Libri di Diana O. Perkins

Schizophrenia is one of the most challenging brain disorders a mental health professional can face, yet its causes and cure remain elusive. Written by experts from a wide range of psychiatric disciplines to serve as a singular resource, Essentials of Schizophrenia clearly defines the current knowledge of the nature, causes, and treatment of this disorder and puts the many misconceptions about this disabling illness into perspective. Schizophrenia is so devastating because it robs people of the very things that make them human -- their personality and intellect. Symptoms typically have their onset in early adulthood, and the disorder often leaves the individual permanently disabled. This book leads readers through questions surrounding this debilitating disorder, from an historical overview and review of epidemiology to consideration of comorbid conditions. Key topics covered in this text include: * Identification of early signs of cognitive impairment and the resulting psychopharmalogical treatment strategies for improving social or vocational function. * Role of antipsychotics, antianxiety/hypnotics, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and dopamine agonists in treatment and associated side effects. * Current proven psychosocial interventions that augment and complement drug therapy, and increased patient involvement in choice of treatment modality. * Keys to early identification of individuals who are vulnerable to schizophrenia, and the potential for earlier intervention and treatment. * Optimal treatment approaches for first episodes to increase the likelihood of full recovery. * Answers to frequently asked questions raised by psychiatrists in daily encounters with their patients with schizophrenia. A must-read for anyone involved in the care and treatment of individuals with schizophrenia, Essentials of Schizophrenia helps the reader better understand the disorderin an accessible format. Squarely confronting a misunderstood disease that has caused great suffering and disability, this textbook serves as a dependable source of knowledge for current psychiatric professionals as well as the next generation of students and clinicians to come.

Although there are many books that consider aspects of schizophrenia such as research or clinical care, now there is a single resource that puts the many facets of this widely misunderstood disorder in perspective. The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Schizophrenia offers broad coverage that encompasses the current state of knowledge the cause, nature, and treatment of schizophrenia. Experts in a wide range of disciplines from North America and Europe have contributed chapters that address the complexity of schizophrenia in a comprehensive volume on this singularly perplexing mental illness. No disorder is more challenging to psychiatrists and mental health care providers than schizophrenia, a condition that robs people of their personality and intellect and leaves them permanently disabled. This book leads readers through the maze of questions surrounding the disorder, from historical overview and epidemiology to consideration of comorbid conditions. It covers both genetic and environmental causes, describes all of the leading theories of schizophreniaAneurodevelopmental, neurochemical, phospholipid, and neuroprogressiveAand explores the involvement of abnormal brain circuitry and the results of the latest neuroimaging studies. For practicing clinicians, the topics covered represent the most essential, timely, and informative insights for treating this most prototypic of mental illnesses: -Approaching cognitive impairment as a potential psychopharmacological target for treatment, plus treatment strategies for improving functioning in individuals with social or vocational impairment. -An overview of selected antipsychotic drugsAincluding common side effectsAas well as antianxiety/hypnotics, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and dopamine agonists. -A review of current proven psychosocial interventions designed to augment and complement drug therapy, highlighting the trend toward optimizing patient preference in the choice of treatment modality. -Keys to early identification of individuals vulnerable to psychoses and to assessing the potential for intervention with the promise of treatment earlier in life. -Optimal treatment approaches for first episodesAincluding individual, group, and family therapiesAto increase the likelihood of full recovery. -Special considerations for treatment of chronic schizophrenia, addressing frequently asked questions faced by psychiatrists in their daily encounters with patients. While its causes and cure remain elusive, schizophrenia can be better understood with the help of the authoritative knowledge collected in these pages. Squarely confronting a disease that has long afflicted and baffled human society, this textbook will serve as a dependable source of knowledge for a generation of students, scientists, and clinicians to come.