Understanding Schizophrenia: A Practical Guide for Patients, Families, and Health Care Professionals

by Ravinder D. Reddy MD, Matcheri S. Keshavan MD

Overview

Written by two physicians with decades of clinical and research experience in the field, this volume helps readers face schizophrenia by understanding what it is and how it is managed.

Schizophrenia is a devastating illness that affects more than two million Americans. Written to help anyone who is faced with managing schizophrenia, whether as a patient, friend, or family member, this accessible book is an ideal first stop for practical, up-to-date information. It includes an overview of schizophrenic disorder and provides answers to common questions that arise at different phases of the illness.

This brief and to-the-point guide focuses on dealing with many aspects of schizophrenia—complying with treatment, managing crises, being a caregiver, communicating with the care team, and coping skills. The book also provides practical approaches to common issues, such as financial support, housing, employment, interacting with the legal system, stress management, socialization, and negative emotions. Included are useful forms, lists, and a comprehensive collection of resources to access help and information. The goal of this book is to assist patients and their loved ones to effectively face schizophrenia, achieve maximal recovery, and enjoy a good quality of life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440831508
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	09/15/2015
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 6.10(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Ravinder Reddy, MD, is adjunct professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He has been involved in psychiatric education for more than 25 years.

Matcheri S. Keshavan, MD, FRCPC, MRCPsych, is Stanley Cobb Professor and vice chair for public psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School.

Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgments
Section 1 Facing Schizophrenia
1 Facing Schizophrenia: Quick Primer
Section 2 What, Who, Why?
2 Core Clinical Features of Schizophrenia
3 What Is Not Schizophrenia?
4 Who Gets Schizophrenia?
5 How Is Schizophrenia Diagnosed?
6 What Is the Course and Prognosis of Schizophrenia?
Section 3 Treatment
7 Medical Treatment of Schizophrenia
8 Common Medication Side Effects
9 Psychological and Rehabilitative Treatments
10 Treatment Nonadherence
11 Achieving Maximal Recovery
Section 4 Coexisting with Schizophrenia
12 Life with Schizophrenia
13 Assembling Your Care Team
14 A Manual for Caregivers
15 Common Problems in Facing Schizophrenia
16 Managing Crises
Section 5 Science of Schizophrenia
17 Biological Foundations of Schizophrenia
18 What Does the Future Hold?
Glossary
Section 6 Appendices
Appendix A. Commonly Used Antipsychotics for Schizophrenia
Appendix B. Very Brief History of Schizophrenia
Appendix C. Recommended Resources
Appendix D. Forms and Lists
Index

What People are Saying About This

Randye Kaye

"The essential guide to schizophrenia for patients, their families, and care teams. Clear, concise, and thoroughly understandable information about what schizophrenia is, what it means, and what can be done about it. I wish I'd had it by my side years ago!"

Bethany Yeiser

"For persons suffering from schizophrenia, knowledge of the disease and active participation in treatment are vital to achieve recovery. This book provides the solid groundwork necessary for understanding the many facets of schizophrenia. Complicated but important concepts are explained and made easy to grasp, and the writing is engaging. This guide is a very useful resource that must be read by patients, their families, and the mental health professionals who work with them."

Editorial Reviews

This is a resource to keep at hand—to guide people affected by schizophrenia to be proactive managers of the illness and to consult when there is a change or when facing bureaucratic or personal challenges. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Professionals and general readers.” —Choice

“Knowledge concerning the various aspects of schizophrenia has been developing rapidly recently. Keeping up with this multifaceted progress can be a challenging task. Understanding Schizophrenia goes a long way toward producing a much-needed book in this vein. The authors have skillfully integrated relevant research findings and translated them into plain English for meaningful communication to persons with the illness and their family members . . . . From the beginning, the authors make clear that in many cases persons with a diagnosis of schizophrenia can lead a normal life, depending on appropriate treatment and the seriousness of the condition . . . they reaffirm that the traditional Kraepelinian view—that one cannot recover from schizophrenia—is no longer accepted, at least not for everyone with this disorder. . . . The volume provides practical, up-to-date information that should be helpful to anyone affected by, or otherwise interested in, schizophrenia. . . . The book is easy to read and conveys a plethora of valuable suggestions and helpful guidance for persons living with schizophrenia, their family members, and others who want to learn more about this condition, which has so often been portrayed as a mysterious and devastating disorder from which few were able to recover.” —Psychiatric Services

From the Publisher