Customer Reviews

Stahl's Illustrated Antidepressants

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Before writing this review, I showed this book to a friend in the mental health field. We both felt that this book could have been more reader friendly and since he is actually in practice, I felt more comfortable writing this review (his opinions mirrored mine).

So here is a combined take, lay and professional:

1. The Neurobiology of Depression is described well (Chapter 1) and so is the information about SSRS (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) and other basic info about medicines used to treat depression.

2. A potential downfall is the lack of brand names for the specific drugs. It seems like it would be easy enough to have them listed.

3. The book is supposed to be "fun" but we both found it (at times) frustrating to find specific info, including info used for the CME credit at the back of the book.

If you are interested in a detailed look at the neurobiology of depression, as well as the pros and cons of various medications to treat depression, this book provides a decent overview. Also, the role of estrogen and depression in women is described well. Side effects are covered only briefly so readers will have to do more research when encountering sentences such as this: "may increase concentrations of other drugs".

Through the Amazon Vine program, I received a copy of Stahl's Illustrated Antidepressants by Stephen M. Stahl to review. While I'm not a medical expert, I *do* use antidepressants, and thought this might give me additional understanding about the subject. It really is geared towards the medical profession in general, but the illustrated manner in which it is written does help to make it more understandable to the layman such as myself.

Contents:
Preface; CME Information; Objectives; Neurobilogy of Depression; Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs); Norepinephrine and Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors (NDRIs) and Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (NRIs); Alpha 2 Antagonists and Serotonin and Norepinephrine Disinhibitors (SNDIs) and Serotonin Antagonist/Reuptake Inhibitors (SARIs); Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) and Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs); Building a Treatment Plan with Novel Treatment and Augmentation Options for Depression; Depression in Women - Treating Symptoms Throughout the Life Span; Pharmacokinetics and Algorithms to Treat Depression; Summary; Abbreviations and Symbols; Suggested Readings; Index; CME Posttest; Activity Evaluation

As the table of contents might suggest, this is more targeted towards those who in the medical field and working on earning CME credits. It's not a comprehensive treatise on everything related to antidepressants, but it does use text and images effectively to allow the important concepts to become understandable and rememberable. Personally for me, it helped to understand the different classes of antidepressant meds, why the ones that I take work like they do, and what potential side effects might be common with any particular medication. `It was also informative to understand how certain meds might interfere with others, as well as with food combinations that could cause issues.

All in all, this is a solid read. Although I wasn't the primary audience, it didn't take a lot of effort to understand what was going on, and I feel much more informed about my antidepressant use now.

I shared this with my APN at work. I loved the illustrations as I am a visual person and color is helpful. However, I would've like more simple tips and other formats to highlight important information like in the "Dummie" series of books.

A pictorial review of prescribing and evaluation of side-effects of anti-depressant drugs. Interesting and unusual read for Doctors, PA, RN and others in the medical professions. I wouldn't recommend for a lay person.

Stahl's Illustrated Antidepressants was surprisingly detailed. It introduces readers to the basics of the brain chemistry in depression. Then, it goes on to illustrate which drugs work best for different kinds of depression. I learned a lot from this book. For instance, different drugs can be used to treat different depressive symptoms which correspond to different parts of the brain.

Some parts of this book may be difficult to understand for people who don't have a background in chemistry/psychopharmacology (which I don't have). I'm guessing this book is aimed as pharmacy students.

Overall, this book gave me a good understanding of the way antidepressants effect the brain and I recommend it to pharmacy/psychiatry students or anyone who is taking antidepressants and who has at least a moderate level of science background.

The [conscious] mind is a complex mechanism. Only a fraction of it is understood at all and that knowledge stems primarily from advances in neurological and biological studies into chemical actions, interactions, and reactions in the brain.
A current hypothesis on the causes of depression is that depression stems from a deficiency in the brain of one or more of three monoamines aka neurotransmitters: dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin.
The first chapter of this book, Stahl's Illustrated Antidepressants, is an excellent summary of how these deficiencies may cause depression.
The remaining chapters focus on explaining the different pharmacological treatments available to help the brain regain the proper level of these three key monoamines. Each of these chapters builds on the preceding one in cxplaining the effects of certain classes of drugs on the brain's ability to achieve the proper balance of neurotransmitters. [There is also a separate chapter on treating depression in women due to fluctuating levels of estrogen.]
The remainder of the book reviews the possible courses of treatment available to the practitioner and emphasizes that each patient who presents with the DSM-IV symptoms of depression is unique and the patient's course of treatment may vary widely in construct with the patient's level and course of depression, and reaction to one or more of the antidepressants.
Overall, this a fine refresher course in the psychopharmacology of depression and its treatment. It should not be considered as a reference work in itself because, as with summaries in any field, it presents the rules relating to its subject matter but gives short shrift to the exceptions to the rules. But sometimes it is the exception, rather than the rule, that matters the most.

This very colorful well made compact book is a wonderfully informative read for anyone who has an interest in acquiring an in-depth physiological and chemical understanding of the areas of the brain affected by depression. I work as a nurse case manager and quite a few of the folks I assist are on anti-depressant meds that do not seem to completely alleviate their symptoms,thus I was intrigued by the content of this book. The detailed color charts and accompanying information are a quick detailed review of how to determine which meds are appropriate for specific stated symptoms based on which areas of the brain that are effected. It is a concise A&P overview, certainly not the depth of a PDR on the specific medications, but one which both groups of non-medical (suggest a background in A&P and/or pathophysiology, particularly the brain) and those with a medical background could use either as a comprehensible first or secondary source of information. I plan to show this book to some of the MDs (physiatry-pain management/rehabilitation specialty which prescribe anti-depressants on a regular basis) I work with to get their impression. Also MDs can obtain CMEs or non-physicians can obtain a certificate. This continuing education offer expires 2011. I now plan on exploring other Stahl books. It is unfortunate one cannot view inside this book on Amazon, as I think that potential buyers would be more inclined to purchase IF they could see first-hand what a gem this book really is. Also if you do have a strong interest in the brain and depression, I suggest reading Daniel Amen's (clinical neuroscientist and psychiatrist) books which are also available at Amazon or likely at your local library.

Make no mistake, this is a professional-level medical book, complete down to an enclosed CME posttest. Even so, I found some nuggets, particularly the "Tips and Pearls" pages and the representations of the different types of depression. Admittedly, I know a little more pharmacology than the average bear, but not tons. The book has a unique, downright fun, look that I enjoy.

I would be extremely interested if Mr. Stahl did more of a layman's version, in simpler language and in a similar style. In fact, I could probably buy several immediately! Just a thought...

It appears to be a graphic novel about depression, but it's really just a medical guide to antidepressants with CG illustrations of molecules. As such, it's a very useful book, but not up there with Crumb's Psychopathia Sexualis adaptation.

I have a Ph.D in psychology, never practiced. So this is a layman's review.
I find it easy, or even enjoyable to read. Quite comprehensive, to my knowledge. May frustrate some perfection seeking professionals as it lacks some specific details on treatments. And sometimes the categorizations confuse me a little, that just might be me.