Medicines for Mental Health: The Ultimate Guide to Psychiatric Medication

"Kevin Thompson wrote Medicines For Mental Health, The Ultimate Guide to Psychiatric Medication because the book needed to be written and read by those of us who are experiencing some form of mental illness. Those of us who experience depression and other forms of mental illness typically go to psychiatrists for help. Psychiatrists prescribe drugs to assist us in living our daily lives. The selection of the appropriate drug with the appropriate dose to fit each individual is as much an art as it is a science. Many times questions remain unanswered.

Drugs used to treat mental illness affect the patient's entire life. First, there are a number of drugs to choose from, each may or may not be effective for a particular individual at a specified dose, and each has potential side effects. Many of the drugs take time to become effective. Second, each patient must become an active participant in their own therapy by observing and reporting their individual response to the drug. Highly intelligent people, typical victims of depression and other forms of mental illnesses, often have creative jobs. Certain medications can destroy an individual's ability to think, perform as a professional, interfere with personal relationship, inhibit a person's sexual performance, or simply make it impossible to stay awake. This book provides information to the patient, and perhaps their loved ones, on how an individual can observe, understand and participate in his own treatment.

The author has organized the information in such a way that a patient can locate a disorder, identified the drugs typically prescribed to treat that disorder, gather information regarding doses and periods of effectiveness, and become aware of the possible side effects. The information in the book is not exhaustive from a medical viewpoint. However, it provides useful information for the patient, information either not discussed or covered too quickly by the psychiatrists.

J. F. Skipper Ph.D.
"
~ Written on 2008-08-14

"This is a very useful book for anyone with a family member or close friend being treated for depression, particularly if they went through a couple of different treatment options before finding one that worked - or if they are going through that process right now.

It was enlightening to find out that identical depression symptoms can result from different problems in brain chemistry and that there are different classes of anti-depressants distinguished by how they affect brain chemistry, e.g., Monoamine Oxidase inhibitors versus reuptake inhibitors. Once the right class of anti-depressants is identified for an individual, the next step becomes a search for the medicine with the side effects that the individual tolerates best.

This book provides a roadmap to a treatment process that can otherwise seem bewildering or random. With this book as a reference, it doesn't have to be either. Highly recommended.
"
~ Written on 2008-06-30

"Kevin Thompson, Ph.D. has put together a
very user-friendly, well-organized and
infomative guide to current psychopharmacology.
Symptoms of mental illness, most appropriate
medications, side effects and their profiles,
are described in a succinct and comprehensive
style. I would describe the guide as elegant.

For my particular interest in lithium, I was
very pleased to read the Q-T cardiac prolongation
side effect warning, that lacks priority in may
other medical guides I have read.

I am very happy to have this guide in my collection.
It is great for the layman with a very considerate
Glossary of psychiatric terms in the final chapter.

Squiggles"
~ Written on 2008-01-08

"This guy claims to be a bipolar person. He is a member of a sexist Usenet Group "BEEPERS PEEPERS" where he is a manager of the group. The group is known for banishing people who exhibit extreme bipolar condition and who are resistant to psychotropic medications.

The book was originally written under the name "Nom de Plume" by his user name "Nom de Plume." At best, this guy is a quack and the book should be avoided at all costs especially since its predecessor could be found FREE in the Usenet community.

Oh, and by the way "He's a rocket scientists!" Do you want someone who is so brash in describing oneself to be giving you advice on drugs that are being pushed by drug companies OFTEN indifferent to a patients needs and condition?

Go to GOOGLE GROUPS and search for him "Nom de plume" before you buy and decide for yourself!"
~ Written on 2007-12-28

"As a Neuropsychiatrist, I find this book has it all - and in a simple to understand, concise and organized way. Whether you're a consumer looking to learn more about what your physician is prescribing, or a health care provider, this should be a "must have". It puts many of us "professionals" to shame. You can also see my comments in the book - but suffice it to say that if you want to learn more about psychotropic medications, this should be your first stop. "
~ Written on 2007-11-08