Book Review: Essentials of clinical psychopharmacology, third edition

Abstract

CPNP members maintain a suggested reading list to provide information on peer recommended resources and convenient access to the highest quality neuropsychopharmacology publications. A reminder that if you shop with CPNP, by following the links below to Amazon, a small commission will be paid to CPNP which helps to financially support our mission to improve the minds and lives of individuals with psychiatric and/or neurologic disorders.You can help grow this list of resources by suggesting a book.Book: Essentials of Clinical Psychopharmacology, Third EditionThis third edition of Essentials of Psychopharmacology is, like its predecessors, based on the premier textbook in the field, The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychopharmacology, now in its fourth edition. The Essentials format is designed to deliver core knowledge to the busy trainee or practitioner in a succinct and accessible manner. Essentials of Psychopharmacology provides a complete overview of clinically focused pharmacotherapeutic principles of vital interest to psychiatry residents, primary care physicians, and other health care professionals. Updated with the latest research findings since the publishing of the fourth edition of the Textbook, the Essentials features new chapters on recently introduced medications and updated chapters on others. The book is divided into two parts: Classes of Psychiatric Treatments, which systematically reviews psychotropic medications within each drug class (e.g., antidepressants and anxiolytics, antipsychotics), and Psychopharmacological Treatment, which outlines current pharmacotherapeutic approaches in the major psychiatric disorders as well as in specific patient populations. Although the latter part has been streamlined in this new edition, coverage of critical information such as approved indications, drug interactions, side effects, and other prescribing factors remains comprehensive. Clinicians seeking a reliable reference and guide to the core knowledge base and practice of clinical psychopharmacology can do no better than this new edition of Essentials of Psychopharmacology.Essentials of Clinical Psychopharmacology is a compressed version of the APA's Textbook on Psychophamacology. Part 1 entitled “Classes of Psychiatric Treatment” includes chapters that explain drug classes and chapters devoted to specific agents (e.g., chapters on fluoxetine, clozapine, etc.). Each chapter gives a short history/discovery of the agent, pharmacological profile, and review of the literature pertaining to indications and efficacy. A “specific issues” section within each chapter highlights clinical pearls and a brief conclusion section states where the agent can be utilized in practice. Part 2 entitled “Psychopharmacologic Treatment” includes drug information from the perspective of treating specific diagnoses with topics including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, and substance-related disorders. There are also chapters devoted to the treatment of child and adolescent disorders and psychopharmacology during pregnancy and lactation. Each chapter is approximately 20 pages in length with some reference tables and figures included throughout. The book provides a good overview of psychotropics especially for students and residents that are learning psychopharmacology. The text is also useful as a quick reference guide for clinicians practicing in a variety of disciplines and settings. In conclusion, this publication is a good reference resource for core material in psychopharmacology.