Surviving Schizophrenia: A Manual for Families, Patients, and Providers
Surviving Schizophrenia: A Manual for Families, Patients, and Providers
Since its first publication in 1983, Surviving Schizophrenia has become the standard reference book on the disease and has helped thousands of patients, their families and mental health professionals. In clear language, this much–praised and important book describes the nature, causes, symptoms, treatment and course of schizophrenia and also explores living with it from both the patient and the family’s point of view. This new, completely updated fifth edition includes the latest research findings on what causes the disease as well as information about the newest drugs for treatment and answers to the questions most often asked by families, consumers and providers.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Very helpful
We found this book to be quite educational and overall very helpful. Having said that, in places it gives far more medical information than we could grasp / digest.
1 Stars Transparently Unsophisticated
Simply put — this is just another misinterpretation of psychotic thought processes, guided by the overly simplistic medical model. If you need a pacifier, this will do. But in terms of advancing our knowledge of Schizophrenia and psychosis, Torrey presents an antiquated and unsophisticated book that sets us back about 20 years.
3 Stars Outdated, Somewhat Helpful but Incomplete
This book has a little bit of everything… from history of schizophrenia to progresses in modern treatment. But for someone who wanted a greater insight into how I can better help a schizophrenic, it wasn’t very helpful. For example, this book barely touches on how to get those afflicted with schizophrenia to take medication when they deny their illness and refuse their medication. How do you get them to see a doctor when they don’t want to? How often should you go to the doctor? Also, how do you best communicate with schizophenics - do you tell them that the voices in their head and the evil man following them aren’t real? When they insist they have telepathic powers, do I disagree and explain why it isn’t so, shrug it off, or just indulge them? If they don’t want to talk about it or deny they have schizophrenia, should I bring it up? How do you help those who tried to commit suicide and failed - should I ask why they did it? Is it safe to bring it up when they seem to have forgotten about the incident? Also, Dr. Torrey, at times, seemed more interested in making the book entertaining than being sensitive to this disease (such as using inappropriate punctuation marks or jumping to conclusions without explaining the factual basis). He also doesn’t explain certain terms - such as insight psychotherapy (he explains why it’s bad but I read the entire passage 3x but no explanation of what insight psychotherapy is). With the rave reviews, I expected more from this book. If anyone is aware of a book that addresses my questions above (and answers the question of how family members can help and better communicate with schizophrenics other than generically be “supportive”, which is a given…), please let me know. I would appreciate a good recommendation.
5 Stars Thanks to Dr. Torrey
There is no greater educator or advocate for schizophrenia then Dr. Fuller Torrey. How he finds the time to write all the books that he does while being involved in research and advocacy is astounding but we are all the better for it. Surviving Schizophrenia is truly the bible on the topic of this disease which is thoroughly covered from A right through to Z.
Starting on P 362 (in my edition), he poses the question of whether someone should admit to having schizophrenia and tentatively says yes but with some qualifiers. While I agree with him that society is becoming more open, there is still considerable stigma and misunderstanding. Unfortunately, as I discuss in my own book Schizophrenia: Medicine’s Mystery - Society’s Shamemuch of that stigma can be found in the medical profession itself. Torrey, however, does recognize that being totally open is not always wise and provides some suggestions from psychologist Fred Frese (who has schizophrenia himself) on how to account for large gaps in one’s time on a resume that might raise questions.
All of Torrey’s books are necessary readings for anyone truly interested in trying to understand schizophrenia and for those of us who would like to see conditions improved.
Marvin Ross
Author of Schizophrenia: Medicine’s Mystery - Society’s Shame
5 Stars Mack R. Mathews 111,M.D.
Excellent,well written,and right on target. A must read. Nothing put aces here.Thanks to the author for his good work.
Filed under: Mental Health Book Reviews