Biological aspects of mental disorder

In "Biological Aspects of Mental Disorder," Dr. Snyder combines a straightforward, yet rigorous account of major developments in neurochemistry, psychopharmacology, and genetics of mental disorder, with interesting descriptions of the behavioral and clinical aspects of suicide, schizophrenia, drug abuse, alcoholism, organic brain disturbance, senile dementia, syphilis of the brain, epilepsy, psychosomatic disorders, sexual inadequacy, disturbances of gender identity, homosexuality, and paraphilias. Throughout, he has used the American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Third Edition) in defining the disorders, thus linking the new diagnostic criteria with recent psychobiological formulations. Special emphasis is placed on the mechanisms of action of psychotropic drugs and the possible role of neurotransmitters in various conditions.