Drugs and Behavior / Edition 3

by Fred Leavitt

Overview

What are the effects of psychoactive drugs on aspects of human behaviour, such as creativity, memory and sexuality? How effective are such drugs in treating mental disorders? How are new drugs tested and licensed?

An intriguing introduction to the study of psychopharmacology, this fully revised and updated edition of Drugs and Behavior presents a unique analysis of the ways in which human behaviour is affected by drugs, rather than simply by categories of drugs. The text covers the principles of neurotransmission, pharmacokinetics and drug classification. Issues of new drug development, including drug dangers and benefits, legalization and the prevention and treatment of drug abuse, are also discussed.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780803947849
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	12/06/1994
Series:	Personality Processes Series
Edition description:	Third Edition
Pages:	536
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Leavitt, Fred, PhD (California State Univ Hayward)

Table of Contents

Introduction
Neurotransmission
Principles of Drug Action
Classification
Variability in Response to Drugs
New Drugs
Development, Testing and Promotion
Pharmacological Dangers and Benefits of Psychoactive Drugs
Effects of Drugs on the Embryo, Fetus and Developing Young
The Question of Legalization
Users and Abusers of Drugs
Prevention of Drug Abuse
A Short and Depressing Chapter
Treatment of Drug Abuse
Psychopharmacotherapy
Methodological Issues
Psychopharmacotherapy
Memory
Creativity
Sexual Behavior
Aggression and Violence
Sleep

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Sahana Misra, MD (Rush University Medical Center)
Description: This third edition provides a general overview of the field of psychopharmacology and features a wide array of topics uniquely subdivided by behavioral categories rather than by the standard organization by drug classification. The broad range of topics include neurotransmission, psychopharmacotherapy, research methods, effects of drugs on creativity, and controversial issues such as the legalization of drugs.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide a basic text on psychopharmacology presented via behavioral categories, thus avoiding the difficulty of becoming rapidly outdated by referring to drugs that eventually may become obsolete.
Audience: It is an ideal primary text for undergraduate level students and the general public. For graduate students and medical students it can be used as an excellent supplemental text. It also is a useful reference for practitioners of all fields.
Features: The book includes a number of valuable features, including questions to be answered at the beginning of each chapter, a mini-quiz with answers after each chapter, summaries, and a glossary. The figures, tables, and graphs make the text even more comprehensible.
Assessment: The author is able to take a difficult, important subject and organize and present it in a clear, understandable manner, making this book enjoyable and worthwhile to read.

Doody's Review Service

3 Stars from Doody

This third edition provides a general overview of the field of psychopharmacology and features a wide array of topics uniquely subdivided by behavioral categories rather than by the standard organization by drug classification. The broad range of topics include neurotransmission, psychopharmacotherapy, research methods, effects of drugs on creativity, and controversial issues such as the legalization of drugs. The purpose is to provide a basic text on psychopharmacology presented via behavioral categories, thus avoiding the difficulty of becoming rapidly outdated by referring to drugs that eventually may become obsolete. It is an ideal primary text for undergraduate level students and the general public. For graduate students and medical students it can be used as an excellent supplemental text. It also is a useful reference for practitioners of all fields. The book includes a number of valuable features, including questions to be answered at the beginning of each chapter, a mini-quiz with answers after each chapter, summaries, and a glossary. The figures, tables, and graphs make the text even more comprehensible. The author is able to take a difficult, important subject and organize and present it in a clear, understandable manner, making this book enjoyable and worthwhile to read.

Sahana Misra