Handbook of Drug Therapy in Psychiatry

by Jerrold G. Bernstein and Jerrold G. Bernstein MD

Book Overview

This volume by a well-trained researcher and experienced clinician will go a long way toward bridging the gap between theory and practice in the clinical care of the mentally ill. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801681014
• ISBN13: 9780801681011
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: Mosby
• Length: 576 Pages
• Weight: 1.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

R.I.P. -- Jerrold G. Bernstein, M.D.

I was deeply discouraged recently to learn that Dr. Bernstein has passed away. The fact that there will not be a fourth edition of the *Drug Therapy in Psychiatry* under Dr. Bernstein's authorship is a great loss to those who suffer from potentially terminal mental illness.Most psychopharmacology books today appear to be written by people who have no practical experience with life-threatening mental illness or even the drugs they write about. Major side effects of the modern drugs are ignored. There is almost no information about drug augmentation, or the use of off-label drugs. The sections on the older (and often more effective) antidepressants are perfunctory and mainly emphasize that they should never be used. (I'm thinking in particular of the APA's *Textbook of Psychopharmacology*--but my criticism applies to all the modern psychpharm books I have seen).Dr. Bernstein, in contrast, writes for real doctors who are treating patients who are completely disabled or suicidal. If a patient does not respond to one medication, he tries something else. If the patient can't tolerate the side effects, he offers other options, including daring and often effective augmentation strategies that no modern book would touch. He describes in detail ways in which MAOI's can be combined with tricyclics, lithium, and dopamine enhancers, the use of tricyclics with SSRI's, and even the augmentation of MAOI's with stimulants! (not to be done casually, of course!) The implicit philosophy of the book stands in stark contrast to modern psychiatry: never give up on a patient, never be afraid to take risks, and never be satisfied with anything less than significant remission without disabling side effects.All serious psychiatrists should own a copy of this book. It is an essential, and sadly unique resource for anyone who wants needs detailed clinical information on the use of tricyclic and MAOI antidepressants, antipsychotics, drug augmentation, the use of lithium, and novel off-label uses of "non-psychiatric" drugs. The references are extensive, and the discussions of potential side effects and special patient populations are very useful.Quite simply, the intellectual and clinical sophistication of this book puts it in a class by itself. Buy the modern psychiatry/psychpharm books to pass your boards. Get *Drug Therapy in Psychiatry* if you want real advice on how to save the lives of your sickest patients.