Successful Psychopharmacology: Evidence-Based Treatment Solutions for Achieving Remission

This is the most well written and useful psychopharmacology text I have read. The user friendly guide begins with a discussion of “treatment goals” and “the keys to successful psychopharmacology” which provide a grounding biopsychosocial context for the remainder of the book. It then continues with chapters providing medication specific information (such as the neurotransmitter basis of psychotropic action) followed (at times) by a separate chapter with information from the point of view of exactly how to use such medications according to the target population. For example following a discussion of “antidepressants (points and pearls)” is a chapter on “choosing the right antidepressant” and then a chapter with a focus on “treating depression.” While the information in these chapters overlap, each provides a wonderfully unique focus. Included is a discussion of, results of major drug trials and how mechanism of action and study outcome inform choice of specific medication and appropriate dosage range. There is an emphasis on the efficacy of using medications alone or, as needed, in combination with each other and in combination with other drugs metabolized by the hepatic microsomal system and with characteristic plasma binding profiles. This book itself acts as an anxiolytic calming my own doubts and fortifying my confidence and knowledge. While user friendly, it is not an overnight read. It is a manual to refer to over and over. It helped turn some of my apprehension into fun.

This book is very beneficial. I will likely read it again. It makes very difficult psychiatric diagnosis and treatments much clearer.

As a psychiatry student I often read books that are not on my official book-list, and this one is excellent. The author writes with unique succinctness and clarity, giving unparalleled summaries of pharmacological interventions and the rationales behind them. Very useful for developing a mental framework for how to treat various disorders. After reading small sections of this book, I have a great frame for knowing what classes of drugs I will want to use to treat a particular patient, as well as alternate and augmenting strategies that may be useful. I then use prescribing guides to delve into the specifics of various drugs. I especially like to use this in conjunction with Stahl's prescribing guide. I could not recommend this book more highly to both professionals and students.

I am a practicing psychiatrist and have found this book to be very useful. There are lots of resources out there in the world of psychopharmacology but unfortunately not many of them help me in my clinical practice. This is because almost all of them incorporate data from clinical studies which have serious limitations when it comes to using that knowledge in the treatment of "real world" patients. When I purchased the kindle edition few months ago I was very impressed with the narrative style of the author who clearly knows what he is talking about. I would recommend this book to psychopharmacology practitioners across the board and would especially recommend it to psychiatric residents and other trainees to prepare them for the "real world" of psychopharmacology

I found this book to be helpful in reminding me of the fundamentals of prescribing. I liked the format and listing summaries because they are an easy reference point. There are some more nuanced questions I would have liked to have been included...but over all it is a good solid synopsis of psychopharm.

This is my go-to book for my PMHNP program. More often than my required textbooks.

Amazing book!!!This book will definitely change the way I think in my clinical practice as a psychiatrist. I cannot recommend it highly enough.It helped me organize the knowledge in psychopharmacology in a way that other books will never do.My impression was that Dr. Sobel was here, reading the book along with me, and every single doubt that popped in my mind was there covered, right after. Very thoughtful, well written, updated and indispensable resource.I can guarantee 2 things: After reading this book, you'll come back here for:1) Rate it 5 Stars and2) Search for others Sobel's books (hey, Doc., we're waiting for more!!!!)

I am a FMHNP student in Wa and has spent a lot of money looking for a Psych books, which evidence based, but I couldn't be happy until I found this book. I am telling you, I found this book after buying many books based on evidence based psycho-pharmacology, but this is my guidance like a bible for my practice. I am eager to see some of his books written by Dr Sobel; " He knows his stuffs". His book is so interesting that I couldn't go to sleep before finishing one of his chapter. I personally prefer many professionals to follow his way of writing, presenting as he has been sharing his experiences while discussing the subject matter in detail.