1. Is this book for you? Schizophrenia : what's in a name? Is this book for you? Psychotic experienceswhat is reality anyway? Help is available What this book covers 2. How common is schizophrenia and how does it affect people's lives? Schizophrenia is not uncommon Kraepelin was wrong! The continuum approach Social and personal costs People who have schizophrenia Family and friends 3. How is schizophrenia diagnosed and what are its symptoms? How is schizophrenia diagnosed? Who can diagnose schizophrenia? What are the main symptoms of schizophrenia? Other related diagnoses Emotional distress A caveat to diagnostic information 4. Myths about schizophrenia Myth : schizophrenia means a 'split personality' Myth : all schizophrenics are violent and dangerous Myth : people with serious mental illness are completely disabled Myth : having schizophrenia means that you can never do anything with your life Myth : mental hospitals are 'bedlams' Myth : schizophrenia represents a form of creative imagination or 'inner journey' Myth : it's all in the genes so there's nothing you can do Myth : it's all the parents' fault Myth : they're not trying/Myth : hopeless; they can never get better 5. Treatments for schizophreniaprofessional help Dealing with professionals Care settings Psychiatrists Being detained in hospital Clinical psychologists Accessing cognitive behavioural therapy and other psychological treatment Psychodynamic psychotherapists and counsellors Care co-ordinators Other members of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) General practitioners Support workers Personal relationships with professionals Non-professional help : family, friends, support groups

6. The role of medication

Disagreeing about medication

Anti-psychotic medication : what is it?

Anti-Parkinsonian drugs

Mood stabilisers

Anti-depressants

Minor tranquillisers and sleeping pills

A last word

7. Cognitive behavioural therapy

Background

What is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)?

The importance of what we do

The importance of what we think

The importance of our feelings

Understanding upsetting thoughts and experiences

Taking control through thought challenges and experiments

Changing the things you do

routine and reward

Building on current coping skills

Catching things before they get worse

Family therapy

Social contacts and support

8. Importance of self-help in dealing with issues associated with schizophrenia

Connections between self-help and psychological approaches

The increasing importance of self-help groups

What self-help groups do

Being heard by someone who has had similar experiences

Recovery models

Informing the development of professional services

Taking the best from both

9. Work and practical issues (the importance of valued activities and goals)

Work

Why activity is important

Range of work possibilities

Barriers to employment

Support in finding activities

Money

Housing

10. The role of the family

Background information

Stresses in the family

Family responses : is there a better way?

Help for families

Families and the law

11. Living with it

Introduction

Stigma and discrimination

Loss, depression and anger

What makes life worthwhile?

Tasks and goals

Relationships

The future

Appendix 1. Useful addresses

General information

Volunteering organisations

Self-help organisations

Appendix 2. Relaxation methods

Deep muscle relaxation

Mindfulness relaxation

Mindfulness exercise.