Humans are biologically programmed to seek out pleasurable experiences. These experiences are processed in the mesolimbic system, also referred to as the "reward center" of the brain, where a number of chemical messengers work in concert to provide a net release of dopamine in the Nucleus Accumbens. In some genetically predisposed individuals, addiction occurs when the mechanisms of the mesolimbic system are disrupted by the use of various drugs of abuse. Since Alcoholics Anonymous was fou...

Get clear answers. Demystify OCD. Understand your mind.If you or someone you care about wants to better understand Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, The OCD Answer Book is your trusted, practical resource for fast information.Written in a compassionate Q&A format by leading OCD expert Dr. Patrick B. McGrath, this accessible guide covers the full spectrum of OCD. With over 250 concise answers, it's designed to bring clarity and insight to anyone seekin...

When first published in 1999, Your Drug May Be Your Problem was ahead of its time. The only book to provide an uncensored description of the dangers involved in taking every kind of psychiatric medication, it was also the first and only book to explain how to safely stop taking them. In the time elapsed, there have been numerous studies suggesting or proving the dangers of some psychiatric medications and even the FDA now acknowledges the problems; more studies are under way to de...

Providing authoritative and up-to-date medical and scientific information about Tourette syndrome, A Familys Guide to Tourette Syndrome speaks to patients, families, care providers, academic institutions, and medical centers in easy-to-understand language about this neurodevelopmental disorder that affects children, adolescents, and adults worldwide. Each chapter is authored by leading neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, scientists, and others with expertise and research i...

A comprehensive overview of the neurobiology behind addictions. Neuroscience is clarifying the causes of compulsive alcohol and drug use––while also shedding light on what addiction is, what it is not, and how it can best be treated––in exciting and innovative ways. Current neurobiological research complements and enhances the approaches to addiction traditionally taken in social work and psychology. However, this important research is generally not presented in a forthright, jargon-free w...

• The world's leading experts on Ecstasy assess its therapeutic potential, social implications, and the dangers of unsupervised use.• Includes chapters by Andrew Weil, Ralph Metzner, Douglas Rushkoff, Rabbi Zalman Schachter, Rick Doblin, and others.• An ideal guide for parents and educators seeking a credible source of information.Use of the drug Ecstasy, once confined to the teen rave scene and college campuses, is exploding across America, from high schools to ups...

"This is the first book to establish guidelines and to assist prescribers and therapists in withdrawing their patients from psychiatric drugs, including those patients with long-term exposure to antipsychotic drugs, benzodiazepines, stimulants, antidepressants, and mood stabilizers. It describes a method developed by the author throughout years of clinical experience, consultations with experienced colleagues, and scientific research. Based on a person-centered collaborative approa...

When someone is diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), chances are they've been living with the symptoms for a long time. People with OCD may have long felt embarrassed by their thoughts and behaviors, which may include fear of contamination, the need for symmetry, pathological doubt, aggressive thoughts, repeating behaviors, and obsessive cleaning. OCD: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed helps readers understand how OCD works so they can develop better strategies for co...

Known as "the Ralph Nader of psychiatry," Dr. Peter Breggin has been the medical expert in countless court cases involving the use or misuse of psychoactive medications. This unusual position has given him unprecedented access to private pharmaceutical research and correspondence files, information from which informs this straight-talking guide to the most prescribed and controversial category of American drugs: antidepressants. From how these drugs work in the brain to how they treat (or ...

Designed with the distinctive, user-friendly presentation Dr Stahl's audience know and love, this new stream of Stahl books capitalize on Dr Stahl's greatest strength - the ability to address complex issues in an understandable way and with direct relevance to the everyday experience of clinicians. The book describes a wide-ranging and representative selection of clinical scenarios, making use of icons, questions/answers and tips. It follows these cases through the complete clinical encoun...

Dr Stahl's books occupy a central position as core educational resources in the psychopharmacology literature. Building on Dr Stahl's exceptional ability to communicate complex principles and make them easily understandable, this book offers 150 self-assessment questions derived from the Neuroscience Education Institute's Master Psychopharmacology Program. The self-assessment questions will help the reader to identify areas of competence or the need for further study and offers CME credit....

Two leading schizophrenia researchers present an accessible and comprehensive guide to dealing with the disease. They provide key information on the integration of drugs and psychological treatments and discuss how family members can be a helpful part of the treatment process.