Who Should Read This Book?

PART I: The Myths about Medication.

1. Psychiatric Drugs—Poison or Panacea?

2. The Truth about the "Accurate Diagnosis".

PART II: Is Medication for You?

3. What to Discuss with Your Doctor before You Start Medication.

4. People for Whom Psychiatric Drugs Pose Extra Risk.

5. Alternative Treatments for Psychiatric Problems.

PART III: Psychiatric Syndromes and Their Treatment.

6. Anxiety: Panic Attacks, Agoraphobia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Phobias, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

7. Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

8. Bipolar Disorder and Mood Swings.

9. Depression.

10. Developmental Disorders: Asperger’s, Autism, Rett’s, Pervasive Developmental Disorder.

11. Drug Dependence.

12. Eating Disorders: Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge-Eating Disorder.

13. Insomnia.

14. Psychosis: Acute Psychosis, Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, Delusional Disorder.

15. Alzheimer’s Disease.

PART IV: How to Use Medications.

16. How to Start, Monitor, and Stop Your Medication.

17. The Medications.

18. Alternative Remedies.

19. Managing Side Effects.

Appendix A: The Biology of the Brain and How Medications Work.

Appendix B: Sources of Information about Psychiatric Disorders and Treatments.

Notes.

Index.