Coping with Schizophrenia (Overcoming common problems) [Paperback]

Stephen Jones (Author), Frank Tallis (Author)

Book Description

Series: Overcoming common problems | Publication Date: January 13, 1994

This self-help manual is for sufferers of schizophrenia and their families. Taking a positive and practical approach, the book tells what schizophrenia is, the possible causes, what treatment is available, and what the social services can do to help. It explodes many of the myths about schizophrenia, for example, that a schizophrenic breakdown is permanent, that violence and aggression are common amongst sufferers, and that people diagnosed with the illness, suffer from a "split personality". Topics include the role of good communication in the family, the importance of a healthy lifestyle, stress and anxiety management, dealing with insomnia, knowing the sufferers rights, what treatment is like, and a description of the new non-drug approaches to sympton management. Advice is included on developing social skills and community care is emphasized.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The sections on psychological methods for coping with schizophrenia in this book are excellent and it is most welcome to be able to recommend it to patients and their families and carers. -- Quarterly Journal of Mental Health, 03/04/2006 --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Dr Peter Hayward is a graduate of Harvard University, a Consultant Clinical Psychologist at the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust in London and an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Sheldon Press (January 13, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0859696790
• ISBN-13: 978-0859696791
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,968,920 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Some Valuable Insights, January 9, 2009

By 

Marvin Ross "author of Schizophrenia Medicine... (Dundas, Ont, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Coping with Schizophenia: A Guide For Patients, Families, and Caregivers (Paperback)

What I liked about this book is that it discussed the importance for people who have recovered from schizophrenia to have valued activities and goals such as work in their lives. This quality of life issue is one that is far too often ignored by mental health professionals. They often feel that once they have stabilized the individual and controlled the psychotic symptoms, their job is done. But there is more to be done as these authors suggest in chapter nine.

Work can be an important activity for those in recovery but they often don't participate in meaningful work because of numerous barriers that the the authors discuss. Some of these barriers are lack of confidence on the part of the individual but lack of support from others, ignorance and legislation are other reasons. This is an important area and I was pleased to see it dealt with in this book.

Two other areas that I was pleased to see discussed were the role of the family and cognitive behavioral training (CBT). As with any illness, the ill person does require considerable support from family (and friends). The role that the family can play in recovery is discussed in Chapter ten. The impact that this illness has on the family and the reaction from friends is very well dramatized in the DVD Cutting For Stone Chapter seven is devoted to a discussion of CBT. This is a strategy that has been shown to be of value and that makes a good addition to the medication which isn't always 100% effective in dealing with the voices.

Marvin Ross
Author Schizophrenia: Medicine's Mystery - Society's Shame