Books, like people, are born, and, if they survive the trauma of birth, mature in response to a changing environment. This volume is no exception. It imme diately proved its usefulness to psychiatric clinicians upon its publication six years ago, and it is not surprising to find it now entering a new phase of life in a second edition. The many and significant changes that the reader will find herein reflect not only the rapid growth of knowledge in the field of psy chopharmacology but also the editors' wise awareness of the need to incorpo rate that knowledge into clinical practice. Important new sections have been added on the management of elderly patients, on the pharmacological approach to those with temporal lobe epilepsy, and on the use of psychoactive medications during pregnancy. The existing clinical sections have been expanded, and the format has been altered to make the volume more practi cally useful for the harried clinician. Most important of all, the discussions of individual drugs have been carefully revised to update information about those medications that have stood the test of time and to include those newer pharmacological agents that have appeared on the clinical scene since the publication of the first edition. This last task has been significantly aided by the addition of Dr. Alan J. Gelenberg to the family of editors; his clinical and scientific knowledge nicely complements that of Drs. Bassuk and Schoonover, and its influence is evident throughout.

Inhalt

1. Introduction: The Practice of Pharmacotherapy.- I. Historical Perspective.- II. Current Trends in Psychopharmacology.- III. Perspectives on Clinical Practice.- IV. General Clinical Guidelines.- V. Conclusion.- References.- 2. Depression.- I. Introduction.- II. Diagnostic Considerations.- III. General Therapeutic Measures.- IV. Pharmacotherapy.- V. Conclusion.- References.- 3. Bipolar Affective Disorder and Recurrent Unipolar Depression.- I. Introduction.- II. ManicDepressive Disorder (Bipolar Affective Disorder).- III. General Measures for Treating ManicDepressive Illness and Recurrent Depressions.- IV. Pharmacotherapy.- V. Clinical Applications.- VI. Conclusion.- References.- 4. Psychoses.- I. Introduction.- II. Other Treatments.- III. Antipsychotic Drugs.- IV. Conclusion.- References.- 5. Anxiety.- I. Introduction.- II. Models.- III. Differential Diagnosis.- IV. Primary Anxiety Disorders and Their Treatment.- V. Antianxiety Agents.- VI. Clinical Use of Antianxiety Agents.- VII. Summary.- References.- Selected Reading.- 6. Insomnia.- I. Introduction.- II. Sleep.- III. Hypnotic Drugs.- IV. Clinical Use of Hypnotics.- V. Summary.- References.- Selected Reading.- 7. Substance Abuse.- I. Introduction and Definitions.- II. Abuse of Opiate Drugs.- III. Abuse of Central Nervous System Depressants.- IV. Alcohol Abuse.- V. Abuse of Central Nervous System Stimulants.- VI. Abuse of Hallucinogenic Substances.- VII. Phencyclidine Abuse.- VIII. Inhalant Abuse.- IX. Marijuana Use and Abuse.- X. Substance Abuse in Perspective.- 8. Geriatric Psychopharmacology.- I. Introduction.- II. Pharmacokinetic Changes.- III. Adverse Reactions.- IV. Clinical Application.- V. Conclusion.- Selected Reading.- 9. Pediatric Psychopharmacology.- I. Introduction.- II. Psychoses and SevereBehavior Disorders.- III. Tic Disorders.- IV. Depression.- V. Bipolar Affective Disorders.- VI. Enuresis.- VII. School Refusal.- VIII. Anxiety Disorders.- IX. Sleep Disorders.- X. Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (Minimal Brain Dysfunction).- XI. Conduct Disorders.- XII. Anorexia Nervosa.- XIII. Borderline Children.- XIV. Conclusion.- 10. The Use of Psychotropic Drugs during Pregnancy and Nursing.- I. Introduction.- II. General Therapeutic Approaches: Nonbiological.- III. General Issues Related to Pharmacotherapy.- IV. Emotional Illness during and after Pregnancy.- V. Conclusion.- References.- 11. Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.- I. Introduction.- II. Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.- III. Diagnosis of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.- IV. General Therapeutic Measures.- V. Medications.- VI. Clinical Applications.- VII. Conclusion.- Selected Reading.- 12. Legal Issues in Prescribing Psychoactive Medications.- I. Introduction.- II. Basis for Litigation.- III. Informed Consent.- IV. Patient's Right to Withhold Consent.- V. Specific Areas of Liability.- VI. Suggestions for Avoiding Litigation.