Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Therapists

by John D. Preston PsyD, ABPP, Bret A. Moore PsyD, ABPP, John H. O'Neal MD, Mary C. Talaga RPh, PhD

Overview

A must-have resource for all therapists that provides the most up-to-date information on the effects, side effects, and best uses of every psychoactive medication.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781648483684
Publisher:	New Harbinger Publications
Publication date:	01/02/2025
Edition description:	Tenth Edition
Pages:	440
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

John D. Preston, PsyD, ABPP, (1950-2020), was a licensed psychologist, and author or coauthor of twenty books. He was professor emeritus of psychology at Alliant International University, and served on the faculty of the UC Davis School of Medicine. Preston lectured widely in the United States and abroad. He was a recipient of the Mental Health Association’s President’s Award for contributions to the mental health professions, and was a fellow of the American Psychological Association.


John H. O’Neal, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist who has been in private practice since 1977. He is past chief of the department of psychiatry at Sutter Community Hospital in Sacramento, CA. He is associate clinical professor of psychiatry at the UC Davis School of Medicine, and a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He lectures on depression and psychopharmacology to mental health professionals, employee assistance programs, and the public. O’Neal received his master’s in clinical psychology from Harvard University, and doctor of medicine from the University of Washington.


Mary C. Talaga, RPh, PhD, has been a pharmacist for thirty-nine years, with specialization in psychiatric pharmacy and pharmacy administration. She has extensive experience in health care, and has practiced in a variety of clinical settings. Over her career, she has contributed to the development of best practice guidelines, and has promoted collaborative care models. She has provided training and mentoring to health care professionals, and education to patients and consumers.


Bret A. Moore, PsyD, ABPP, is a board-certified clinical and prescribing psychologist in San Antonio, TX. Over the past twelve years, he has taught graduate-level courses in clinical psychopharmacology for multiple universities and colleges. He is the recipient of the Educator of the Year award from the American Society for the Advancement of Pharmacotherapy, and is a fellow of the American Psychological Association.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Part 1 Understanding Psychopharmacology: The Basics

1 Introduction 3

2 Integrated Models 15

3 Neurobiology 29

4 Pharmacology 45

5 Medication Nonadherence 57

Part 2 Clinical Syndromes: Etiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment Implications

6 Preliminary Diagnostic Considerations 65

7 Depressive Disorders 77

8 Bipolar Disorders 95

9 Anxiety Disorders 107

10 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder 123

11 Psychotic Disorders 129

12 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder 139

13 Borderline Personality Disorders 147

14 Substance-Related Disorders 153

15 Other Miscellaneous Disorders 161

Part 3 Medications

16 Antidepressant Medications 175

17 Bipolar Medications 201

18 Antianxiety Medications 217

19 Antipsychotic Medications 227

20 Over-the-Counter Dietary Supplements and Herbal Products 239

21 Medication Discontinuation 243

22 Red Flags: When to Reevaluate 247

23 Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology 255

Epilogue: On the Horizon 277

Appendix A Pharmacokinetics 279

Appendix B Pharmacotherapy in Special Populations 285

Appendix C Psychotropic Drug Interactions 293

Appendix D Differentiating Psychotropic Side Effects from Psychiatric Symptoms 309

Appendix E Neurocognitive Mental Status Exam 313

Appendix F Trade Versus Generic Drug Names: A Quick Reference 317

Appendix G Medication Safety 321

Appendix H Books for Patients About Medication Treatment 325

Appendix I Patient Information Sheets on Psychiatric Medications 327

References 343

Index 363

Interviews

Preston lives in Shingle Springs, CA; Moore lives in San Antonio, TX; O’Neal lives in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area; Talaga lives in Fair Oaks, CA.

Editorial Reviews

I recommend Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Therapists to psychotherapists from various clinical trainings and diverse clinical orientations, as well as to nonpsychiatric physicians and their prescribing assistants. One of the most valuable elements of this text is the authors’ reminder to consider when and how medication can be appropriate to treatment, and how the clinician is an essential part of the psycho-medical treatment team.

If you have only one reference book on your shelf addressing the interface between clinical treatment and psychopharmacology, this should be it.”
—Marvin B. Berman, PhD

Marvin B. Berman

As a pharmacologist who has taught for more than forty years, this text fills an important void by presenting a well-balanced presentation of psychopharmacology, including the basic principles of pharmacology. John Preston’s book will be an excellent reference for the researcher and clinician, and a solid desk reference for anyone in the field of psychopharmacology and mental health.”
—Randall Tackett, PhD, professor in the department of clinical and administrative pharmacy, and director of the clinical trials certificate program in regulatory affairs at Fairleigh Dickinson University and Alliant University

Randall Tackett

Therapists will find this wonderful book helpful in two ways—as both a textbook and a reference book. Read as a textbook, they will learn essentially all they need to know about why patients are taking the meds they are taking, and what the likely next steps in treatment will be. As a reference book, therapists can look up a patient’s medication or diagnosis and quickly review dosing, side effects, and rationale for use. As a seasoned psychopharmacologist, I found the information accurate, useful, and presented with a refreshing clarity. It’s rare to find a book with so much information that is also a pleasure to read. I recommend it highly to any mental health clinician, whether they are a therapist, a prescriber, or both.”
—Daniel Carlat, MD, editor in chief of The Carlat Psychiatry Report

Daniel Carlat

The new edition of Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Therapists provides even more information than previous versions that I have required for my graduate students. The writing and format make it accessible for professionals without formal training in psychopharmacology. A mental health professional will be using it constantly, as it includes the essentials of psychiatric diagnosis and assessment, in addition to up-to-date information on psychiatric medications, and various issues related to their use.”
—Richard Tedeschi, PhD, professor emeritus in the department of psychological science at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Richard Tedeschi

I’m a psychoanalyst and clinical psychologist with no medical training, and I found Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Therapists to be a compelling and stimulating read, as well as a welcome addition to my reference shelf. This text is coherent and user-friendly, and reading it is a surprisingly pleasurable way to expand your knowledge in an area of clinical treatment usually not made this accessible to nonmedical professionals.”
—Susan Flynn, PhD

Susan Flynn

Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Therapists is a wonderfully useful and comprehensive book. It should be essential reading for all mental health professionals and for others like myself who have family members suffering from mental illness. Its great virtues are its clarity and its humane and informed sense of the diagnosis, treatment, and care of extraordinarily complicated conditions.”
—Jay Neugeboren, author of Imagining Robert

Jay Neugeboren

Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Therapists is a modern masterpiece written by a multidisciplinary team of distinguished practitioners. It is one of the most clearly written, reader-friendly yet comprehensive books on the subject of psychiatric diagnosis and psychotropic drug therapy. The book is packed full of useful tables, figures, and illustrations that amplify the main text, or can be used independently for a rapid introduction to the field or for reviewing the fundamentals. Covering both the spectrums of pathophysiology and the neurobiology of drug action, this slim and state-of-the-art-and-science text is truly a handbook worthy of the name, and should be an essential resource for mental health professionals and students alike.”
—Clifford N. Lazarus, PhD, licensed psychologist; director of Comprehensive Psychological Services in Princeton, NJ; and coauthor of Don’t Believe It for a Minute and The 60-Second Shrink

Clifford N. Lazarus

This book belongs on the desk of every psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, social worker, or anyone who works with clients who are taking psychoactive drugs. Also, anyone teaching or interested in abnormal psychology will find it indispensable. The authors manage—with judicious use of well-designed tables and clear, concise writing—to fill a gap in the current literature. No other book with which I am familiar covers the history of psychiatric medicine as well as both the neurochemistry and clinical use of psychotropics. The authors make excellent use of case histories, which are always to the point. I cannot think of anything that could be added to this text, or any part of it I would want to change.”
—Harry Avis, PhD, professor of psychology at Sierra College, and author of Drugs and Life

Harry Avis

Therapists will find this wonderful book helpful in two ways—as both a textbook and a reference book. Read as a textbook, they will learn essentially all they need to know about why patients are taking the meds they are taking, and what the likely next steps in treatment will be. As a reference book, therapists can look up a patient’s medication or diagnosis and quickly review dosing, side effects, and rationale for use. As a seasoned psychopharmacologist, I found the information accurate, useful, and presented with a refreshing clarity. It’s rare to find a book with so much information that is also a pleasure to read. I recommend it highly to any mental clinician, whether they are a therapist, a prescriber, or both.”
—Daniel Carlat, MD, editor-in-chief of The Carlat Psychiatry Report



“I’m a psychoanalyst and clinical psychologist with no medical training, and I found Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Therapists to be a compelling and stimulating read, as well as a welcome addition to my reference shelf. This text is coherent and user-friendly, and reading it is a surprisingly pleasurable way to expand your knowledge in an area of clinical treatment usually not made this accessible to nonmedical professionals.”
—Susan Flynn, PhD


“I recommend Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Therapists to psychotherapists from various clinical trainings and diverse clinical orientations, as well as to nonpsychiatric physicians and their prescribing assistants. One of the most valuable elements of this text is the authors’ reminder to consider when and how medication can be appropriate to treatment, and how the clinician is an essential part of the psycho-medical treatment team.

“If you have only one reference book on your shelf addressing the interface between clinical treatment and psychopharmacology, this should be it.”
—Marvin B. Berman, PhD


“Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Therapists is a modern masterpiece written by a multidisciplinary team of distinguished practitioners. It is one of the most clearly written and reader-friendly yet comprehensive books on the subject of psychiatric diagnosis and psychotropic drug therapy. The book is packed full of useful tables, figures, and illustrations that amplify the main text, or can be used independently for a rapid introduction to the field or for reviewing the fundamentals. Covering both the spectrums of pathophysiology and the neurobiology of drug action, this slim and state-of-the-art-and-science text is truly a handbook worthy of the name, and should be an essential resource for mental health professionals and students alike.”
—Clifford N. Lazarus, PhD, licensed psychologist and director of Comprehensive Psychological Services in Princeton, NJ, and coauthor of Don’t Believe It for a Minute and The 60-Second Shrink


“Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Therapists is a wonderfully useful and comprehensive book. It should be essential reading for all mental health professionals and for others like myself who have family members suffering from mental illness. Its great virtues are its clarity and its humane and informed sense of the diagnosis, treatment, and care of extraordinarily complicated conditions.”
—Jay Neugeboren, author of Imagining Robert


“This book belongs on the desk of every psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, social worker, or anyone who works with clients who are taking psychoactive drugs. Also, anyone teaching or interested in abnormal psychology will find it indispensable. The authors manage, with judicious use of well-designed tables and clear, concise writing, to fill a gap in the current literature. No other book with which I am familiar covers the history of psychiatric medicine as well as both the neurochemistry and clinical use of psychotropics. The authors make excellent use of case histories, which are always to the point. I cannot think of anything that could be added to this text, or any part of it I would want to change.”
—Harry Avis, PhD, professor of psychology at Sierra College and author of Drugs and Life

From the Publisher

Reviewer: Aaron Plattner, MD (Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services)
Description: This is an update of a book on psychopharmacology for nonprescribing mental health professionals that was last published in 2010.
Purpose: The authors' purpose is "to familiarize clinicians and students with the basic terminology and models of pharmacokinetics." This is a worthy objective as psychiatric medications are prescribed for patients with mental illness who are being treated not only by the prescriber, but also by a team of mental health clinicians who need to be educated about these medications. This excellent reference provides this education and succeeds at this important objective.
Audience: The authors state that the book is "primarily for mental health professionals and those in graduate training and psychology, social work, psychiatric nursing, and counseling." It is written at an appropriate level for the intended audience. The authors include a licensed psychologist, board-certified psychiatrist, and a pharmacist.
Features: The first part of the book familiarizes readers with the basic terminology and models of pharmacokinetics. Part two reviews the major psychiatric clinical syndromes and part three reviews the different classes of psychopharmaceuticals used to treat psychiatric syndromes. The book concludes with nine helpful appendixes, a reference section, an index, and a quick reference section. Helpful illustrations and case studies help readers retain the information.
Assessment: Overall this is an excellent book. As a psychiatrist, I feel that the book efficiently educates readers on the basics of psychopharmacology, which will allow mental healthcare workers to better care for their patients. They will easily be able to go directly to a specific topic of interest and find helpful evidence-based information. With the continued expansion of psychiatric research data and medication treatment options, continued updates are necessary. The new section on the effects of withdrawing from psychopharmacological medications is an important addition. A new edition will be needed upon publication of the DSM-V manual.

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