Brain Systems, Disorders and Psychotropic Drugs

An unusual approach to psychopharmacology, this book draws on many disciplines. It describes the function of brain systems governing behaviour in man - systems for waking and sleeping, learning and memory, reward and punishment. It considers how dysfunction in these systems can lead to a variety of disorders, including anxiety states and sleep disturbance, memory disorders, drug dependence, chronic pain syndromes, and psychoses. Finally it discusses the mechanisms of action of psychotropic drugs, and how they affect normal and abnormally functioning systems. The scope and depth of this book should encourage more rational prescription of drugs which affect the mind.