Biological Treatments in Psychiatry » (2nd Edition)

Lader, Malcolm (Univ of London); Herrington, Reginald (Univ of Glasgow)

This clear and authoritative textbook describes biological and physical therapies in psychiatry, relating them closely to patient management. A critical evaluation of the literature is provided and the authors' considerable experience in clinical practice and research will give the reader a unique insight. All the major biological and pharmacological treatments are covered, including antidepressants and antipsychotics. Both neuropharmacology and problems of diagnosis and response to treatment are fully discussed. Important features are: *An up-to-date and practical account, ideal for clinicians *Electronconvulsive therapy (ECT) and psychosurgery are covered *Chapters dealing specifically with drug treatment in children and in the elderly *Provides a clear discussion of the scientific background needed for professional examinations in psychiatry (such as MRCPsych) This will be invaluable to psychiatrists in training and its practical approach will be of use to clinicians, consultant psychiatrists who want to ensure that they are aware of recent developments and treatment practices, and clinical psychiatrists.

Michael J. Schrift

This book, which is in it second edition, reviews the various physical treatment options in psychiatry and guidelines for their use. The textbook is written by two well-known British researchers/clinicians and has a British orientation. "The purpose is to provide the practicing psychiatrist with information about physical therapies in this specialty and with guidelines about how to use them. I believe the authors have succeeded in this task, although some modifications and additions would have made this a more comprehensive textbook. "The intended audience are psychiatrists-in training, but the authors hope practicing psychiatrists would also benefit. "The book covers principles of treatment, neuropharmacology, behavioral studies in animals and humans, biological aspects of psychiatry, evaluation of treatment, social and economic aspects of prescribing, pharmacokinetics, depression and antidepressants, manic depressive illness and lithium, psychoses and antipsychotic medication, anxiety and antianxiety medication, sleep disorders and hypnotic drugs, treatment of children and the elderly, drug abuse, electroconvulsive therapy and brain surgery, and a closing chapter on innovation in psychiatry and better use of existing drugs. The index section is quite helpful, as are the charts and figures. "This is a good and useful book, but when compared with other textbooks in this class, it is much less comprehensive. Psychopharmacology: The Fourth Generation of Progress, edited by Bloom and Kupfer, and The American Psychiatric Press Textbook of Psychopharmacology, edited by Schatzberg and Nemeroff, contain more extensive literature reviews, andthe sections on the neurosciences are written in much more depth. Although this second edition is a welcome addition to the field, if I had to purchase just one of these textbooks, it would not be this book.