Clinical Pharmacology In Psychiatry

This volume collects the invited lectures and some selected contributions presented at the 5th International Meeting on Clinical Pharmacology in Psychiatry, which was held 26-30 June 1988 at the University of Troms0, Norway. The 24 h of daylight at the northernmost university in the world al lowed for long, pleasant and productive sessions. The title of the conference as well as a number of the topics covered represent a continuation of four previous conferences, the first held in Chicago in 1979 and organized by the late Earl U sdin and colleagues. The earlier conferences have been documented in Clinical Pharmacology in Psychiatry, edited by E. Usdin (Elsevier, New York, 1981), Clinical Pharmacology in Psychiatry. Neuroleptic and Antidepressant Research, edited by E. Usdin, S. G. Dahl, L. F. Gram and o. Lingjrerde (Macmillan Publishers Ltd., London, 1981), Clinical Pharmacology in Psychiatry. Bridging the Experimental-Therapeutic Gap, edited by LF. Gram, E. Usdin, S.G. Dahl, P. Kragh-Sorensen, P. L. Morselli and F. Sjoqvist (Macmillan Publishers Ltd., London, 1983), and Clinical Pharmacology in Psychiatry. Selectivity in Psychotropic Drug Action - Promises or Problems? edited by S. G. Dahl, L.F. Gram, S.M. Paul and W.Z. Potter (Psychopharmacology Series 3, Springer, Heidelberg, 1987).

This book contains the papers from invited lecturers as well as selected contributions presented at the 6th International Meeting on Clinical Pharmacology in Psychiatry (I.M.C.P.P.) held in Geneva, Switzerland, 5-7 June 1991. At this meeting the basic theme of the previous meetings in this series (Chicago 1979, Troms0 1980, Odense 1982, Bethesda 1985, Troms0 1988) was continued, namely, to bridge the gap between experimental development and clinical reality in psychopharmacology. After more than 25 years of intensive research in biological psychiatry, basic understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying major psychiatric diseases has advanced significantly but is still far from complete. Likewise, the hypotheses underlying the development of new psychotropics have been refined and produced a wide spectrum of novel, yet designed compounds. The crucial condition for all progress in this field is reliable, informative clinical testing of new compounds. It is our hope that this book, as a continuation of the earlier publications in this series, provides further evidence of the ongoing interaction between preclinical and clinical scientists, who only together can assure progress in this exciting area of research and clinical practice.

The Fourth International Meeting on Clinical Pharmacology in Psychiatry was held in Bethesda, Maryland on 5-8 September 1985 and was dedicated to the memory of Dr. Earl Usdin. Earl was one of the organizers of the three previous meetings held in Chicago (1979), Troms0 (1980), and Odense (1982). During the organization of the fourth meeting Earl became ill and had to relinquish his role as one of the principal organizers. It is safe to conclude that there was no better, or more professional, or more efficient an organizer of scientific meetings in the field of neuropharmacology and psychiatry than Earl U sdin, and it was quite a task for the remaining organizers to fill the void left when he withdrew from this one. Those of us who have organized previous meetings with Earl were struck by how much more difficult our work became without him. This obviously speaks well for his subtle (and at times not so subtle) organizational skills. Nevertheless, in Earl's memory the organizers proceeded to invite a group of internationally renowned neuropsychopharmacologists to address the problem of selectivity in psychotropic drug action and to try to reconcile the amazing advances in basic preclinical neuropsychopharmacology with the problem of clinical specificity encountered by the psychiatrist.

Praise for Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Psychologists "Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Psychologists is a remarkably thorough introductory textbook for integrating psychotropic drug prescribing into psychological practices. It covers basic concepts in physiology, neurology, and pharmacology in easily understood language. Not only is this book a requirement for any psychologist seeking to gain prescriptive authority, but it is also helpful for any mental health clinician who collaborates with prescribers of any discipline. I recommend it highly." Daniel Carlat, MD, Editor in Chief of The Carlat Psychiatry Report "An important resource for any psychologist who is preparing to become a prescribing psychologist or for any psychologist who wants to be informed about the practice of medical psychology." Joseph E. Comaty, PhD, MP, coauthor of A Primer of Drug Action "Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Psychologists is an excellent treatise written by psychologists for psychologists." From the Foreword by Patrick H. DeLeon, PhD, and Jack G. Wiggins, PhD, former presidents of the American Psychological Association An essential and practical guide to integrating psychopharmacology into clinical practice Edited by medical psychologists with contributions by notable experts in their respective specialties, Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Psychologists covers key topics including: Ethics, standards of care, laws, and regulations relevant to clinical psychopharmacology Disorders of the nervous system, with particular relevance to psychopharmacology Use of comprehensive diagnostic strategies to establish differential diagnoses among possible medical and psychological symptoms Integration of pharmacotherapy with psychotherapy This essential book also provides an introduction to the qualifying exam for psychologists seeking specialty training in psychopharmacology, the Psychopharmacology Exam for Psychologists (PEP). The PEP-like practice test is available on the companion CD-ROM.