This multi-authored text provides a concise, yet comprehensive, overview of many of the advances made in the biological research of schizophrenia over recent years. It contains chapters that, at first glance, may not appear to be relevant to a psychopharmacologist, for example, the neuropsychology of schizophrenia, structural and functional brain imaging, and the molecular genetics of schizophrenia. However, the patience of the diligent, systematic reader is rewarded by insights gained into the potential for antipsychotics to modify cognition, the correlates of neuroimaging and treatment responses, inherent methodological shortcomings in functional imaging techniques, and an awareness of the capacity of D₂ receptor antagonists to modulate the activity of mRNA.

Most of the authors are clinicians. This is reflected in the style of presentation, which tends to focus on practical treatment options, rather than impenetrable lists of letters and numbers representing drugs at various stages of development. The editors have successfully coordinated thinking between contributors throughout the volume. Accordingly, there is relatively little contradictory material, and differences in transatlantic practice are appropriately flagged.

This book will appeal to a range of postgraduate readers. At one level, it provides explanations of terms for those seeking to expand their knowledge of biological psychosis research. Phencyclidine and ketamine models of psychoses, genetic imprinting, anticipation and positional cloning, the BOLD effect, T2^* and signal: noise ratio are all lucidly explained. On another level, several chapters tackle gritty issues of interest to contemporary schizophrenia researchers, such as an accessible explanation of the complexities of radiotracer kinetics in positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission tomography (SPET) studies, and another explores the enigmatic relationship between 5-HT₂ receptors and antipsychotic efficacy.

The high price of this hardback book will deter non-academics and trainees from purchasing it. However, it should be allocated space in the psychiatry library, where it is likely to be in demand over the next few years.