Schizophrenia for Dummies - (For Dummies) by Jerome Levine & Irene S Levine (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Practical tools for leading a happy, productive life

Schizophrenia is a chronic, severe, and disabling mental disorder that afflicts one percent of the population, an estimated 2.5 million people in America alone. The firsthand advice in this reassuring guide will empower the families and caregivers of schizophrenia patients to take charge, offering expert advice on identifying the warning signs, choosing the right health professional, understanding currently available drugs and those on the horizon (as well as their side effects), and evaluating traditional and alternative therapies.

From the Back Cover

From diagnosis to recovery, take charge of care and enhance quality of life

Are you looking for comprehensive, user-friendly information on schizophrenia? This respectful guide empowers families and caregivers to understand the disorder, as well as help their loved ones make the best healthcare decisions and live more independent lives. You get practical tools for supporting loved ones, staying optimistic, and keeping the whole family informed.

• Grasp the ins and outs of schizophrenia -- understand the causes and risk factors; recognize the symptoms and behaviors

• Find the best professional help -- get an accurate diagnosis, assemble a healthcare team, and ease into treatment

• Evaluate treatment options -- from medication to therapy to alternative methods, choose the treatments that best meet your loved one's needs

• Manage day-to-day life -- find housing, foster independence, and cope with crises

• Keep the family involved -- support a spouse, parent, or adult child with schizophrenia; help children understand, manage fears, and plan for the future

• Learn about the latest research -- discover the new, promising directions of treatment that are providing help and hope

"This book is easily read and provides an informative road map that can help everyone to orient themselves and navigate uncertain terrain, as part of a journey toward recovery."
--Ken Duckworth, MD, Medical Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness

Open the book and find:

• The differences between schizophrenia and other mental illnesses

• How to get past the shame and stigma

• Tips for coping with medication side effects

• Advice on navigating financial and legal issues

• Ways to avoid relapse and prevent a breakdown

• The benefits and risks of clinical trials

• Sources of support for patients and families

About the Author

Jerome Levine, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist whose career has spanned almost 50 years. He is the Deputy Director of the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research in Orangeburg, New York. Irene S. Levine, PhD, served as the first Deputy Director of the U.S. Center for Mental Health Services. She is a clinical psychologist and an award-winning freelance journalist and author.