Living and Working with Schizophrenia : Information and Support for Patients, and Their Families, Friends, Employers, and Teachers

For the families of schizophrenics, fear, guilt, frustration, and despair can become part of daily life. Several years ago the authors of this volume established a program at the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry in Toronto to help the families of schizophrenics cope with the sometimes debilitating emotions they typically experience. The first edition of Living and Working with Schizophrenia grew out of that program. Published to international acclaim in 1982, it offered practical advice and clear, accessible information to those who suffer from schizophrenia, their relatives, friends, teachers, and employers. This edition has been completely updated and includes entirely new sections and more case vignettes. The authors have expanded the information on family education, counseling, and social issues, addressing such topics as community organizations, adoption, pregnancy, parenting, and sexuality. From the medical perspective, the authors explore in detail diagnosis and prognosis and describe the drugs used in the treatment of schizophrenia, with information on their effects and side-effects. The latest research is taken into account, and all is explained in language readily understood by the lay reader. Contents 7 Foreword 9 Preface 13 Acknowledgments 16 PART ONE: Basic Information 19 1. What is schizophrenia? 19 2. Inpatient treatment 30 3. Outpatient treatment 45 4. Medications 60 5. How relatives can help 70 6. Outcome 91 7. Support for relatives 95 8. Work and school 103 9. The future 108 PART TWO: Personal accounts 115 10. A mother’s account 115 11. A father’s account 119 12. I am a schizophrenic 121 13. A schizophrenic’s story 128 14. A mother’s point of view 134 15. The doctor’s dilemma 138 Appendices 145 Suggested reading 161 Index 163