25th
Anniversary Stephen M. Stahl
Fifth Edition
Stahl’s Essential
Psychopharmacology
Neuroscientific Basis and Practical Applications
,
,Stahl’s Essential
Psychopharmacology
Neuroscientific Basis and Practical
Applications
Fifth Edition
Since 1996, students and mental health professionals across the world have turned
to Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology as the single most readable source of
information on the fundamentals of psychopharmacology, disease and drug
mechanisms. 25 years later, the fifth edition of this bestselling book continues
Dr Stahl’s proud legacy of helping readers to understand and utilize current
therapeutics, and to anticipate the future for novel medications.
Long established as the preeminent source in its field, the eagerly anticipated fifth
edition of Dr. Stahl’s essential textbook of psychopharmacology is here! With its use
of icons and figures that form Dr. Stahl’s unique “visual language,” the book is the
single most readable source of information on disease and drug mechanisms for all
students and mental health professionals seeking to understand and utilize current
therapeutics, and to anticipate the future for novel medications.
Every aspect of the book has been updated, with the clarity of explanation that
only Dr. Stahl can bring. The new edition includes over 500 new or refreshed figures,
an intuitive color scheme, 14 new uses for older drugs and 18 brand new drugs,
coverage of Parkinson’s disease psychosis, behavioral symptoms of dementia, and
mixed features in major depressive episodes, and expanded information on the
medical uses of cannabis and hallucinogen-assisted psychotherapy.
, The opportunity to review and comment on Stahl’s though this approach is it does present challenges for
Essential Psychopharmacology, 5th edition, is truly a students, scientists, and clinicians who wish to learn
pleasure. The depth and comprehension of this edition about or keep up with such a diverse, rich, and rapidly
reads like a fresh view of everything we would want to evolving knowledge base. Essential Psychopharmacology
know in the area of psychopharmacology, including admirably meets these needs for all who wish to
the integration of basic and clinical neuroscience learn about or develop their skills and knowledge of
information. The clarity as a teaching tool for any level of psychopharmacology. Written by Dr. Stahl, an author who
education and sophistication is remarkable, just as is the is a most accomplished clinician, scientist, and teacher,
ease of reading and enjoying the unique set of figures and it covers all relevant fields of Psychopharmacology in an
tables. The book represents a departure from the usual expertly informed and accessible way. Previous editions
fare that we are offered as we delve into the mysteries have established Essential Psychopharmacology as a vital
of our body. In short, this 5th edition is not a simple introductory and reference text for the students and
reworking of earlier editions but really a brand new view. practitioners of psychopharmacology as well as for all
It represents a model for the way that we should cover scientists with an interest in the field. The latest edition
other areas of neuroscience. admirably follows its predecessors and will undoubtedly
be a vital resource for all those interested in this
Ellen Frank, PhD, Distinguished Professor
fascinating discipline.
Emeritus of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh
School of Medicine Professor Allan Young, Chair of Mood Disorders,
Director of the Centre for Affective Disorders,
Can you improve on a classic psychopharmacology
Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of
textbook? Yes! Updated, restyled, and with enhanced
Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience King’s College
illustrations, this 5th edition of Stephen Stahl’s “must
London
have” text is comprehensive, readable, and beautifully
presented. This book is a must for anyone who would like to dive
into psychotropics and get a state-of-the-art knowledge in
Professor David Castle, MD, FRANZCP, FRCPsych,
a clear, elegant, and accessible platform.
Scientific Director, Centre for Complex Interventions,
Professor Stahl has managed to provide simple,
Centre for Addictions and Mental Health, Toronto,
yet accurate, cutting-edge concepts using creative
Canada; and Professor, University of Toronto
and innovative graphics and design. In this regard,
This new edition of a classical textbook is superb. it’s presenting the perfect marriage of contemporary
Unlike most other volumes on psychopharmacology, it neuroscience knowledge with outstanding accessibility.
is organized around biological mechanisms, and uses I found this book extremely useful for well-informed
that framework to review the latest research. Another clinicians as well as colleagues who are starting to
unique feature is its use of wonderfully reader-friendly practice psychiatry and recommend it as an essential
illustrations, bringing to life many pathways that addition for all mental health professionals as well as for
would otherwise be difficult for the non-specialist to general practitioners with interest in psychiatry.
understand.
Professor Joseph Zohar, Director of Psychiatry and
Joel Paris, MD, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry, the Anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Clinic at the Sheba
McGill University and Author of “Nature and Nurture in Medical Center, Tel HaShomer, Israel and Professor of
Mental Disorders: A Gene-Environment Model” Psychiatry at Tel Aviv University, Israel
Although the effects of drugs on the mind, via the brain, Stahl’s Essential Psychopharmacology is without a
have preoccupied humans since the dawn of history, the doubt the leading textbook on the neuroscientific basis
scientific discipline of Psychopharmacology has only of psychopharmacology. It covers the neuroscience
developed during modern times. From its inception, relevant to understanding psychotropic drugs and
Psychopharmacology has always benefitted from a integrates this with the pharmacology of all the main
virtuous cycle of science informing clinical practice and drugs used in practice. This 5th edition is extensively
clinical questions driving the science. This is now often revised and updated to incorporate the latest advances
called “Translational Medicine,” an approach that has in neuroscience relevant to psychopharmacology. Dr.
always been central to Psychopharmacology. Admirable Stahl has distilled the latest advances in neuroscience
