Psychopharmacology in Oncology and Palliative Care: A Practical Manual

“The book successfully blends the practicalities of prescribing with thoughtful discussions of the challenges beyond psychopharmacology. It is a great reminder for the specialist and a thorough guide for the relative novice looking to build knowledge. It will always be handy to have on the shelf and a really useful resource for supervision with trainees.” (Jamie Pick, European Journal of Palliative Care (EJPC), Vol. 22 (3), 2015)

“This book reviews psychiatric care in the context of oncology and palliative care. … The audience is identified as ‘all those working with cancer patients’ in eight different specialties. While any healthcare providers working with cancer patients would benefit from this book, psychiatrists, particularly those involved with consult and liaison psychiatry who work with cancer patients with mental healthcare needs, will likely get the most from this book.” (Aaron Plattner, Doody’s Book Reviews, October, 2014)

This practical manual presents the main drugs and protocols currently used in the psychopharmacological treatment of psychiatric disorders in cancer and palliative care settings and explores the principal issues involved in such treatment. Significant clinical challenges encountered in the psychopharmacological management of various psychiatric conditions are discussed, covering aspects such as side-effects and drug-drug interactions. Attention is also paid to the emerging theme of adjuvant use of psychotropic drugs for the treatment of symptoms or syndromes not primarily related to psychiatric disorders (e.g. pain, hot flashes). In addition, practical suggestions are provided for dealing with special populations, including children, the elderly, and people affected by severe mental illness. The book is designed to be easy to read and to reference: information is clearly displayed in concise tables and boxes, accompanied by further detail within the text and clinical vignettes. The authors include some of the most renowned  clinicians working in the field of psycho-oncology.