Adverse Syndromes and Psychiatric Drugs

Pharmacotherapy is an important part of the treatment of most major psychiatric disorders. Although psychiatric drugs can have immense benefits for patients, adverse syndromes are common, causing significant distress for patients. Some side-effects are potentially life threatening if not detected and treated appropriately. Despite the importance of this subject there is a great shortage of practical advice on this topic. This book will help psychiatrists, GPs, pharmacists and nurses prevent, recognize, and manage adverse syndromes associated with psychiatric drugs. It provides an easily readable account of almost all the adverse syndromes that clinicians will ever encounter. Each section is written by an authority in the area, with each syndrome clearly laid out to include the following information: clinical features; pharmacological basis; differential diagnosis; management; risk factors and prevention. Summary tables are also provided, along with key references for further reading. Clearly written and authoritative, this book will be of enormous practical value to all clinicians managing patients who have been prescribed psychiatric drugs.