This book adopts a unique integrated approach to the neurosciences and psychopharmacology. Drawing from many disciplines, it describes the function of the brain systems governing human behavior--systems for waking and sleeping, learning and memory, reward and punishment. It considers how dysfunction in these systems can lead to a variety of disorders, including anxiety states and sleep disturbance, memory disorders, drug dependence, chronic pain syndromes, and psychoses. In each case, it discusses the mechanisms of action of psychotropic drugs and how they affect normally and abnormally functioning systems. The first edition of this book, Brain Systems, Disorders, and Psychotropic Drugs, fulfilled the need for a single volume to bridge the gap between laboratory-based and clinical disciplines in the neurosciences. Recent advances have increased the importance of an integrated approach to normal and abnormal brain function and psychotropic drugs. This new edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to cover these advances, in areas as diverse as receptor pharmacology, brain imaging techniques, and neuropathology of psychiatric disease, as well as the introduction of whole new classes of psychotropic drugs. It will be of use to all those concerned with the workings of the brain, whether for teaching, research, or clinical practice. It will be of particular interest to clinicians prescribing drugs for neuropsychiatric disorders, or dealing with dependence and drug-related problems. In addition, the shortened text and wide scope of the book will increase its appeal to students of many disciplines related to neuroscience.

Reviews
recommended as general background reading for postgraduate students on the neurosciences and for others interested in psychiatry, psychology, neurophysiology and related fields. * Aslib Book List, Vol. 58, No. 2, February 1993 *
the book is an excellent condensation of important brain functions and their manipulation with psychotropic drugs * H. Coper, Arzneimittel-Forschung/Drug Research 43 (11) Nr, 7 (1993) *
this is an exciting volume which can be read with profit by any undergraduate student of the life sciences or postgraduates studying for the MRCPsych. The author is also to be congratulated on the scope of her references ... this is a valuable addition to the texts that are currently available in Psychopharmacology. * Brian Leonard, University College, Galway, Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine 1993 October *
This book remains brave in trying to assess the actions of drugs on identified brain systems ... Ashton writes well and undergraduates may benefit from reading this book. * Philip Winn, Neuropsychologia *



Book Information
ISBN 9780192622426
Author Heather Ashton
Format Paperback
Page Count 436
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 1g
Dimensions(mm) 235mm * 157mm * 25mm