CLINICAL HANDBOOK OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

xivPrefaceresources, written in nontechnical language and covering a broad range of topics relatedto schizophrenia and its treatment. The Clinical Handbook of Schizophrenia is designedto meet these practical needs of clinicians working with individuals with schizophreniaand their families.Each chapter in the Handbook has been written by a world authority on the topic, inplain language with minimal (or no) references in the text, and a resource list of referencesand recommended readings at the end. All of the chapters on treatment are aimedat providing not only guidelines to clinicians about implementing specific treatment approachesor working with particular populations but also succinct reviews of the researchliterature supporting these methods. The major “take-home” messages on each topic aresummarized in a series of “Key Points” at the end of each chapter. The selection of topics,the writing style, the emphasis on briefly summarizing research findings rather thanexhaustively reviewing the scientific literature, and the focus on providing practical clinicalrecommendations are intended to make the Handbook an interesting and useful resourcefor clinicians. In addition, the comprehensive yet accessible nature of this bookwill be of interest to students in the health professions (e.g., clinical psychology, psychiatry,general medical practice or family medical practice, psychiatric rehabilitation, socialwork, nursing, occupational therapy, family and marital counselors), mental health administratorsand policymakers, relatives and other support persons, and individuals withschizophrenia themselves.The Handbook is divided into eight different sections, each covering a variety oftopic areas. Part I focuses on Core Science and Background Information on schizophrenia.The section begins with a chapter on the history of the concept of schizophrenia, followedby chapters on epidemiology, biological theories, brain imaging, neuropathology,genetics, and pre- and perinatal influences on the development of the illness. This sectionalso includes chapters on psychosocial factors in schizophrenia, psychopathology, cognitivefunctioning, and the course and outcome of the disease.Part II addresses practical issues related to Assessment and Diagnosis of schizophrenia.The first chapter in this section addresses clinical methods for the diagnosis of schizophreniaand related schizophrenia spectrum disorders (e.g., schizoaffective disorder andschizophreniform disorder), which are of critical importance considering symptom overlapin schizophrenia and major mood disorders. The second chapter addresses the assessmentof medical comorbidity, which is now recognized as the most important factor contributingto premature mortality for individuals with schizophrenia (Jeste, Gladsjo,Lindamer, & Lacro, 1996). A third chapter addresses the assessment of psychosocialfunctioning—a crucial topic considering that impaired social functioning is a hallmark ofschizophrenia. The final chapter in this section provides a framework for treatment planningand ongoing monitoring of outcomes.Part III addresses the Somatic Treatment of schizophrenia. The primary focus of thissection is on pharmacological approaches, which are widely accepted as the “mainstay”in the treatment of schizophrenia. Although not everyone with schizophrenia benefitsfrom medication, the vast majority do, and effective pharmacological treatment makes itpossible for many individuals to participate in psychosocial treatment. This section alsoincludes a chapter on the use of electroconvulsive therapy for schizophrenia, a frequentlymisunderstood but potentially useful treatment approach for a small proportion of individualswith intractable symptoms.Part IV addresses the Psychosocial Treatment of schizophrenia. Extensive research inrecent years has demonstrated the effectiveness of a variety of different approaches topsychosocial treatment and self-help for schizophrenia. The chapters in this sectionreflect the broad range of psychosocial interventions for schizophrenia, including the in-