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Clinical neuropharmacology and therapeutics
Schi~ophwniu Elsevier
SCHIZO
Reseurch,
7
(I 992) 269
269
00237
Book review Klawans, H.L., Goetz, C.G. and Tanner CM., (Eds.), Clinical Neuropharmacology and Therapeutics, 666 pp. Raven Press, New York, 1992. $99.00. The material covered in this edited, multipleauthor book cannot be found in most psychopharmacology texts, and yet is highly relevant to the work of many psychopharmacologists and schizophrenia of convulsive disorders, movement disorders, degenerative disorders, central nervous system infections, and neoplasms, and provides an efficient entry into a vast literature. The discussion on almost all psychiatric disorders has been intentionally omitted, although there is a well-written chapter on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The book would be more useful if the chapters were better organized into topic-oriented groupings, with a common organizational structure. These flaws make the book unsuitable for informal reading, although they do not seriously compromise its value as a reference text. Schizophrenia researchers and psychopharmacologists will find the chapters on the treatment of convulsive disorders, movement disorders, dementia, and sleep disorders most relevant. Thomas Bleck’s chapter on the use of anticonvulsants is among the most clearly and concisely written, and offers useful clinical guidelines, many of which can
be applied to the treatment of mood disorders with anticonvulsants. Caroline Tanner’s chapter on tardive dyskinesia offers a highly thoughtful and up-to-date review of current theories of the pathogenesis of this disorder, but some of her treatment suggestions are worrisome. For example, premature recommendations are given for the use of certain neuroleptics, based upon their relative preference for dopamine D3 receptors, and undue emphasis is placed on the therapeutic potential of free radical scavengers (i.e. vitamin E). The chapter on sleep disorders by Martin Sharf and Barry Sachaif is a serious disappointment, because it is poorly organized, and offers few references, none of which are actually cited in the text. Perhaps the major strength of this book remains the sheer number of topics in neuropharmacology covered, which from time-to-time become highly relevant to improving our understanding of psychopharmacological phenomena and the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. This book will provide occasional, but invaluable, service as a supplement to the standard psychopharmacology texts and journals.
JOHN G. CSERNANSKY St. Louis, MO, U.S.A.
SCHIZO
Reseurch,
7
(I 992) 269
269
00237
Book review Klawans, H.L., Goetz, C.G. and Tanner CM., (Eds.), Clinical Neuropharmacology and Therapeutics, 666 pp. Raven Press, New York, 1992. $99.00. The material covered in this edited, multipleauthor book cannot be found in most psychopharmacology texts, and yet is highly relevant to the work of many psychopharmacologists and schizophrenia of convulsive disorders, movement disorders, degenerative disorders, central nervous system infections, and neoplasms, and provides an efficient entry into a vast literature. The discussion on almost all psychiatric disorders has been intentionally omitted, although there is a well-written chapter on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The book would be more useful if the chapters were better organized into topic-oriented groupings, with a common organizational structure. These flaws make the book unsuitable for informal reading, although they do not seriously compromise its value as a reference text. Schizophrenia researchers and psychopharmacologists will find the chapters on the treatment of convulsive disorders, movement disorders, dementia, and sleep disorders most relevant. Thomas Bleck’s chapter on the use of anticonvulsants is among the most clearly and concisely written, and offers useful clinical guidelines, many of which can
be applied to the treatment of mood disorders with anticonvulsants. Caroline Tanner’s chapter on tardive dyskinesia offers a highly thoughtful and up-to-date review of current theories of the pathogenesis of this disorder, but some of her treatment suggestions are worrisome. For example, premature recommendations are given for the use of certain neuroleptics, based upon their relative preference for dopamine D3 receptors, and undue emphasis is placed on the therapeutic potential of free radical scavengers (i.e. vitamin E). The chapter on sleep disorders by Martin Sharf and Barry Sachaif is a serious disappointment, because it is poorly organized, and offers few references, none of which are actually cited in the text. Perhaps the major strength of this book remains the sheer number of topics in neuropharmacology covered, which from time-to-time become highly relevant to improving our understanding of psychopharmacological phenomena and the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. This book will provide occasional, but invaluable, service as a supplement to the standard psychopharmacology texts and journals.
JOHN G. CSERNANSKY St. Louis, MO, U.S.A.