If Your Adolescent Has Schizophrenia An Essential Resource for Parents

by Gur, Raquel E.; Johnson, Ann Braden

• ISBN13: 9780195182125
• ISBN10: 019518212X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-04-01
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Schizophrenia is a disease that afflicts some 2.2 million persons of all ages. It has a wide-ranging impact on the lives of not just the people who have it, but also the people who love them. In an era of de-institutionalization and managed care, parents and other adults, such as teachersand coaches, will become the first line of defense against this serious disease that typically attacks people the late teens or early twenties. If Your Adolescent Has Schizophrenia is an informative guide, written specifically to help adults spot the warning signs and seek appropriate treatment for the young people in their lives. Parents will find a clear definition of the disease, including early indicators of the disease as well asinformation on how to arrange for the proper diagnosis and treatment. Using the experiences of parents with children who have the illness themselves, this book will provide an insiders survival guide for those now facing this illness in their own children. While enormous strides have been made toward identifying likely causes and effective remedies of schizophrenia in recent decades, no one therapeutic regimen works perfectly in all cases. If Your Adolescent Has Schizophrenia will offer readers trusted information and support that will enable them toconfront this disorder head on and get their children meaningful medical and psychosocial help in order to mitigate its effects.

Author Biography

Raquel E. Gur, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Radiology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where she has acted as Director of the Neuropsychiatry section and the Schizophrenia Research Center. Ann Braden Johnson, Ph.D., is a freelance medical writer and a psychotherapist by training.

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
One Introduction: A Parent's Nightmare	1	(3)
Two Understanding the Disorder: What It Is and What to Expect	4	(41)
Definition of Schizophrenia	4	(2)
Signs and Symptoms of Schizophrenia	6	(10)
Diagnosis of Schizophrenia: What Does It Tell You?	16	(4)
What Causes Schizophrenia?	20	(8)
Schizophrenia and Related Problems	28	(13)
The Dangers of Doing Nothing	41	(2)
Future Prospects	43	(2)
Three Getting the Right Treatment for Your Child: Medications, Therapy, and More	45	(46)
Treatment Providers: Who They Are and How to Find the Right Ones	46	(3)
Psychopharmacology, or Treating With Medication	49	(5)
Behavioral and Psychological Therapies	54	(3)
Medication Plus Psychotherapy	57	(1)
Hospitalization	58	(5)
Outpatient Therapy	63	(4)
Partial Hospitalization or Intensive Outpatient Treatment	67	(1)
Continuity of Care	68	(2)
Other Therapeutic Options: Psychiatric Rehabilitation	70	(11)
Adherence: Getting the Most Out of Treatment	81	(3)
Treating Associated Problems	84	(5)
Navigating the Health Care System	89	(2)
Four Everyday Life	91	(28)
Dealing With Your Own Feelings	92	(3)
Dealing With the Stigma of Mental Illness	95	(4)
Managing Your Relationship With Your Child: Acceptance and Communication	99	(3)
Managing Daily Life	102	(10)
Finding Support for Family and Patient Alike	112	(2)
Paul: A Story of Recovery	114	(5)
Five Prevention of Schizophrenia: The Challenges	119	(5)
Six Conclusion: A Call for Action	124	(5)
Obtaining Essential Services	125	(3)
Educating Others	128	(1)
Glossary	129	(8)
Resources
Essential Reading	137	(1)
Organizations and Services	138	(9)
Appendix 1: Diagnostic Criteria for Schizophrenia	147	(2)
Appendix 2: Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and Supported Employment Programs	149	(4)
Bibliography	153	(4)
Index	157