Clinical Psychopharmacology: A Primer

This volume provides a concise introduction to the physiological, biochemical, and behavioral issues surrounding drug interventions in the treatment of psychological and neurological disorders. It was written for the reader who does not have an extensive background in these subjects but would like an accurate, current, and succinct account of clinical psychopharmacology.

Descriptions of the drugs used to treat psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression, and psychosis; and neurological disorders such as chronic pain, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s disease constitute the major portions of this book. There is also coverage of drugs of abuse as well as issues specific to the problems of prescribing and monitoring drug treatment in pediatric and geriatric populations.

To help avoid the possibility of brand name confusion, pharmacological names for drugs are used. A convenient table matches the generic names with lists of brand names available in the United States. As such, this volume will be a valuable guide for psychology and clinical psychology students as well as nurses and medical students.