"Better than prozac"

Extract: "Better Than Prozac -- Creating the Next Generation of Psychiatric Drugs" is a succinct yet highly informative text devoted to the past, present and future development of psychoactive drugs. Divided into two parts, the first is a historical narrative, which describes the development of psychiatric medications in the 1950s, a time when mental illnesses were very poorly understood, and therapeutic options were limited to say the least. It is a fascinating tale of scientific endeavor, near miraculous clinical effects, and significant amounts of good fortune. Having described the trials and tribulations of developing the first psychotherapeutic drugs, the book goes on to examine the impact that modern day technology is having upon our understanding of mental illnesses, and the rational development of increasingly better treatment options.