A Straight Talking Introduction to Psychiatric Drugs
Author(s): Joanna Moncrieff
Psychiatric drugs and their use are amongst the most hotly debated issues in the 21st century. How they work, whether they are effective and how to understand the evidence, and explanations of the major categories of psychiatric drugs are all covered in this clearly written guide. The competing theories of drug action are also explained in easy-to-understand terms. Here, Joanna Moncrieff arms you with some of the information you'll need to make informed choices about psychiatric drugs. She provides an honest account of the uses of medication, when it is advised and what effects it may have. The book concludes with gives practical advice on the right questions to ask if you are prescribed medication for mental health problems and what happens on withdrawal of medication.
Product Information
This straightforward book is one that should be read by anyone currently taking, or thinking about taking, a psychotropic drug; anyone prescribing them and anyone party to their use. It offers a radically different and sobering view as to what the drugs do compared with the views on offer elsewhere. David Healy,Professor of Psychological Medicine, University of Wales School of Medicine, Cardiff.
Joanna Moncrieff is a Senior Lecturer in psychiatry at University College London and a practising consultant psychiatrist. She has written articles critical of various psychiatric drug treatments, including lithium, antidepressants and neuroleptics. She has also written about the adverse influence of the pharmaceutical industry on psychiatry. She is one of the founders and the co-chair person of the Critical Psychiatry Network, a group of psychiatrists who are critical of biological models of psychiatric distress and opposed to increasing coercion of psychiatric patients.
Intrduction Chapter 1 The place of Drug Treatments in Psychiatry Chapter 2 How do Psychiatric Drugs Work? Chapter 3 Interpreting the Evidence on Psychiatric Drugs Chapter 4 Neuroleptic Drugs (also known as 'Anti Psychotics') Chapter 5 'Antidepressants' Chapter 6 Lithium and Other Drugs Used for Manic Depression or Bipolar Disorder Chapter 7 Stimulants Chapter 8 Benzodiazepines Chapter 9 The Consequences of a Drug-Centred Approach to Understanding Psychiatric Drugs Chapter 10 Withdrawing from Psychiatric Drugs Chapter 11 Final Thoughts
General Fields
- :
- : PCCS Books
- : PCCS Books
- : June 2009
- : United Kingdom
- : books
Special Fields
- : Joanna Moncrieff
- : Paperback
- : 616.8918
- : 150
- : illustrations
