Laboratory Medicine in Psychiatry and Behavioral Science

The past decade has seen a proliferation of research and publication related to laboratory science and psychiatry. Those advances are now captured in this revised second edition of Laboratory Medicine in Psychiatry and Behavioral Science.

Backed by years of clinical practice and research in neuropsychiatry and informed by literature from the National Library of Medicine as well as sources such as the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Drug Information book, online resources from ARUP Laboratories, and the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, this volume is designed to assist psychiatrists and other behavioral health clinicians in the care of adult psychiatric patients across a wide range of settings.

With the same comprehensive approach that was a hallmark of the first edition, this edition features new sections on COVID-19, 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, and DRESS syndrome, as well as updated descriptions of

• Laboratory tests, from CT angiography and blood alcohol level to electrocardiograms and a renal function panel
• Diseases and conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, autism spectrum disorder, HIV and AIDS, and schizophrenia
• Screening and monitoring of psychotropic medications, including benzodiazepines, fluoxetine, naltrexone, and vardenafil

Readers can be confident that the provided information is relevant to their daily practice: The included laboratory tests were chosen because they are core for any patient, are novel in medicine, or are particularly pertinent to psychiatry or behavioral health. Similarly, the diseases and conditions described are those for which laboratory tests are important in diagnosis or differential diagnosis; those that are common among psychiatric or geriatric patients; and those that have significant psychiatric, cognitive, or behavioral consequences.

With appendixes that contain algorithms, tables, and figures that will aid in understanding and interpreting various laboratory tests and their underlying biology, this volume sets itself apart from any other reference and is an indispensable resource for anyone in general psychiatric practice, from trainees to physician assistants and advanced practice nurses.

The purpose of the book is to identify and discuss the clinical usefulness of laboratory tests used for psychiatric or behavioral health care. This is a worthy objective well met by this edition.

The book contains three major sections: a listing and discussion of laboratory tests, clinical diseases and conditions, and screening and monitoring of psychotropic medications. It includes a clear and concise introduction touting the basic principles of laboratory medicine (e.g., when to test). The book maintains a standardized format throughout all sections, including key aspects presented in tables. Readers can easily find a test/disease or condition/psychotropic medication of interest, with a quick glance to identify relevant information. In the introductory section on Genetic Testing, it would be useful to note that informed consent may be required, as such testing can inform family members in addition to the index patient. The book includes five appendices reviewing useful and basic information on other important issues (e.g., EKG assessments and tips for reading neuroimages).

This book is a very useful resource for psychiatrists and behavioral health professionals. It is valuable for readers seeking a user-friendly reference for which laboratory test to use for particular clinical psychiatric or behavioral health conditions, and how to interpret the results in the clinical context of individual patients.

Sandra A. Jacobson, M.D., is a Research Associate Professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine–Phoenix and the Banner Family Medicine Geriatric Fellowship Program in Sun City, Arizona.

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