This essential text for mental health nursing students, practitioners and educators explores the underlying biology associated with the pathology of mental health disorders and the related nervous system. Integrating related pharmacological and genetic knowledge, The Biological Basis of Nursing: Mental Health covers the following topics: - the physiology of neurotransmission and receptors - the normal human brain - hormones and mental health - the biology of emotions, stress, anxiety and phobic states - the biology of substance abuse - developmental disorders - genetics and mental health - affective disorder: depression and suicide - schizophrenia - the ageing brain and dementia - degenerative diseases of the brain - epilepsy and sleep disorders. Written by an experienced nurse lecturer who also trained as a mental health nurse, this is a text relevant to nurses at all stages of their training.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1. Introduction to the Brain 2. Neural Communication 3. Neurotransmitters, Receptors and Neuropharmacology 4. Drug Abuse 5. Hormonal and Sex-chromosome Effects on Mental Health 6. Genetic Disorders Affecting Mental Health 7. Anxiety, Fear and Emotions 8. Schizophrenia 9. Depression 10. Epilepsy 11. Subcortical Degenerative Diseases of the Brian 12. The Ageing Brain and Dementia