A Book That Provides More Than Its Title

Reviews the book, Medication Treatments for Nicotine Dependence edited by Tony P. George (see record 2006-21315-000). The reviewer notes that this is a book that clinicians as well as researchers will find useful. Individual chapters are well researched and presented, with a wealth of references to back up the prose. The book is divided into six parts: "Basic Science," "First-Line Medication Treatments," "Second-Line Medication Treatments," "Novel Medication Treatments," "Special Topics," and "Concluding Perspectives." The authors of part 1 rightly assume that successful medication treatment for nicotine dependence requires an understanding of the varied effects nicotine has on the different systems of the body, even at the molecular level. The chapters in Part 2, "First-Line Medication Treatments," center on nicotine replacement therapies. Part 3 looks at second-line medications, such as antidepressants and opiate antagonists, in the treatment of nicotine dependence. Part 4, "Novel Medication Treatments," includes topics that range from immunological approaches to glutamatergic agents, GABAergic agents, cannabinoid antagonists, dopamine D3 receptors, and varenicline (an acetylcholine receptor). Part 5 is titled "Special Topics." There are two chapters of special interest to clinicians in this section; one is concerned with behavioral treatments, and the other focuses on psychiatric disorders and nicotine dependence as a comorbid condition with other substance abuse disorders. The final section--Part 6--offers suggestions for future research and the search for at least a partial solution for the treatment of nicotine addiction. Roitzsch did note that there were times when he did not feel that a chapter's author was familiar with the clinician's problems, so there may be research findings that do not lend themselves to clinical practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)