund Freud's tribute to the virtues of cocaine -- catch the interest of the reader; the authors, while not compromising the thoroughness of their scientific explanations, have greatly enhanced the book's readability with this technique. A particular delight is that the book is sumptuously illustrated -- many of the illustrations are eye-catching and attention-grabbing. As with any first edition, there are one or two minor flaws in the writing and minor errors in the references. Available to qualified adopters of this textbook are special supplements -- a resource CD for instructors, which contains all the figures, illustrations, photographs, and tables from the book, as well as a test bank consisting of 50 questions per chapter. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to learn about psychopharmacology. Allan Hunter Young, M.D., Ph.D.
Copyright © 2005 Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved. The New England Journal of Medicine is a registered trademark of the MMS.

Review

This volume provides a good balance across all the areas of psychopharmacology and is an excellent guide for students in psychology, pharmacology, and neuroscience. ... It is well written and easy to understand; the diagrams and tables are also well done. Moreover, the book provides students with additional outside reading sources. The CD-ROM for instructors is very useful and presents PowerPoint lectures for each chapter, as well as a test bank for student evaluation. Overall, this book is well worth the price. --John A. Rosecrans, The Quarterly Review of Biology

The authors . . . cover the important topics with great clarity, and the reader will find all the subjects accessible. . . . A particular delight is that the book is sumptuously illustrated many of the illustrations are eye-catching and attention-grabbing. . . . I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to learn about psychopharmacology. --Allan Hunter Young, The New England Journal of Medicine

For over 30 years I have been teaching about this engaging subject ( non-medical drug use, not drug abuse ). This is certainly the best, most clearly written, and by far the most interesting book that I have seen in this area. --Oliver M. Brown, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 555 pages
• Publisher: Sinauer Associates; 1 edition (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878935347
• ISBN-13: 978-0878935345
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #183,372 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #61 in Books > Medical Books > Pharmacology > Pain Medicine

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Impressive - but ..., August 10, 2008

By 

Adrian Dunn (Honolulu, HI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Psychopharmacology: Drugs, the Brain and Behavior (Hardcover)

I agree with the three previous reviews that the book is easy to read, comprehensive, and has excellent illustrations and summary tables. But, at times there is too much complex information presented. The major problem is that with a cover date of 2004, it is sadly out of date, and thus fails to cover important new information, especially the significance of neuroregeneration (which as well known by 2004) and serotonin's role in the brain. My major specific criticism is that the chapter on affective disorders reviews very nicely the various therapeutic approaches especially to depression (with the above caveat about new findings), but the student reader comes away very confused, because there is no synthesis of the complex data and approaches. I understand very well how difficult that is to do, but at the end of this very long chapter, the student is left hanging. Let's hope a new edition will help.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most helpful text-book I've ever used, February 8, 2007

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B. Clark - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Psychopharmacology: Drugs, the Brain and Behavior (Hardcover)

Fantastic; Clear and precise with plenty of diagrams. The best introduction to psychopharmacology I could have received.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps the best psychopharmacology text available, February 6, 2009

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Darioz Svabodas "Darioz" (Chicago, Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Psychopharmacology: Drugs, the Brain and Behavior (Hardcover)

I used the more advanced version of this text (Principles of Neuropsychopharmacology) for a course in neuropharmacology in graduate school. This an excellent version of that text aimed at the undergraduate level--like the longer version, this text is extremely well written, clear, concise, and filled with illustrations that really "illustrate" the points made in the text. I can't recommend this text more highly for advanced undergraduate and graduate level courses in psychopharmacology.