Psychopharmacology: Drugs, the Brain, and Behavior

Meyer (Psychology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst) and Quenzer (Psychology, University of Hartford) present an undergraduate textbook for psychopharmacology courses or drugs and behavior courses that emphasize relationships between the behavioral effects of psychoactive drugs and their mechanisms of action. The first section explores the fundamentals of psychopharmacology, including the basic principles and methods of pharmacology, neurophysiology, neuroantomy, and synaptic transmission. The second section describes key features of major neurotransmitter systems, and the third and fourth sections discuss theories and mechanisms of drug addiction and psychopathology. All major substances of abuse as well as drugs used to treat mental illness are covered.