Each chapter of this volume is designed to advance the reader's clinical knowledge, methodical assessment expertise, and diagnostic sophistication. Unlike other psychopharmacology books, this guide transcends lists and tables of dosages and side effects, instructing the reader in the reasoning that undergirds treatment decisions.
The first book of its kind, Rational Psychopharmacology: A Book of Clinical Skills teaches the reader how to think thoroughly and methodically when assessing a patient, reviewing research data (both basic and clinical), and developing and evaluating effective patient recommendations. Other psychopharmacology texts are typically limited to a list of currently available medications and their rationales for use, dosages, and side effects and fail to provide the clinician with the systematic orientation and skills necessary to engage in thorough and rational treatment planning. Psychiatric students, residents, and fellows will find immense benefit in the book's method, but veteran clinicians wishing to improve their psychopharmacology skills will also discover fresh, evidence-based approaches to clinical dilemmas. The author, a Distinguished Life Fellow of the APA, brings more than 30 years of experience in both clinical research and private practice to this valuable work, which boasts pedagogical features designed to teach and test the reader, as well as suggestions for additional study.
Its down-to-earth style, logical progression, and singular voice make Rational Psychopharmacology: A Book of Clinical Skills an excellent clinical companion for mastering and practicing the art of psychopharmacology.
