Includes bibliographical references and index.

ch. 1. Absorption, transformation, and elimination of psychotropic medications. 1.1. Absorption. 1.2. Distribution: differences between serum and cerebrospinal fluid/brain concentrations. 1.3. Metabolism and elimination. 1.4. Additional concepts in pharmacokinetics -- ch. 2. Neurotransmitters, receptors, and transporters. 2.1. Main types of receptors in the brain. 2.2. Neurotransmitters. 2.3. Neurotransmitter reuptake transporters -- ch. 3. Antipsychotics: a general view of therapeutic and adverse effects. 3.1. Classic antipsychotics. 3.2. New antipsychotics. 3.3. Are the new antipsychotics clinically different from the old ones? 3.4. Current concepts regarding antipsychotic action and the D[symbol] receptor. 3.5. Comparison between typical and atypical antipsychotics. 3.6. Metabolic side effects of antipsychotic drugs. 3.7. Extrapyramidal symptoms of antipsychotics. 3.8. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome. 3.9. Catatonia. 3.10. Antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinemia. 3.11. Sexual side effects of antipsychotics. 3.12. Antihistamine adverse effects of antipsychotics. 3.13. Anticholinergic adverse effects of antipsychotics: cognitive and peripheral. 3.14. Antipsychotics and the risk of seizures. 3.15. Vascular side effects of antipsychotics. 3.16. Antipsychotics and the risk of malignant arrythmia and sudden cardiac death. 3.17. Antipsychotics and increased morbidity and mortality in patients with dementia. 3.18. Antipsychotics and suicide. 3.19. Antipsychotics and the risk of cancer -- ch. 4. Description of individual antipsychotics. 4.1. Typical antipsychotics. 4.2. Atypical antipsychotics -- ch. 5. Treatment of schizophrenia with antipsychotic medications. 5.1. Choice of an antipsychotic for the initial treatment of schizophrenia. 5.2. Dosing in the initial antipsychotic treatment of schizophrenia. 5.3. How long does it take to respond to an antipsychotic? 5.4. Monitoring antipsychotic treatment. 5.5. Maintenance of antipsychotic treatment of schizophrenia. 5.6. Combination of antipsychotic drugs in schizophrenia ("polypharmacy"). 5.7. Pharmacological management of treatment-resistant schizophrenia. 5.8. Use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics in schizophrenia -- ch. 6. Antidepressants: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. 6.1. Introduction. 6.2. Pharmacodynamics of SSRIs and SNRIs (receptor affinity). 6.3. Pharmacokinetics of SSRIs and SNRIs. 6.4. Use of SSRIs in mental disorders. 6.5. Use of SNRIs in mental disorders. 6.6. Dosing of SSRIs and SNRIs. 6.7. Adverse effects of SSRIs and SNRIs. 6.8. Discontinuation syndrome with SSRIs and SNRIs. 6.9. Toxicity of SSRIs and SNRIs and serotonin syndrome. 6.10. Precautions with SSRIs and SNRIs. 6.11. Use of SSRIs and SNRIs during pregnancy and lactation -- ch. 7. Bupropion. 7.1. Introduction. 7.2. Pharmacology. 7.3. Approved indications and other possible uses. 7.4. Dosing and available forms of bupropion. 7.5. Side effects and adverse reactions. 7.6. Contraindications, warnings, and precautions. 7.7. Use of bupropion during pregnancy.

ch. 8. Mirtazapine, trazodone, and nefazodone. 8.1. Mirtazapine. 8.2. Trazodone. 8.3. Nefazodone -- ch. 9. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants. 9.1. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors. 9.2. Tricyclic antidepressants -- ch. 10. Individualized treatment of depression. 10.1. Patient factors to consider. 10.2. Second-generation antidepressants: doses and duration. 10.3. Hypnotics and other symptom-specific medications. 10.4. Partial response to antidepressant treatment: what to do? 10.5. No response to initial antidepressant treatment: what to do? 10.6. What about adding atypical antipsychotics in the initial treatment of depression? 10.7. Other non-antidepressant drugs recently tried in depression. 10.8. Once the patient gets better, how to stop antidepressant treatment? -- ch. 11. Benzodiazepines, buspirone, and miscellaneous medications used in anxiety disorders. 11.1. Benzodiazepines. 11.2. Buspirone. 11.3. Antiepileptic drugs. 11.4. Antihistamines. 11.5. Prazosin for nightmares in post-traumatic stress disorder. 11.6. Do antipsychotics have a role in anxiety? 11.7. Beta-blockers -- ch. 12. Medication treatment of anxiety disorders. General considerations prior to starting drug treatment. Other considerations. 12.1. Approved and potential uses of antidepressants and other medications. 12.2. Drug treatment of individual anxiety disorders -- ch. 13. Medications used in the treatment of mania. 13.1. Lithium. 13.2. Antipsychotics. 13.3. Carbamazepine. 13.4. Oxcarbazepine. 13.5. Valproic acid (divalproex, valproate). 13.6. Tamoxifen -- ch. 14. Medications used in bipolar depression, mixed states, and rapid cycling. 14.1. Electroconvulsive therapy. 14.2. Lithium. 14.3. Quetiapine. 14.4. Lamotrigine. 14.5. Valproate. 14.6. Antidepressants. 14.7. Ketamine in bipolar and treatment-resistant depression. 14.8. Pharmacological treatment of mixed states and rapid cycling bipolar disorder -- ch. 15. Medications used in the treatment of insomnia. 15.1. General rules. 15.2. Antihistamines as hypnotics. 15.3. Sedating antidepressants (trazodone and mirtazapine). 15.4. Melatonin receptor agonists. 15.5. GABA receptor agonists -- ch. 16. Medications used in the treatment of attention disorders. 16.1. Stimulant medications (psychostimulants). 16.2. Atomoxetine. 16.3. Bupropion. 16.4. Modafinil. 16.5. [symbol]-adrenergic agonists (guanfacine and clonidine) -- ch. 17. Medications used in the treatment of dementia. 17.1. Side effects. 17.2. Pharmacokinetics. 17.3. Pointers for clinical use -- ch. 18. Medications used in smoking cessation and alcohol use disorders. 18.1. Medications used in the treatment of nicotine dependence (smoking cessation). 18.2. Medications used in the treatment of alcohol use disorders -- ch. 19. Drug-drug interactions. 19.1. Pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions. 19.2. Pharmacodynamic DDIs involving psychotropic drugs. 19.3. Drug-drug Interactions due to cumulative toxicity. 19.4. Drug-drug interactions related to food supplements and substances of abuse.

This book aims to provide comprehensive, up-to-date information on psychotropic drugs and inform clinical decisions for the treatment of mental disorders using a problem-solving approach. In order to accomplish these goals, the book has three central characteristics: it is evidence-based; it compares each individual drug with others in the same class and also those used for the same indications rather than describing them separately; it steadily draws practical conclusions and makes recommendations about how to select and use medications in the treatment of specific mental disorders. More than a textbook, it is meant to serve as a practical tool for professionals working in the mental health field.

Electronic reproduction. Singapore : World Scientific Publishing Co., 2013. System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Mode of access: World Wide Web. Available to subscribing institutions.