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Back to topA Primer of Drug Action: A Concise Nontechnical Guide to the Actions, Uses, and Side Effects of Psychoactive Drugs, Revised and Updated (Paperback)
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Description
Since 1975, Robert M. Julien's A Primer of Drug Action has been the definitive guide to the effects of psychoactive drugs on the brain and on behavior.
Now fully updated, this popular guide continues to lead the way through a rapidly changing field, providing readers with a clear, contemporary, and objective look at every drug and medication that either positively or adversely affects brain function. This edition includes important new information on:
-Herbal medications
-Drug therapy for behavioral and anxiety disorders
-Clinical practice guidelines for treating psychological disorders
-Depression and the action of antidepressant drugs
-The use of newer anticonvulsants in the treatment of bipolar disorder, pain syndromes, and behavioral disorders
-Drug therapy for children, adolescents and the elderly
-"New generation" antipsychotic agents
Authoritative, comprehensive, and suitable for those with little background in biology, A Primer of Drug Action is an indispensable source of information for anyone interested in drug use, abuse, and education.
About the Author
Robert M. Julien, M.D., received his M.S. and Ph.D. in pharmacology from the
University of Washington and his medical degree from the University of California at Irvine. His many research articles focus on the psychopharmacology of sedative and antiepileptic drugs. Formerly an associate professor of pharmacology and anesthesiology at the Oregon Health Sciences University, Dr. Julien has retired from the practice of anesthesiology and is currently a psychopharmacology consultant in Portland, Oregon.
Praise For…
“A complete, unbiased, and professional review of psychoactive drugs.” —American Journal of Psychiatry
“A concise, easily readable guide to actions, uses, and side effects of psychoactive drugs . . . This book covers general principles of each class of psychoactive drugs and specific information about each drug within that class. It looks at mechanisms of action, theories about etiologies of major psychological disorders and rationale for drug treatment, and uses and limitations of psychopharmacology. It also includes basic explanations of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Drugs of compulsive use are emphasized. Each of the 20 chapters examines current and future directions in drug research (including drugs not yet available for clinical use). An interesting new chapter on herbal medications has been added. A brief glossary is included. This is a bold attempt to capture the explosion of knowledge about psychoactive substances . . . This is a good, comprehensive review that has organized and presented a massive amount of often disparate information into a comprehensible, easy to use book.” —Nancy Schell, MD (Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center), Doody Review Services
“Since the primer's first edition 20 years ago, much has been learned about psychoactive drugs, their use in the treatment of mental disorders, and their potential for misuse. Chapters cover principles of drug action, properties of specific drugs, pharmacotherapy for various disorders, and societal issues. The primer's goal is to present information in clear language, free of jargon, for students and general readers, though scholarly syntax is the norm throughout.” —Book News
“This in-depth survey of the effects of psychoactive drugs on the brain and behavior includes an expanded discussion of drug action and new discoveries in psychopharmacology since 1975. Surprisingly simple language lend insights to details on the actions, uses and side effects of these drugs. A valuable . . . reference addition.” —Midwest Book Review