Recognition and Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders: A Psychopharmacology Handbook for Primary Care

by Charles B. Nemeroff, Alan F. Schatzberg, Alanf Schatzberg

Overview

Mental health is an important public health issue. National survey data indicate that 48% of the U.S. adult population have reported a psychiatric disorder at some point in their lives and 30% have reported one in the past 12 months. With the changing healthcare environment, 60% of these patients are identified and receive treatment in the primary care setting. Recognition and Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders: A Psychopharmacology Handbook for Primary Care was developed to provide the busy primary care physician with practical and timely strategies for screening and treating patients who have psychiatric disorders. It covers

• The continually growing number of drugs available for treatment of mental disorders.
• An overview of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, presentation, diagnostic criteria, and screening tests for common psychiatric disorders including anxiety disorders, mood disorders, insomnia, somatization disorder, substance use disorder, eating disorders, dementia, and schizophrenia
• Treatment algorithms and other step-by-step approaches to direct the physician who is treating patients with mental disorders including drug dosages, schedules, and routes of administration
• Basic pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, drug interaction and safety concerns, and practical dosing issues for all classes of drugs used to treat mental disorders
• Guidelines for primary care physicians on when to refer patients to psychiatrist colleagues

This handbook is the quintessential resource for primary care physicians needing to screen and treat patients with mental disorders. Brief, but informative, this resource includes a glossary, a listing of printed and electronic mental health resources, a bibliography, and an appendix containing selected diagnostic rating scales.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Charles B. Nemeroff, M.D., Ph.D., is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. Alan F. Schatzberg, M.D., is Professor and Chairman of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine in Stanford, California. END

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780880489904
Publisher:	American Psychiatric Publishing, Incorporated
Publication date:	10/28/1999
Edition description:	1 ED
Pages:	286
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Charles B. Nemeroff, M.D., Ph.D., is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia.

Alan F. Schatzberg, M.D., is Professor and Chairman of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine in Stanford, California.

Table of Contents

Preface.
Introduction.
Overview and Pharmacotherapy of Psychiatric Disorders.
Anxiety disorders.
Mood disorders.
Insomnia.
Somatization disorder.
Substance use disorders.
Eating disorders.
Dementia of the Alzheimer's type.
Schizophrenia.
Psychopharmacologic Agents.
Antidepressants.
Drugs for bipolar disorder.
Benzodiazepines.
Nonbenzodiazepine anxiolytics.
Sedative-hypnotics.
Antipsychotics.
Drugs for extrapyramidal side effects.
Cognitive enhancers.
Stimulants.
Overview of Pharmacotherapy in Primary Care: General Principles.
Drug use in pregnancy/lactation.
Drug use in the elderly.
Resources.
Glossary.
Appendixes.
Index.

What People are Saying About This

Larry Culpepper

This is a concise well-balanced presentation of the essential practical information required by physicians and other health professionals to care for patients with psychiatric disorders.
—(Larry Culpepper, M.D., M.P.H., Chairman of Family Medicine,Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts)

Editorial Reviews

This concise, well-organized book aimed at the primary care physician is an overview of the epidemiology, DSM-IV diagnostic criteria, pathophysiology, and treatment strategies for psychiatric disorders commonly found in the primary care setting. The purpose is to help primary care physicians develop or refine strategies for identifying, screening, and treating patients with psychiatric disorders. Although the intended audience is the primary care physician, any physician who may treat patients with psychiatric disorders, including psychiatrists themselves, would find the book useful. The first section of the book is an overview of commonly encountered psychiatric disorders. The epidemiology, pathophysiology, presentation, and treatment strategies are discussed. In the second section psychotropic medications are discussed in detail. Numerous tables illustrating the pharmacokinetics, side effects, drug interactions, and dosing strategies of psychiatric drugs are included in this section. The third section is an overview of pharmacotherapy in primary care, and treating special populations such as pregnant or elderly patients is discussed. The book concludes with an excellent resource section with addresses and phone numbers of mental health organizations and examples of some of the more common psychiatric rating scales. There is a thorough bibliography with over 300 references. This book is an invaluable aid to any physician treating patients with psychiatric disorders. Although it is aimed at the primary care provider, other physicians will find it useful. The inclusion of addresses and phone numbers for mental health organizations is an especially nice touch. There are several othersimilar reference texts available, but this one is probably the most useful.

William Miles

Nemeroff and Schatzberg, both doctors in psychiatry, provide an overview of the epidemiology, presentation, diagnostic criteria, and screening tests for psychiatric disorders commonly found in primary care settings. Step-by-step examples and approaches direct doctors toward appropriate treatments. The book also incorporates basic pharmacology, drug interactions, and safety concerns, as well as advice on when a patient should be referred to a mental health specialist. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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