Schizophrenia. A Practical Primer for Clinicians and Allied Health Professionals

Description

Description

Schizophrenia is a devastating illness that affects well over 20 million people worldwide and is one of the top ten causes of disability in developed countries. Because patients with schizophrenia are encountered in manyhealth care provider settings, a broad range of health practitioners should to be able to recognize schizophrenia and treat it effectively. This book is for the professional trainee and early career mental health worker (psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, and nurses) and is written to cover in a concise and accessible way what is of immediate and practical relevance to gain familiarity with schizophrenia.

Features

• Incorporates practical tips ans a visual presentation of information

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  Adopts a phase of illness approach to schizophrenia

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  Provides essential, state-of the-art information in easily digestible segments. Each chapter includes brief case vignettes adapted from real clinical experience

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  Includes chapters on special topics that are very important in practice but are often neglected or given short shrift in standard books on schizophrenia

Table of Contents

Introduction. What is and is not schizophrenia? Assessment of schizophrenia. Non-illness related factors affecting assessment. Schizophrenia, spirituality and religion. Putting together the (clinical) pieces. Talking to patients and families. Prognostication. Phase-Specific Treatment. Managing symptoms: pharmacological approach. Managing symptoms: psychosocial approaches. Rehabilitation: Road to Recovery. Managing treatment-relatedcomplications. Suboptimal Treatment Response. Treatment nonadherence. Managing decompensation and relapse. Suicide and Violence. Achieving Recovery. History of schizophrenia. Who gets schizophrenia and why? Neurobiology of schizophrenia. What does the future hold? Appendices. Glossary of terms. Medications used in treating schizophrenia. Bibliography. Sources of help and information