Psychopharmacology is the key both to rational prescribing in clinical psychiatry and to a fuller understanding of the biological basis of severe mental illness. Now in its second edition, this popular title in the College Seminars Series has been fully revised and updated, and expanded to include a new chapter on the promising and rapidly growing area of pharmacogenomics.

Written by practising clinicians with an interest in the neuroscience base of psychiatry, the book integrates theoretical pharmacology with clinical practice. Intended primarily for trainees in psychiatry and related disciplines, this book will interest all those seeking a deeper understanding of the recent scientific developments in psychopharmacology.

Three sections cover:
1) General principles, including receptor neuropharmacology, clinical pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
2) The main psychotropic drugs used widely in general adult psychiatry.
3) Special areas of psychotherapeutics.

Contents
Part I. General principles
1. Introduction to neuropharmacology - Brian E. Leonard
2. Pharmacogenomics and pharmaco-genetics in psychopharmacology - Robert W. Kerwin and Maria J. Arranz
3. Pharmacokinetics, pharmaco-dynamics and drug development - Ian Hindmarch and Graham R. McClelland
4. The clinical principles underlying drug treatment in psychiatric practice - Phil Harrison-Read and Peter Tyrer

Part II. Pharmacology of the main psychotropic drug groups
5. Anxiolytics, sedatives and hypnotics - Stephen J. Cooper
6. Affective disorders: 1. Antidepressants - Elemer Szabadi and Christopher M. Bradshaw
7. Affective disorders: 2. Lithium and anticonvulsants - Rory Shelley
8. Affective disorders: 3. Electroconvulsive therapy - Stephen J. Cooper, Christopher B. Kelly and Robert J. McClelland
9. Antipsychotic drugs and the treatment of schizophrenia - David J. King and John L. Waddington
10. Anti-epileptic drugs - Robert J. McClelland and James I. Morrow


Part III. Special therapeutic areas
11. The psychopharmacology of childhood and adolescence - Peter Hill and Nicolette Adrian
12. Psychopharmacology in the elderly - Stephen Curran and John P. Wattis
13. Pharmacological aspects of drugs of misuse - Brian E. Leonard
14. Drug treatment of the personality disorders, premenstrual tension and erectile dysfunction, and male sexual suppressants - George S. Stein
15. Unwanted effects of psychotropic drugs: 1. Effects on human physiological systems, mechanisms and methods of assessment - J. Guy Edwards
16. Unwanted effects of psychotropic drugs: 2. Drug interactions, effects during pregnancy and breast-feeding, pharmaco-vigilance and medico-legal considerations - J. Guy Edwards