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

by Susan E. Mason, Rachel Miller, Susan Mason

Book Overview

The disease is not fatal but few diagnoses have the capacity to instill as much fear in the hearts of patients and families. Here is a profoundly reassuring book that shows there can be life after a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

The book includes thirty-five first-person accounts, along with chapters by professionals on a wide range of issues from hospitalization to rehabilitation. Jargon-free and technically accurate, the chapters are short...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0231126255
• ISBN13: 9780231126250
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: Columbia University Press
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 0.58 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

diagnosis schizophrenia review

Diagnosis Schizophrenia is a very good book interviewing mental health patients to give their views. It gives a very personal feel to the book and I enjoyed reading it very much.

Factual, a real page-turner

I am a consumer with schizoaffective disorder. I purchase books but do not do much reading. When I got this book out of the public library, I kept it, 'way past its due date. Whenever I am in a waiting room, out comes Diagnosis: Schizophrenia. I wish that this book had been available to me when I first became mentally ill! I spent years in denial and doubt about the medications. The descriptions of symptoms are convincing ("This is me!"), and the kicker is the last narrative chapter where patient after patient tells about being restored to normal reasoning and productivity. I do not consider this book to be dated at all. Highly recommended for consumers who may be considering noncompliance with treatment. When I get some money, I intend to purchase my own copy to lend to friends.

grounding, hopeful introduction to schizophrenia

I was looking for books to help my my brother with his newly diagnosed son. After reading two recommended books, which were testaments to survival, but described such horrific experiences, I found this one. The family has been trying to read books and we have just been devastated chapter after chapter. This is a very down-to-earth book. It replaces some of the frightening images of schizophrenia with more hopeful images. The information is clear, presented by professionals with impressive credentials and interspersed by different patients offering their experiences (onset, fears, medication, family response, etc.) It addresses obvious concerns in such a matter-of fact way. I particularly like the emphasis on schizophrenia as a disease that the person has. The person is not a schizophrenic but has schizophrenia. They are still the same person they always were, just with a disease. One of the patients expresses feeling lucky that she has a treatable disease and not some fatal cancer. We can absorb this book, the patients are wonderful. Very helpful, very hopeful. Just what we all need to read at this point in our experience. First review I have written, only because I think this book might be great for many others at the same point in their experience.

Excellent for both patients and professionals

I read this book a while ago. At the time I was working with a patient with schizophrenia. I shared some of the stories with this patient. The patient and I both were amazed by the similarities between (the patient's) delusions and those of the clients in the book. It helped me to better understand the world of a person with schizophrenia.

This is a terrific book, it should be used in schools!

Understanding schizophrenia is a difficult task. By reading this wonderfully written book, the reader can enter into this world and develop an appreciation not only for the complexity of this illness, but it also provides direction and inspires hope.