Diagnosis: Schizophrenia: A Comprehensive Resource for Consumers, Families, and Helping Professionals

by Rachel Miller, Susan E. Mason

In this book, thirty-five young, recently diagnosed patients speak about schizophrenia and the process of recovery, while two specialists illuminate the medical science, psychoeducation, and therapeutic needs of those coping with the illness, as well as access to medical benefits and community resources. A remarkably inclusive guide, the volume informs patients, families, friends, and professionals, detailing the possible causes of schizophrenia, medications and side effects, the functioning of the brain, and the value of rehabilitation and other services.

In their dialogues, participants confront shame, stigma, substance use, and relapse issues and the necessity of healthy eating, safe sex practices, and coping skills during recovery. Clinicians elaborate on the symptoms of schizophrenia, such as violent and suicidal thoughts, delusions, hallucinations, memory and concentration problems, trouble getting motivated or organized, and anxiety and mood disorders. Adopting an uplifting tone of manageability, the participants, authors, and clinicians of this volume offer more than advice--they prescribe hope.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published August 21, 2002

Reviews

[Stephen Yoder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Schizophrenia is one of those words that can be bandied about quite a bit and yet I have my doubts that many people actually understand what it truly means. I may be talking about my past self in that first sentence. I'm the son of a psychiatrist and someone who has been a neighbor and a friend to various people living with schizophrenia, but I've never actually read a book that begins to answer just what this disease is and how to treat it. This book is a tremendous set of resources for those who have schizophrenia or care about someone who has it. My favorite trio of things that I learned from Diagnosis: Schizophrenia are:
1. Lots of people with schizophrenia smoke cigarettes. Partly this is because nicotine helps to suppress psychosis (obviously this is not a ringing endorsement of tobacco).

2. Many people with schizophrenia use various chemicals in an attempt to deal with their psychoses, often with terrible consequences.

3. All of the personal stories were so touching & gripping. They were much like life -- lots of information that as a whole, in a scatterplot, largely (mostly) told the same story, but with all sorts of different quirks & flavors.

4. Yes, my fourth out of my three favorite things out of this book is that Mary Trump, PhD assisted in the writing of the first edition. Yes. From that family. Life is wacky and you never know who will help you.

[Jacinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gave a basic overview of what it's like to have schizophrenia. While I do not have schizophrenia, I am in nursing school and my next clinical rotation will be in a mental health facility. I thought it would be helpful to read first hand accounts of what living with this illness is like. And I was right, it was extremely insightful.
This book had many different stories in the words of real patients in a mental health facility. They spoke openly about what they were thinking, feeling, and what helped/didn't help while they were getting treatment. It definitely helped me understand the illness a heck of a lot more.

[Izabela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although interesting at first, the similarities between the clients' stories quickly merged them in my head. I wish the authors had provided a more well-rounded specimen. I wish some stories had included how people without family support had dealt with their illnesses, how hard-core drug users' experiences varied from those who did not use, and explored suicidality more in-depth. All in all, this is an okay account for someone who has no idea what schizophrenia is about, but if you have experience with the disorder, skip this book.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I particularly like Diagnosis: Schizophrenia, edited by Rachel Miller, which is written by (gasp!) a bunch of actual people with actual schizophrenia. I mean, they talk about medical things and such that they had to research, but most of the book is them talking about their experiences with the disorder and how they managed, or didn't manage, to get through, which is infinitely more valuable to understanding and bias-erasure than a bunch of neurotypical people talking about how hard it was to be related to someone with schizophrenia.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love it. I've read a lot of schizophrenia books but they tend to be geared towards the family member of the person with schizophrenia. Take for example Schizophrenia For Dummies but this is from people who have schizophrenia/schizoaffective. The authors also give tip and tricks to dealing with the disorder from their professional opinion.

[Daniela · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is an account of over 15 different people's schizophrenia experiences.It is written in easy language, only becoming technical when medications and side effects are discussed. As I have read more comprehensive works before this was just an insight onto the schizophrenic mind from the retelling of affected people and a summary of the basics of schizophrenia. Someone looking for this will not be disappointed in this book and find many questions answered.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've worked with patients struggling with schizophrenia for several years now; however, this book was quite in a find in our little Aiken library. It was a good reminder of how frightening this disease can be, and yet how people can manage the illness successfully. Very good resource for families and individuals who beginning to accept their own diagnosis.

[José Pedraza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lo mejor son los testimonios de quienes experimentan la esquizofrenia. Para el resto de la información es mejor "Surviving Schizophrenia"