The Therapists Guide To Psychopharmacology

"Now in a revised and updated third edition, this noted practitioner guide and text incorporates the latest knowledge about psychopharmacology and collaborative care. Therapists and counselors learn when and how to make medication referrals and how to address patients' questions about drug benefits, side effects, safety, and more. Organized around frequently encountered mental health disorders, the book explains how medications work (including what they can and cannot accomplish). Strategies for collaborating successfully with patients, their family members, and prescribers are discussed in detail. Written for optimal practical utility, the text features case examples, sample referral letters, checklists, and a glossary. Subject Areas/Key Words: MSW programs, textbooks, mental health and social work professionals, medication assessments, handbook for nonprescribers, reference book, non-MDs, masters-level classes, psychotherapists, psychiatric drugs, psychotropics, referring clients, referrals Audience: Practitioners, graduate students, and instructors in clinical psychology, social work, counseling, and psychiatric nursing"--

This indispensable book provides therapists and counselors with crucial knowledge about psychotropic medications: when and how to make medication referrals, how to answer patients' questions and help them handle problems that arise, and how to combine medication and psychotherapy effectively. Ideal for readers without extensive background in neurobiology, the book clearly explains how medications work in the brain and how they affect an individual's emotions, behavior, and relationships. Strategies for collaborating successfully with patients, their family members, and prescribers are discussed in detail. In this edition, psychopharmacology content has been fully updated.

Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Therapists has become the go-to resource for mental health clinicians looking for clear, reliable information about the treatment of mental health issues. Organized by disorder and, within each disorder, by medication, this book is designed to familiarize clinicians and students with the basic terminology and models of pharmacokinetics. This updated seventh edition provides essential information on new medications and treatment options and includes the latest research on side effects, contraindications, and efficacy of all major medications prescribed for mental health disorders. The book also features an important new chapter on the effects of withdrawing from psychopharmacological medications. This handbook makes it simple to: Get the facts about drug interactions and side effects Find out how medications affect adults, children, and adolescents differently Learn how different cultures view medical treatment, vital information for anyone who treats clients from a variety of backgrounds Discontinue medication safely when needed

In the first accessible psychopharmacology text written specifically for psychotherapists. Gitlin explains when to refer patients for consultation about possible medication, how to better treat patients already on medication, and how to work collaboratively with psychopharmacologists. He reviews the criteria for selecting among treatment options and the likely course and side effects of each, and provides case histories to illustrate subtleties in diagnosis. The book also lists all medications by generic and trade names, the side effects and dosage range for each.

This unique, easy-to-read title offers a concise, practical guide to psychopharmacology and psychopharmacotherapy. Designed for a wide range of practitioners and trainees in general and mental healthcare, this invaluable primer provides foundational information for those who wish to cultivate a deeper understanding of the often-mysterious psychopharmacology medication family. Unlike other books on this topic, the primer positions psychopharmacology within the larger context of psychiatric and psychological treatment and also discusses the variety of therapeutic and somatic techniques available to providers and their patients. Further, since many patients with psychiatric conditions unfortunately find themselves interacting with the justice system, the author offers useful considerations related to the intersection of mental health and the law. The primer consists of 13 chapters and is organized in four parts: Part 1 covers essentials of pharmacology and psychopharmacology, outlining the basic principles of pharmacology, psychopharmacology, and psychopharmacotherapy. Part 2 addresses therapies that may involve psychopharmacology/ psychopharmacotherapy, providing a succinct overview of selected and representative types of psychotherapy and counseling in contemporary psychiatry and psychology. Part 3 discusses forensic and legal applications of psychopharmacology/ psychopharmacotherapy, drawing on the author’s long experience in various aspects of forensic psychiatry. Part 4 consists of one final chapter, titled “Synthesis and Conclusions.” This chapter pulls together the most salient points of the book to assist the reader in the practical psychopharmacotherapeutic treatment of patients/clients. A timely and invaluable contribution to the literature, Psychopharmacology for Non-Psychiatrists: A Primer will be of great benefit as a user-friendly resource for professionals or as an exam-preparation book for medical students and trainees in a wide range of mental health fields. Specifically, the primer will be of great interest to primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, counselors, therapists, non-psychiatric physicians and dentists whose practices involve psychopharmacotherapy, naturopaths, homeopaths, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech/language therapists. Legal professionals and others who are not themselves healthcare professionals, but who interact with healthcare professionals, also will find the primer a handy resource.

TABLE OF CONTENTS: 1 General Principles. 2 Depression. 3 Bipolar Illness. 4 Anxiety Disorders. 5 Psychotic Disorders. 6 Miscellaneous Disorders. 7 non-Response and "Breakthrough Symptoms" Algorithms. 8 Case Examples. App. A- History and personal Data Questionnaire. App. B- Special Cautions When Taking MAO Inhibitors.

Integrating Psychotherapy and Psychopharmacology: A Handbook for Clinicians is a practical guide for the growing number of mental-health practitioners searching for information on treatments that combine psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, and psychosocial rehabilitation. Research shows that combined approaches are among the most effective ways to treat an increasing number of psychiatric disorders. However, though these combined treatments are becoming the everyday practice of psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental-health professionals, identifying the right treatment plan can be notoriously difficult, and clinicians are often left scrambling to answer questions about how to design and customize their treatment strategies. In Integrating Psychotherapy and Psychopharmacology, readers will find these questions fully addressed and the answers explained, and they’ll come away from the book with a toolbox full of strategies for helping their patients improve symptoms, achieve remission, and stay well using a combination of drug and psychological treatments.

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.