Many readers will already be familiar with Professor Stahl's clinical guides to psychopharmacology.
Those of us who have been fortunate enough to hear him lecture will recognise how they capture the flavour of his teaching style, delivering complex factual information in a readily digestible form.
This latest book is an updated revision of his chapters on antipsychotics and mood stabilisers from the highly successful Essential Psychopharmacology. As such, it stands alone as an independent text, invaluable to any health professional or student/trainee with an interest in schizophrenia, bi-Polar disorder and associated conditions.
The text is as clear and concise as we have come to expect from Professor Stahl and is supported by admirably 'user friendly' illustrations (I am sure I am not the only academic who has borrowed some of the illustrations for their own lectures) Advances in psychopharmacology occur at an almost bewildering rate, leaving many clinicians behind.
This book provides an excellent update on new and potential therapeutic agents and their modes of action and will enable clinicians to keep up with the latest developments.
The referencing is worthy of note as Professor Stahl prefers to use reviews and textbooks rather than original papers. This gives the book a user-friendly feel, somewhat different than many other texts.
Overall, this is a welcome addition to Essential Psychopharmacology and I recommend it unreservedly. It may be wise to purchase two copies as one is sure to be 'borrowed' very quickly.