Designed to make the topic of psychopharmacology accessible to students in the helping professions, this concise, three-part book assists future practitioners in mastering basic concepts and applying these concepts to cases. In-depth discussions of psychopharmacology topics-- including basic principles of psychopharmacology, commonly prescribed psychotropic drugs for adults, and psychotropic medications prescribed to children--are structured around the three core parts of the book. Psychological, cultural, and social issues related to psychopharmacology are also addressed. Case examples, study questions, and bolded key terms appear throughout the book to support and facilitate comprehension. PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, Second Edition, includes new material on psychosocial treatments that complement the most prescribed medications, expanded discussion of medication of children and the elderly, a new chapter on drug replacement therapies, reference to changes in the DSM-5, and more.

PART I: AN OVERVIEW OF THE NEW EDITION.
1. Introduction.
2. Introduction to the Nervous System, Neurons, and Pharmacodynamics.
3. Pharmacokinetics: How the Body Acts on Psychotropic Medications.
4. Psychological, Social, and Cultural Issues in Psychopharmacology.
PART II: DRUG CLASSIFICATIONS, THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS AND SIDE EFFECTS.
5. The Antidepressant Era.
6. The Age of Anxiety.
7. Antipsychotic Medications.
8. Mood Stabilizers.
PART III: NEWER ISSUES.
9. Medicating Children.
10. Herbaceuticals.
11. Pharmacotherapy of Alcohol and Drug Related Disorders.
12. Drug Assisted Psychotherapy.
13. Psychotropic Medication and the Elderly.

Designed to make the topic of psychopharmacology accessible to students in the helping professions, this concise, three-part book assists future practitioners in mastering basic concepts and applying these concepts to cases. In-depth discussions of psychopharmacology topics-- including basic principles of psychopharmacology, commonly prescribed psychotropic drugs for adults, and psychotropic medications prescribed to children--are structured around the three core parts of the book. Psychological, cultural, and social issues related to psychopharmacology are also addressed. Case examples, study questions, and bolded key terms appear throughout the book to support and facilitate comprehension. PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY FOR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, Second Edition, includes new material on psychosocial treatments that complement the most prescribed medications, expanded discussion of medication of children and the elderly, a new chapter on drug replacement therapies, reference to changes in the DSM-5, and more. Expanded discussion of medication and children appears in a new Chapter 9, “Medicating Children.” Topics include, among others, pediatric bipolar disorder, the foster care system and psychotropic medication, mood stabilizers and aggression, federal laws related to medicating children, and antipsychotics, anxiolytics, antidepressants as they relate to children. A new Chapter 13, “Psychotropic Medication and the Elderly,” features expanded material on medications as they relate to this growing population. A new Chapter 11, “Drug Replacement Therapies,” introduces addictions medicine and discusses drug replacement therapies for opiate dependence, including methadone and suboxone. A new chapter 12, "Drug Assisted Psychotherapy" that discusses psychedelics and empathogens. Expanded treatment on pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacogenetics. This edition incorporates relevant material as appropriate from the DSM-5 and the ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders. Through the use of numerous case examples, study questions, bolded key terms and a glossary, the text assists readers in understanding and applying material. Each chapter is broken into sections; each section has objectives and review questions to facilitate student understanding. Each chapter in Part II covers commonly prescribed psychotropic medication and includes an overview on the history of the discovery and use of each category of drugs, medical model theories of how the drugs work, and common drugs in each category and their side effects.