From Publishers Weekly
Shrouded in myth and mystery, distorted by sensationalist films like The Three Faces of Eve and mistakenly confused with multiple personality disorder, schizophrenia, the authors argue, is one of the least understood mental disorders in the world. It affects 1% of the U.S. population, and this book, primarily targeted at those with the disease, marks an important entry in the mental health genre, particularly since it is coauthored by a group of 35 patients (from a New York treatment program) and has first-person accounts of diagnosis, delusional states and recovery. Miller and Mason, social workers who specialize in the issue, note that while it's still not clear if there is a cure for schizophrenia, many people can successfully manage the condition through a combination of structured routines, medication and therapy. Readers with short attention spans will be able to handle the short chapters, which offer straightforward, nonjudgmental advice on handling a variety of symptoms. Of particular interest are the sections addressing how much information to give co-workers and employers. The authors assume no prior knowledge or background on the subject, and their book is far easier to understand than the classic title for schizophrenics and their families, E. Fuller Torrey's Surviving Schizophrenia. Illus.Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
In the United States, one out of every 100 people suffers from schizophrenia, the mental illness that afflicts Nobel prize winner John Nash, the subject of Sylvia Nasar's A Beautiful Mind and the Ron Howard film of the same name. In this atmosphere of heightened awareness, Miller (M.S.W., Hillside Hosp., NY) and Mason (social work, Yeshiva Univ.) present an excellent guide for patients and their families dealing with the onset and long-term effects of schizophrenia. Intermingled with firsthand accounts by 35 patients is jargon-free information by mental health specialists on the initial diagnosis and beginning of treatment, answers to frequently asked questions, the physiology of the brain, a basic explanation of the illness, the state of research on the origins of the disease, dealing with family and friends, coping with side effects and negative symptoms, using drugs and alcohol, getting the services necessary to recover, and today's new generation of antipsychotic medications. The appendixes include state phone numbers for client assistance programs, national mental-health advocacy organizations, and vocational rehabilitation programs, but surprisingly none of the state agencies responsible for mental health services in hundreds of community mental health centers. Still, the heartfelt delivery of these comprehensive and vital data will facilitate a greater understanding of a complex disease. Essential for all public libraries. Dale Farris, Groves, TX Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Book News, Inc.
Miller and Mason are both social workers affiliated with Hillside Hospital's North-Shore Long Island Jewish Health System, where they gathered a collection of interviews, conversations, and autobiographical essays from 35 young (ages 17-39) schizophrenia patients there. The resulting volume, which will be of interest to patients suffering from the illness and their families, describes the patients' experiences of the illness, their treatment, medication and side effects, the initial symptoms, the definition of schizophrenia, and how to cope with society outside the hospital, among other issues.Copyright © 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR


Review
"Valuable... highly recommended." -- Schizophrenia.com


Review
"This book provides a road map to recovery for consumers, family members, and providers by allowing insightful, intelligent, and utterly sincere people who have lived with schizophrenia to be the teachers. This is an exceptionally clear, original, and trend-setting volume." -- Lisa Dixon, University of Maryland School of Medicine


Book Description
A unique book written by and for patients with schizophrenia, with contributions by psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers, and psychiatric rehabilitation workers. Diagnosis: Schizophrenia is intended to develop and strengthen the understanding of this disease, and to offer tools for patients, their families, and those who provide treatment. Chapters 1 through 15 contain personal stories of patients with schizophrenia, detailing their personal experiences with the first onset of the disease and coping with symptoms. Other chapters provide information on medication, social services, and rehabilitation services.


About the Author
Rachel Miller is a social worker for the Research Department of Hillside Hospital's Continuous Care Team for first episode schizophrenia patients. She lives in New York.Susan Mason is an associate professor of social work at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University. She lives in New York City.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

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 and offer up-to-date information on medication, coping skills, social services, clinical research, and much more. Patients and their families can read the book from cover to cover or skip around and select topics as the need arises.

SYNOPSIS

Miller and Mason are both social workers affiliated with Hillside Hospital's North-Shore Long Island Jewish Health System, where they gathered a collection of interviews, conversations, and autobiographical essays from 35 young (ages 17-39) schizophrenia patients there. The resulting volume, which will be of interest to patients suffering from the illness and their families, describes the patients' experiences of the illness, their treatment, medication and side effects, the initial symptoms, the definition of schizophrenia, and how to cope with society outside the hospital, among other issues. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Shrouded in myth and mystery, distorted by sensationalist films like The Three Faces of Eve and mistakenly confused with multiple personality disorder, schizophrenia, the authors argue, is one of the least understood mental disorders in the world. It affects 1% of the U.S. population, and this book, primarily targeted at those with the disease, marks an important entry in the mental health genre, particularly since it is coauthored by a group of 35 patients (from a New York treatment program) and has first-person accounts of diagnosis, delusional states and recovery. Miller and Mason, social workers who specialize in the issue, note that while it's still not clear if there is a cure for schizophrenia, many people can successfully manage the condition through a combination of structured routines, medication and therapy. Readers with short attention spans will be able to handle the short chapters, which offer straightforward, nonjudgmental advice on handling a variety of symptoms. Of particular interest are the sections addressing how much information to give co-workers and employers. The authors assume no prior knowledge or background on the subject, and their book is far easier to understand than the classic title for schizophrenics and their families, E. Fuller Torrey's Surviving Schizophrenia. Illus. (Sept.) Forecast: While the press information indicates that the publisher hopes to capitalize on the recent interest in Andrea Yates and John Nash, a more general readership seems unlikely, given the book's obvious orientation toward people diagnosed with schizophrenia, their friends and relatives. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal