Antidepressants

From The Critics

Reviewer: William Scheftner, MD(Rush University Medical Center)
Description: This multiauthored book in the Milestones in Drug Therapy series reviews current theories of antidepressant mechanisms, including time to response, receptor and intracellular actions, and antidepressants under development. It is a summary for residents and practicing clinical psychiatrists.
Purpose: The editors cite "...the paucity of training in all areas of psychopharmacology at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level" and go on to note "...textbooks and monographs providing up-to-date information on the advances being made in the diagnosis of treatment of depression can help to stimulate further research and thereby improve treatment...With these thoughts in mind,...present succinct overviews of the advances."
Audience: The editors target psychiatrists who work with patients requiring antidepressants and whose patients have not responded well or faced loss of response. The authors and editors are recognized experts in their respective areas.
Features: The book begins with a section on clinical issues, reviewing long-term course and outcome, time to antidepressant response, and limitations of current antidepressants. Following this are two articles on mechanism that determine speed of efficacy and the calcium signaling cascade. The third section covers relationships of antidepressant actions with the neuroendocrine system and an interesting summary of brain cytokines as they relate to depression. The final section looks at the state of future antidepressants known to exist. The book provides a succinct, focused introduction to antidepressant limitations, activity, interactions with neuroendocrine systems, and future antidepressants. Although there are figures, more would have been useful. Tables are adequate and summarize antidepressant actions nicely. The bibliographies are adequate in number and date.
Assessment: This is a well done summary of antidepressant activity, problems, and mechanisms for clinicians who want to understand drug activity and physiologic effects beyond prescribing essentials. It is recommended for those who want to understand the current state of knowledge as a basis for future antidepressant usage. While some of the material is not strongly supported, neither is there pure conjecture. The only drawback is the $120.00 price for a 150-page book.

From The Critics

Reviewer: William Scheftner, MD(Rush University Medical Center)
Description: This multiauthored book in the Milestones in Drug Therapy series reviews current theories of antidepressant mechanisms, including time to response, receptor and intracellular actions, and antidepressants under development. It is a summary for residents and practicing clinical psychiatrists.
Purpose: The editors cite "...the paucity of training in all areas of psychopharmacology at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level" and go on to note "...textbooks and monographs providing up-to-date information on the advances being made in the diagnosis of treatment of depression can help to stimulate further research and thereby improve treatment...With these thoughts in mind,...present succinct overviews of the advances.
Audience: The editors target psychiatrists who work with patients requiring antidepressants and whose patients have not responded well or faced loss of response. The authors and editors are recognized experts in their respective areas.
Features: The book begins with a section on clinical issues, reviewing long-term course and outcome, time to antidepressant response, and limitations of current antidepressants. Following this are two articles on mechanism that determine speed of efficacy and the calcium signaling cascade. The third section covers relationships of antidepressant actions with the neuroendocrine system and an interesting summary of brain cytokines as they relate to depression. The final section looks at the state of future antidepressants known to exist. The book provides a succinct, focused introduction to antidepressant limitations, activity, interactions with neuroendocrine systems, and future antidepressants. Although there are figures, more would have been useful. Tables are adequate and summarize antidepressant actions nicely. The bibliographies are adequate in number and date.
Assessment: This is a well done summary of antidepressant activity, problems, and mechanisms for clinicians who want to understand drug activity and physiologic effects beyond prescribing essentials. It is recommended for those who want to understand the current state of knowledge as a basis for future antidepressant usage. While some of the material is not strongly supported, neither is there pure conjecture. The only drawback is the $120.00 price for a 150-page book.

3 Stars from Doody