Pharmacological and Psychosocial Treatments in Schizophrenia (Electronic book text)

This book provides a succinct clinical overview of key areas pertinent to the holistic treatment of people with schizophrenia and in particular, puts firmly back onto the agenda the importance of psychosocial treatments. Due to the profusion of literature addressing pharmacological treatments, only one chapter is devoted to these, reviewing the latest data concerning the newer antipsychotic agents and providing clinical pointers and guidelines for their use. The real emphasis of the book is on the psychosocial interventions for specific aspects of schizophrenia symptomatology and disability that have been shown to offer major benefits to recovery in the disorder, and yet have failed to maintain their position as more effective biological treatments have become available. This book highlights the evidence base for the importance of psychosocial interventions bringing together in one volume the relevant literature from several decades. It also provides practical guidance on effective strategies for use in both clinical settings and in the family context, placing the patient (and their family) once again at the centre of therapeutic endeavours.Encouraging professionals to offer a broader therapeutic approach, this book will offer real hope to therapists, patients and families of what can be achieved if psychosocial interventions complement the many psychopharmacological treatments available today.