If Your Adolescent Has Schizophrenia: An Essential Resource for Parents PDF
Preview If Your Adolescent Has Schizophrenia: An Essential Resource for Parents
Advance Acclaim for If Your Adolescent Has Schizophrenia “Truth rings out from every page of this incredible book that can be devoured in one sitting. It is exactly what parents need to know, delivered with precisely the right measure of science and personal story. Our son was diagnosed with schizophrenia six years ago at age 21. How I wish we could have had this book 12 years ago when the bewildering nightmare began. All my own strong opinions about the mental health ‘system’ are here. I found myself con- stantly exclaiming, ‘Yes!’” —Minnesota State Representative Mindy Greiling, Chair of the National Board of Director’s Policy Subcommittee on Children, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) “Unique and invaluable . . . concise, accurate, informative, and instructive. This is the first book I have seen that speaks directly and clearly to the primary questions and problems that overwhelm parents trying to cope with the tragedy of schizophrenia in their family. From making sense out of diagnostic uncertainty, to explaining about genes and the brain, to no-nonsense advice about treatment and rehabilitation, this book fills a gap that has long been needed.” —Daniel R. Weinberger, M.D., National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) “This book is a very informative addition to any parent’s library. It tells caretakers what they need to know in a straightforward and practical manner. Schizophrenia is one of the most misunderstood and difficult mental illnesses for anyone to grapple with. Adolescents with new-onset schizophrenia need much support and guidance. This book gives parents the tools to help.” —Dr. Suzanne Vogel-Scibilia, National President, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) “The National Schizophrenia Foundation is always delighted to have new resources made available that will inform persons with schizophrenia and their family members about the disease and provide tools for dealing with it. First-person accounts are extremely important in allowing people to truly understand the reality of schizophrenia and the road to recovery. Kudos to Drs. Gur and Johnson!” —Eric C. Hufnagel, President & CEO, National Schizophrenia Foundation “Whether this is your first venture into learning about the realm of adolescent schizophre- nia, or your latest addition to a growing library, this book will be of invaluable assistance. With the perfect blend of scientific expertise and down to earth explanations, Drs. Gur and Johnson provide a very useful guide for all people affected by adolescents with schizophrenia and for their relatives.” —Ming T. Tsuang, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc., Professor of Psychiatry, University of California at San Diego “Parents must cope with illness in their child, and the challenge could hardly be greater than when the diagnosis is schizophrenia. This book provides expert knowledge, perspective, and guidance in a practical, reader-friendly format. The information will support each step in the recovery journey.” —William T. Carpenter Jr., M.D., Director, Maryland Psychiatric Research Center The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands’ Adolescent Mental Health Initiative Patrick Jamieson, Ph.D., series editor Other books in the series If Your Adolescent Has an Anxiety Disorder (2006) Edna B. Foa, Ph.D., and Linda Wasmer Andrews If Your Adolescent Has Depression or Bipolar Disorder (2005) Dwight L. Evans, M.D., and Linda Wasmer Andrews If Your Adolescent Has an Eating Disorder (2005) B. Timothy Walsh, M.D., and V. L. Cameron If Your Adolescent Has Schizophrenia An Essential Resource for Parents Raquel E. Gur, M.D., Ph.D., and Ann Braden Johnson, Ph.D. The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands’ Adolescent Mental Health Initiative 2006 Oxford University Press, Inc., publishes works that further Oxford University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education. The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania Oxford University Press Oxford New York Auckland Cape Town Dar es Salaam Hong Kong Karachi Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Nairobi New Delhi Shanghai Taipei Toronto With offices in Argentina Austria Brazil Chile Czech Republic France Greece Guatemala Hungary Italy Japan Poland Portugal Singapore South Korea Switzerland Thailand Turkey Ukraine Vietnam Copyright © 2006 by Oxford University Press, Inc. Published by Oxford University Press, Inc. 198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 www.oup.com Oxford is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of Oxford University Press. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Gur, Raquel E. If your adolescent has schizophrenia : an essential resource for parents / Raquel E. Gur and Ann Braden Johnson. p. cm. “The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands, the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania.” Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-19-518211-8 ISBN-10: 0-19-518211-1 (cloth) ISBN-13: 978-0-19-518212-5 ISBN-10: 0-19-518212-X (pbk) 1. Schizophrenia in children. 2. Schizophrenia in adolescence. 3. Children—Mental health. I. Johnson, Ann Braden, 1945– II. Title. RJ506.S3G68 2006 618.92'898—dc22 2005026317 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper Contents Foreword ix One Introduction: A Parent’s Nightmare 1 Two Understanding the Disorder: What It Is and What to Expect 4 Definition of Schizophrenia 4 Signs and Symptoms of Schizophrenia 6 Diagnosis of Schizophrenia: What Does It Tell You? 16 What Causes Schizophrenia? 20 Schizophrenia and Related Problems 28 The Dangers of Doing Nothing 41 Future Prospects 43 Three Getting the Right Treatment for Your Child: Medications, Therapy, and More 45 Treatment Providers: Who They Are and How to Find the Right Ones 46 v vi Contents Psychopharmacology, or Treating With Medication 49 Behavioral and Psychological Therapies 54 Medication Plus Psychotherapy 57 Hospitalization 58 Outpatient Therapy 63 Partial Hospitalization or Intensive Outpatient Treatment 67 Continuity of Care 68 Other Therapeutic Options: Psychiatric Rehabilitation 70 Adherence: Getting the Most Out of Treatment 81 Treating Associated Problems 84 Navigating the Health Care System 89 Four Everyday Life 91 Dealing With Your Own Feelings 92 Dealing With the Stigma of Mental Illness 95 Managing Your Relationship With Your Child: Acceptance and Communication 99 Managing Daily Life 102 Finding Support for Family and Patient Alike 112 Paul: A Story of Recovery 114 Five Prevention of Schizophrenia: The Challenges 119 Six Conclusion: A Call for Action 124 Obtaining Essential Services 125 Educating Others 128 Glossary 129 Resources Essential Reading 137 Organizations and Services 138 Contents vii Appendix 1: Diagnostic Criteria for Schizophrenia 147 Appendix 2: Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and Supported Employment Programs 149 Bibliography 153 Index 157
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