From Aaron T. Beck and colleagues, this is the definitive work on the cognitive model of schizophrenia and its treatment. The volume integrates cognitive-behavioral and biological knowledge into a comprehensive conceptual framework. It examines the origins, development, and maintenance of key symptom areas: delusions, hallucinations, negative symptoms, and formal thought disorder. Treatment chapters then offer concrete guidance for addressing each type of symptom, complete with case examples and session outlines. Anyone who treats or studies serious mental illness will find a new level of understanding together with theoretically and empirically grounded clinical techniques.
"Schizophrenia is a major psychiatric disorder characterized by a disruption in neuropsychological function that usually manifests itself between the age of 10 and 35. Schizophrenia: Advances in Research and Future Directions provides a broad overview of the domains, severity, and course of neuropsychological functioning in schizophrenia patients. Genetic variations and markers can serve as a diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic tool for the patients. As such, the authors describe and summarize the blood-based biomarkers of schizophrenia from the diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic points of view. The closing study aims to determine the role of internalized stigma in the presence and severity of fear of negative evaluation in patients with schizophrenia, specifically hypothesizing that a higher perceived discrimination will be the most important predictor"--
The book establishes for the first time that the disease may originate very early in life, even though symptoms don't appear until young adulthood. Moreover, the authors show that - contrary to prevailing wisdom - schizophrenia does not change a person's underlying personality. Weaving poignant psychological portraits of twins through the book, the authors show how these case studies support the research findings.
Schizophrenia is the archetypal form of madness. Schizophrenia is a common disorder and has a devastating effect on sufferers and their families-patients typically hear voices in their heads and hold bizarre beliefs. The schizophrenic patient presented to the public in sensational press reports and lurid films bears little resemblance to reality of the illness. This book describes what schizophrenia is really like, how the illness progresses, and the treatments that have been applied. It also summarizes the most up-to-date knowledge available about the biological bases of this disorder. Finally it attempts to give some idea of what it is like to have schizophrenia and what this disorder tells us about the relationship between mind and brain. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
For years lip service has been paid to a belief in a biological basis for schizophrenia, but ,nevertheless psychosocial and psychodynamic "theories" of schizophrenia have been promulgated, and these have detracted from the all important biological work, Eclecticism has ruled the day and has caused considerable confusion, As a result research in schizophrenia has not progressed as fast as it should have done and treatment has been less effective than it could otherwise have been. This book is devoted to a wholly biological approach to the problem of schizophrenia, in the hope that many more workers will enter this exciting field of research. A wide variety of topics is covered, including brain structure; the genetics, pathogenesis and treatment of schizophrenia; a consideration of dietary and immunological factors and finally a chapter on alcoholism as it seems possible that the problems of schizophrenia and addiction are linked. We are grateful to all our contributors and to MTP Press for their enthusiasm for this book. Gwynneth P Hemmings William A Hemmings XI SECTION 1: Structure 1 The brain stem reticular formation K. E. WEBSTER There can be no question that the brain stem reticular lormation no longer exercises the same fascination for neurologists that it did a quarter of a century ago.
The Origins of Schizophrenia synthesizes key findings on a devastating mental disorder that has been increasingly studied over the past decade. Advances in epidemiology, translational neuroscience technology, and molecular and statistical genetics have recast schizophrenia's neurobiological nature, identifying new putative environmental risk factors and candidate susceptibility genes. Providing the latest clinical and neuroscience research developments in a comprehensive volume, this collection by world-renowned investigators answers a pressing need for balanced, thorough information, while pointing to future directions in research and interdisciplinary collaboration. The book, featuring a foreword by Robert Freedman, M.D., thoroughly examines these topics from the vantage points of epidemiologic, clinical, and basic neuroscience approaches, making it an essential resource for researchers in psychiatry, psychology, and neuroscience and for clinical mental health professionals.
Are hallucinations and delusions really symptoms of an illness called ‘schizophrenia’? Are mental health problems really caused by chemical imbalances and genetic predispositions? Are psychiatric drugs as effective and safe as the drug companies claim? Is madness preventable? This second edition of Models of Madness challenges those who hold to simplistic, pessimistic and often damaging theories and treatments of madness. In particular it challenges beliefs that madness can be explained without reference to social causes and challenges the excessive preoccupation with chemical imbalances and genetic predispositions as causes of human misery, including the conditions that are given the name 'schizophrenia'. This edition updates the now extensive body of research showing that hallucinations, delusions etc. are best understood as reactions to adverse life events and that psychological and social approaches to helping are more effective and far safer than psychiatric drugs and electroshock treatment. A new final chapter discusses why such a damaging ideology has come to dominate mental health and, most importantly, how to change that. Models of Madness is divided into three sections: Section One provides a history of madness, including examples of violence against the ‘mentally ill’, before critiquing the theories and treatments of contemporary biological psychiatry and documenting the corrupting influence of drug companies. Section Two summarises the research showing that hallucinations, delusions etc. are primarily caused by adverse life events (eg. parental loss, bullying, abuse and neglect in childhood, poverty, etc) and can be understood using psychological models ranging from cognitive to psychodynamic. Section Three presents the evidence for a range of effective psychological and social approaches to treatment, from cognitive and family therapy to primary prevention. This book brings together thirty-seven contributors from ten countries and a wide range of scientific disciplines. It provides an evidence-based, optimistic antidote to the pessimism of biological psychiatry. Models of Madness will be essential reading for all involved in mental health, including service users, family members, service managers, policy makers, nurses, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, counsellors, psychoanalysts, social workers, occupational therapists, art therapists.
“Superb… a nuanced account of biological psychiatry.” —Richard J. McNally In Mind Fixers, “the preeminent historian of neuroscience” (Science magazine) Anne Harrington explores psychiatry’s repeatedly frustrated efforts to understand mental disorder. She shows that psychiatry’s waxing and waning theories have been shaped not just by developments in the clinic and lab, but also by a surprising range of social factors. Mind Fixers recounts the past and present struggle to make mental illness a biological problem in order to lay the groundwork for creating a better future.
This book is devoted to innovative medicine, comprising the proceedings of the Uehara Memorial Foundation Symposium 2014. It remains extremely rare for the findings of basic research to be developed into clinical applications, and it takes a long time for the process to be achieved. The task of advancing the development of basic research into clinical reality lies with translational science, yet the field seems to struggle to find a way to move forward. To create innovative medical technology, many steps need to be taken: development and analysis of optimal animal models of human diseases, elucidation of genomic and epidemiological data, and establishment of “proof of concept”. There is also considerable demand for progress in drug research, new surgical procedures, and new clinical devices and equipment. While the original research target may be rare diseases, it is also important to apply those findings more broadly to common diseases. The book covers a wide range of topics and is organized into three complementary parts. The first part is basic research for innovative medicine, the second is translational research for innovative medicine, and the third is new technology for innovative medicine. This book helps to understand innovative medicine and to make progress in its realization.