ABSTRACT
General physicians need to master the basics of employing psychotropic medication in their clinical practice. While there are many different psychotropic drugs available, the repetitive use of a few drugs will allow for increased confi dence in their use. Knowing a few drugs, their dosages, schedules, routes of administration, adverse effects, indications, and contraindications will increase confi dence and clinical competence. The essential details of antipsychotic and antidepressant medication are given in Tables 23.1 and 23.2, respectively. The principles are briefl y highlighted.
