This volume represents a collection of papers which were contributed by participants at a Symposium for Cholinergic Mechanisms and Psycho pharmacology, held in La Jolla, California on March 28-30, 1977. The were chosen to emphasize areas in which there has been substantial topics progress in the past 2-3 years and fall into seven major groups dealingwith: cholinergiC receptors; chemistry, histochemistry and enzymology; cyclic nucleotides and cholinergiC mechanisms; storage, compartmentation and release of acetylcholine; regulatory mechanisms in acetylcholine metab olism; modulation of acetylcholine metabolism; and behavioral and clin ical manifestations of cholinergiC function and dysfunction. Each group contains one or more reviews and a number of shorter contributions de scribing current work. This symposium was the third in a series of which the first two were held in Skokloster, Sweden in 1970 and Boldern, Switzerland in 1974. The Proceedings of the meetings indicate a rapid development of knowledge of cholinergiC mechanisms which for many years lagged behind that of other neurotransmitters and neuroregulators. The inclusion of a large section in the present volume dealing with clinical manifestations of cholinergiC dysfunction reflects one of the most important trends in current research on cholinergiC mechanisms, namely the close inter-relationship and mutual support of basic science and clinical investigation. I hope that this volume will be of value to all those whose work relates to cholinergiC function, at both basic and clinicalleve18, and will continue to stimulate the vigorous exchange of ideas which was such a prominent feature of the Symposium.

This book covers negative schizophrenic symptons.

During the past two decades, remarkable advances have been made in psychopharmacology, resulting in increased demands for journal space (witness the large number of journals that cater primarily or exclusively to this topic). Concomitantly, a need developed for more integration of the currently available data. To this end, numerous edited volumes in psycho pharmacology have appeared which have been primarily concerned with the role of a particular drug or system in modulating a wide variety of behaviors. While such texts have been most useful in elucidating drug mechanisms and the etiology of a number of behaviors, few attempts have been made to evaluate and integrate pharmacological treatments within a single behavioral category. Specifically, the researcher interested in understanding a given behavior from a neurochemical point of view must consult several texts, each dealing with a different chemical or system. When texts are obtained covering a broad spectrum of systems, they also invariably deal with many different behaviors, thus not allowing for complete integration within a behavioral category. The present volume was planned to meet the needs of the scientist interested in understanding neurochemical mechanisms underlying aversively motivated behavior, as well as drug effects thereon. In organizing the contents of this text, it quickly became apparent that any attempt to provide a complete overview of behavioral and pharmacological information pertaining to aversive situations was not practical for at least two reasons.

Leading physicians and scientists from around the world critically examine the pharmacological and molecular basis of the therapeutic properties of marihuana and its active ingredient, THC. They detail the broad array of marihuana's effects on brain function, the immune system, male and female reproductive functions, and cardiac and pulmonary functions, as well as evaluate its clinical applications in psychiatry, glaucoma, pain management, cancer chemotherapy, and AIDS treatment. Their studies indicate that marihuana persistently impairs the brain and reproductive function, and that marihuana smoke is more toxic and damaging to the lung than tobacco smoke. Marihuana and Medicine's reports of the latest findings on the pharmacological and molecular mechanisms of marihuana and of its clinical manifestations will be essential reading for physicians, psychiatrists, pharmacologists, health-care professionals, policy makers, public health officials, and attorneys.