Customer Reviews

Schizophrenia: The Facts

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I was initially captivated by the scope of topics represented in the table of contents and the author, Ming T. Tsuang, is eminently qualified to write on this subject. The book does deliver "The Facts" but fails to provide supporting documentation for the inquiring reader. Footnotes and endnotes are absent. The bibliography is sparse with 13 entries and cites two articles by the author. The citations are considerably outdated with the exception of Hirsch and Weinberger's epic "Schizophrenia." E Fuller Torrey is called T E Fuller. The reference to Andreasen's "Broken Mind" should have been supplemented with her later "Schizophrenia: From Mind to Molecule." With a copyright date of 1997, I am surprised by a failure to mention Zyprexa and Seroquel. I recommend that readers pass by this book. There are better written and comprehensive treatments available. E Fuller Torrey's "Surviving Schizophrenia" 3rd ed wears its age well and is more lucidly written. Irving Gottesman's "Schizophrenia Genesis" remains the definitive treatment of the predisposition-stress model. Despite it's expense, I think that Hirsch and Weinberger's "Schizophrenia" is the definitive, scholarly treatment. It is encyclopedic. Mueser and Gingerich's "Coping with Schizophrenia" is packed with practical advice for family caregivers. Sophia Vinogradov's "Treating Schizophrenia" is a readable, first class book by a leading researcher. I highly recommend her enjoyable and informative book. Keefe and Harvey's "Understanding Schizophrenia" is also an outstanding treatment. Kaplan and Sadock's "Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry" can be profitably studied by a motivated reader. Tsuang delivers the barest of facts and leaves the disappointed reader wanting more information. The reader seeking information on schizophrenia is better served by these other books. If pressed by necessity, check the NIMH publications that are online.

Schizophrenia: the Facts gave minimal information about schizophrenia. Despite the publication date, the material is quite dated. Tsuang is in the mainstream of psychiatrists in supporting a biological origin of the disorder. I was disappointed with the brevity of Tsuang's coverage of important and practical matters. It is a book that I would offer to neither consumers nor families. Skip this book. There are far better books written at the level of this one. You will get more bang for the buck purchasing the books under the heading "Customers who bought this book also bought..." or "Customers who bought titles by...also bought titles by these authors...." I'm surprised that Oxford University Press is associated with this inadequate and disappointing book.

Schizophrenia: The Facts is an outstanding book for the lay reader. Unlike many other books on the topic which are complicated by medical and scientific jargon, this book is truly accessible to the non-expert.