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
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
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
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
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
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
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
In today’s behavioral health care landscape, the integration of psychopharmacology and therapy has become common practice. Therapists must have a reasonable foundation in psychopharmacology to understand the potential and limits of the medications their patients are taking. This text focuses on what a therapist really needs to know using an organized and easy-to-read approach. The Handbook will be equally at home in a classroom or as a valued bookshelf reference.” —David Shearer, PhD, director of behavioral sciences at the Madigan Army family medicine residency, past president of the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Society for Prescribing Psychology, and a veteran prescribing psychologist
This classic text continues to be a valuable resource and reference for therapists of all professions. The authors have kept the contents up to date and relevant for any therapist’s practice. It is easy to read, accurate, and the information is clear and concise. Tables, figures, sidebars, and patient handouts add to the book’s relevance, versatility, and usefulness. A must-have for the bookcase.” —Joseph E. Comaty, MS, PhD, MSCP, MP, clinical and medical psychologist, and co-contributor to “Julien’s Primer of Drug Action
Comprehensive yet concise delivery of pertinent and practical information for therapists and all mental health practitioners. This tenth edition text represents a timely update of information essential to understanding everything from the biological basis of behavior to differential diagnosis to specific drug information. This text is also packed with references for further learning. If you are wanting to learn about psychopharmacology or need a refresher, start with this book first.” —Ryan Ernst, PsyD, MSCP, director of clinical psychopharmacology at Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, prescribing psychologist, and president-elect of the American Board of Professional Neuropsychology
Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Therapists remains, in its tenth edition, an indispensable learning and reference resource for health care professionals, from the novice psychotherapist to the deeply experienced physician. It offers clear and up-to-date information on current medications and treatment protocols, with a practical approach that makes it easy to understand complex pharmacological concepts and apply them in clinical practice. This valuable handbook is a must-have for any mental health professional.” —Greg Sazima, MD, senior behavioral faculty at the Stanford-O’Connor Family Medicine Residency Program
The new Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Therapists is a must-read for anyone studying psychopharmacology. The authors present crucial information for effective clinical work, whether this involves psychological intervention, psychotropic medication, or both. I have utilized previous editions in training to become a prescriber, as a clinical reference with patients, and as required reading in my teaching of psychopharmacology. This new edition will never collect dust; it will constantly be picked up and cherished!” —Steve Curtis, PhD, MSCP, certified prescribing psychologist, and president of the Society for Prescribing Psychology (Division 55) of the APA
The tenth edition of the Handbook continues to be a great resource for graduate training in psychopharmacology. It helps psychology students understand the fundamentals of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, the symptoms of psychological disorders with a focus on drug therapy, and an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of medications. This Handbook is a resource that our students will keep and continually refer to through their career.” —Dennis K. Miller, PhD, director of graduate studies in the psychological sciences department at the University of Missouri
This new, up-to-date volume is an invaluable guide to answering the many medication needs concerning your patient’s ethnicity, gender, age, and family of origin. Providing a grounded, thorough, and clear explanation of drugs and side effects makes this a quintessential companion in any mental health office.” —Sandra Dussault, LMFT, forty-three years in private practice incorporating a psychodynamic and somatic approach for trauma survivors
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
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.