Download or read book Handbook of Essential Psychopharmacology written by Ronald W. Pies and published by American Psychiatric Pub. This book was released on 2007-04-02 with total page 558 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Handbook of Essential Psychopharmacology, Second Edition, provides an indispensable guide to vital information in the rapidly expanding field of psychopharmacology. The updated edition of this popular handbook will continue to be a reference that is simply the essential starting point in psychopharmacology for residents and experienced clinicians alike. Busy residents and clinicians will find a quick, current, and accessible guide to basic facts about psychotropic drugs, including dosages, indications, and drug interactions. As in the first edition, its structure is clear and easy to read, including An all-new introductory chapter, designed to equip the reader with a basic understanding of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics Four main chapters covering the four main groups of psychotropic medications: antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and mood stabilizers A consistent format for all four chapters that summarizes critical information about each group of medications, including drug class, indications, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, main side effects, drug-drug interaction, potentiating maneuvers, and use in special populations A wealth of tables and graphs for quick clinical consultation and unique self-instruction sets of questions and answers Fascinating and educational vignettes and puzzlers, extensive references for further reading, and -- new to this edition -- an invaluable appendix of fifty questions and answers, designed to test the reader's knowledge and comprehension of the text Densely informative and packed with practical material and special features, this truly essential guide is a handy clinical reference for experienced clinicians, an ideal teaching tool for educators, and a useful resource for residents, especially those preparing for the psychiatry board examinations.