Diagnosis: Schizophrenia

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

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 Cahners Business Information.