Brain Mechanisms and Psychotropic Drugs

Written by recognized experts in their fields, Brain Mechanisms and Psychotropic Drugs integrates clinical psychopharmacology with basic neuroscience and offers the latest in treatment approaches for major psychiatric disorders. The text is divided into three major sections. The first two sections focus on basic neuroscience, covering fundamental concepts such as ion channels, synapses, second messenger mechanisms, and the aging brain. The second section contains chapters on serotonin, dopamine, acetylcholine, GABA, glutamate, and peptides. The final section is clinically oriented and discusses major psychotropic drug classes: antidepressants, neuroleptics, mood stabilizers, benzodiazepines, and cognition-enhancing drugs. This is a must-have volume for all those involved in the clinical use of psychotropic medications, from medical students to practitioners and researchers.