Psychiatric Drugs Explained: For Health Professionals and Users

by David Healy

The new edition of this book will continue to provide a comprehensive and clear guide to the uses, benefits and impact of psychotropic drugs. The major drug categories are listed and the clinical uses, modes of action and side effects of principle drugs in each category are described. The text provides drug names in generic and both UK and US trade names. In addition to a comprehensive review of drug treatment organised by condition, the text also addresses important issues for professionals and their clients concerning, consent, liability and the management of side- effects and withdrawal. The book provides a readable reference source of essential information for professionals to work with their clients in considering treatment options.

The book has been thoroughly revised and updated to include new drugs and treatment options, and continues to address the key concerns for health care professionals around compliance, partnerships in treatment options and issues of accountability in practice. It also contains a unique section on the pharmacological industry critically appraising its significant role in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.

Genres: Mental Health, Reference, Nursing, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published October 1, 1996

About the author

David Healy is a former secretary of the British Association for Psychopharmacology and author of over 120 articles and 12 books, including The Antidepressant Era and The Creation of Psychopharmacology.

Reviews

[rowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun read

[Elizabeth Rahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have the 5th Edition from class. Much of it goes over my head, but I’m hoping to give more time to reading it to use with clients. It really helps breakdown the major concerns of psychiatric drugs. It is ideal for nurses, as stated on the back of my copy.

[bishy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for beginners! One of the only textbooks i’d ever read just for fun

[Victor Adebiyi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great and easy read. Explored the pharmaceutical intricacies of psychiatric medication.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book I read in my first year as a psychiatric nursing student. I found parts difficult to understand as I had read this prior to classes starting and this book does discuss the disorders but I found the explanations needing to be more simplified so I would recommend to read The The Meaning of Madness before hand as it is extremely simply and able to place imagery.

Psychiatric Drugs explained is one I have returned to throughout my nursing studies as a referencing book within assignments and looked back on when needing to clear up any misunderstanding I have had towards medication. You do not need to read the book from front to back as it is easily broken down into manageable chapters from the disorders, what medication treats what, effects of medication and goes onto consent and ethics.

Very useful tool for anyone interested or studying mental health.

[Cliff Askey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent, modelling good practice towards listening to patients and involving them in their care- particularly management of medications.
This should be mandatory reading for anyone dispensing or prescribing medication.

[Jimmy James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great hand-book! Actually a smooth read all the way through! I will keep it at my desk right next to my Pill Book, lol.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does exactly what it says on the tin.

[nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

only read parts specific to my personal interests. reads smooth and learned a lot