Julien's Primer of Drug Action

Claire Advokat received her Ph.D. in physiological psychology from Rutgers University. Her research area is psychopharmacology, specifically drugs used in the treatment of psychiatric and behavioral disorders. She has published over 80 articles, and received funding for her studies from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), the Spencer Foundation, the Board of Regents of Louisiana, the State of Louisiana, and the pharmaceutical firm NPS. She received a university teaching award in 2005, served as an ad hoc reviewer for 20 journals, and serves on the editorial board of The Journal of Attention Disorders.

Part 1 Biological Basis of Drug Action1. The Neuron, Synaptic Transmission, and Neurotransmitters.- 2. Pharmacokinetics: How the Body Handles Drugs.-  3. Pharmacodynamics: How Drugs Act.- Part 2 Pharmacology of Drugs of Abuse.- 4. Neurobiology of Addiction.- 5. Ethyl Alcohol and the Inhalants of Abuse.- 6. Stimulants Part .- 1 Caffeine and Nicotine7. Stimulants Part.-  2 Cocaine, Amphetamine, NonAmphetamine Stimulants.- 8. Hallucinogens.-  9. Cannabinoids.- 10. Opioids .- Part 3 Drugs Used to Treat Psychological Disorders.- 11. Antipsychotic Drugs: Major Tranquilizers to Thymic Stabilizers.- 12. Antidepressant Drugs.- 13. Sedative-Hypnotic and Anxiolytic Medications.- 14. Drugs Used to Treat Bipolar Disorder.- Part 4 Special Populations and Integration.- 15. Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology.- 16. Geriatric Psychopharmacology.- 17. Integration.- Chapter 17 Appendix: Quick .- Reference to Psychotropic Medications.