Philosophy of Psychopharmacology by Dan J Stein

Philosophy of Psychopharmacology by Dan J Stein

Psychotropic agents have been effective for the treatment of the emotional, and cognitive symptoms of serious psychiatric disorders. At the same time, the availability of such agents raises questions about the appropriate use of what might be termed 'smart pills', 'happy pills', or 'pep pills'. This volume argues that developments in modern psychopharmacology raise a range of important philosophical questions, and may ultimately change the way we think about ourselves. It provides a framework for addressing important philosophical issues in psychiatry and psychopharmacology. The approach is a naturalistic one, drawing on theory and data from modern cognitive-affective neuroscience and attempts to address objective and subjective aspects of psychiatric disorders, to integrate our knowledge of mechanisms and meanings, and to provide a balanced view of the good and the bad of psychotropics.

Review of the hardback: '… not a quick read for all the right reasonsIt is complex, thought provoking, and earnest. … [The book] helps (forces) the reader to examine some of the most pressing philosophical questions in the field: conceptual, explanatory, and moral questions that are not necessarily emphasized in psychopharmacological training. This text should be on the short list of books for anyone wishing to expand his or her philosophical field within psychopharmacology.' Contemporary Psychology: APA Review of Books

Dan J. Stein is Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, South Africa.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780521856522
ISBN 10	0521856523
Title	Philosophy of Psychopharmacology
Author	Dan J Stein
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
Year published	2008-09-18
Number of pages	224
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.