The handbook distills the most important knowledge in the field of psychopharmacology and packages it in a manner helpful to both experienced practitioners and new medical students trying to learn the data and its applications. The handbook contains a very thoughtful introduction which lays out the goals and possible methods for using the book. Pies hopes it will serve as both a substantive reference tool and a teaching tool. The introduction notes various ways in which the book's structure can be used to achieve its purpose. The user can quickly consult data within a single chapter or can use the standard chapter format to consult various concepts across chapters or drug groups.
Information is given in the form of narrative text, tabular data, and a question and answer section.
In keeping with the handbook's intended use as an easy access tool, one of its main methods of presenting information is through the use of data tables. All of the tables are well structured and use a variety of type faces, font sizes, and other typographic devices to aid in the effective presentation of information. The busy physician will certainly appreciate the quick and easy use afforded by such tables. Each of these titles, including the Handbook of Essential Psychopharmacology , offers slightly varying scope and coverage and each will offer varying degrees of currency. A user might wish to consult the latest edition of each work as needed.