Essential Psychopharmacology of Antipsychotics and Mood Stabilizers

Abstract

Drawn from the best-selling second edition of Essential Psychopharmacology, Steve Stahl has revised and updated the chapters covering antipsychotics and mood stabilizers in this separate volume. This new book covers the many dimensions of psychosis, particularly as associated with schizophrenia, and examines the role of dopamine in psychosis along with the various theories about the causes, pathophysiology, and treatment of schizophrenia. New material includes discussion of a promising new agent, aripiprazole, the first in a new class of dopamine stabilizers; the use of anticonvulsant agents to treat manic psychosis as well as being used as adjuncts to more traditional antipsychotic treatments for psychosis and schizophrenia; and the newest atypical antipsychotic ziprasidone. CME self-assessment tests are included.