This is the seventh edition of our Manual of Clinical Psychopharmacology, whose first edition appeared in 1986. As with that original edition and all subsequent editions, our intention has been to provide a readable, up-to-date guide to clinical psychopharmacology. Reader response generally has indicated the manual has met the original goal. However, the ever-expanding number of available agents with widening indications has led to understandably larger editions of the manual. Still, we have attempted to maintain a collegial, reader-friendly style. In this regard, we have added summary tables with key information on classes of psychotropics to serve as quick-reference guides. We have also reorganized and expanded all the chapters over the past few editions to reflect changes in current treatments. Because the field changes so rapidly, we are now increasing the frequency of new editions of the manual.

The manual reflects our most up-to-date thinking about specific agents—efficacy, dosing, side effects, and so forth. Material is largely evidence based, with an intermingling of our personal experiences. These experiences are offered as guides for the reader's own practice. We encourage the reader to crosscheck recommendations (particularly doses) with other standard references and texts, particularly the latest edition of the Physicians' Desk Reference.

There are so many people to thank in writing this type of book. Our families have been patient and understanding of our need to spend time on this project. Charles DeBattista joined us in writing the third edition and has played an increasingly vital role in the writing of each successive edition.

Sadly, Jonathan Cole died in mid-2009. The field has lost one of the original pioneers in psychopharmacology, a man of great intelligence and humanism. We dedicate this edition to his memory.

Robert Chew made numerous editorial suggestions that were of great help. The editorial staff at American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc. (APPI)—John McDuffie, Bessie Jones, Greg Kuny, Tammy Cordova, Susan Westrate, and Judy Castagna—deserve a great deal of credit for their support, critical reading, and technical know-how. The APPI leadership—Bob Hales and Ron McMillen—have unwavering confidence in us as authors, and we are eternally grateful to them. We are also appreciative of our colleagues and trainees at McLean Hospital and Stanford University. Our experiences have been enriched by their insights. Last, we are indebted to the many patients we have treated over the past decades. They have taught us much about drug treatment.

We hope the reader will find this seventh edition of the manual even more informative and helpful than the first six, and we look forward to your feedback as we plan for future editions.

Alan F. Schatzberg, M.D.
Jonathan O. Cole, M.D. (posthumous)
Charles DeBattista, D.M.H., M.D.
December 2009