The Complete Family Guide to Schizophrenia: Helping Your Loved One Get the Most Out of Life

by Kim T. Mueser, Susan Gingerich

Will the person you love ever get better? Chances are you've grappled with the question. With care and support from their families, people with schizophrenia can and do make vast improvements. Noted therapists Kim Mueser and Susan Gingerich deepen your understanding of the illness and cover a wide range of effective treatments. Based on decades of research and experience, they offer pragmatic suggestions for dealing with depression, psychosis, and other symptoms. They show you how to prioritize needs, resolve everyday problems, and encourage your loved one to set life goals. Plus, individual sections highlight special issues for parents, children, siblings, and partners. Whether you’re facing schizophrenia for the first time or you’ve dealt with its impact for years, you’ll discover innovative ways to handle challenges that arise over the course of treatment, from reducing the chances of relapse to making friends and finding work. Recovery isn't an endpoint--it's a lifelong journey. With love, hope, and realistic optimism, striving for it can lead to a richer, more rewarding life for your entire family.


Winner, NAMI/Ken Book Award

Genres: Psychology, Mental Health, Nonfiction, Health

480 pages, Hardcover

First published May 25, 2006

About the author

Kim Tornvall Mueser, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and Professor at the Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University. Dr. Mueser’s clinical and research interests include family psychoeducation, the treatment of co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders, psychiatric rehabilitation for serious mental illnesses, and the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. His research has been supported by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, and the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. He is the co-author of over 10 books and treatment manuals, and has published extensively, including numerous peer reviewed journal articles and book chapters. Dr. Mueser has also given numerous lectures and workshops on psychiatric rehabilitation, both nationally and internationally.

Reviews

[Fatma Al Zahraa Yehia · Rating 4 out of 5]

كتاب مفيد و"مهدئ" لكل عائلة تمر بتلك المعاناة.
كنت اجد صعوبة في فهم ماهية الفصام بالضبط، ولكن هذا الكتاب وضح لي كل شىء ببساطة عنه.

يخطو هذا الكتاب في خطوات تفصيلية ومحددة بالقارئ الطريق إلى التعايش مع أزمة مرض نفسي شديد الوطأة مثل الفصام.

قلبي مع كل من يعاني، ومع كل من يرى أقرب احباؤه يعانون.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a comprehensive book dealing with a loved one who has schizophrenia )mainly but also works with schizoaffective just doesn't touch on mood much).

It is a much loving guide to understand a disabling disorder. To understand what a loved one may be going through. I found it eye-opening even for me, someone with the disorder. It tied in things that I did not know about my condition and hopefully, I can help out my loved ones when dealing with how to deal with me giving my condition

This is a thick book; 480 pages in total. There are excerpts of what a real situation can look like, which I really liked, and worksheets at the end of every chapter that deals with that chapter's topic, say substance abuse for example.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated this book because it delves into the many aspects of this complicated illness, but not just the illness. Handy reference guide that you can pick up anywhere. Good resources at the end.

[Tara Mcfarlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Complete Family Guide to Schizophrenia is an incredibly practical and compassionate resource for any family navigating a schizophrenia diagnosis, offering actionable tools and strategies rather than just clinical definitions. The book emphasizes evaluating treatment needs across multiple domains like daily functioning and self-care, while providing a crucial framework for creating relapse prevention plans by catching early warning signs such as mood shifts or sleep changes. It also offers tangible coping mechanisms for persistent psychotic symptoms, including behavioral strategies like reality testing and cognitive approaches like positive self-talk. Furthermore, the guide is invaluable for its advice on effective communication during delusions—stressing the importance of not arguing, keeping conversations brief, validating feelings, and maintaining a calm voice—as well as its focus on monitoring physical health risks like medication side effects and polydipsia. Ultimately, this book serves as an essential toolkit for families looking to create a supportive, structured, and empathetic environment.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent resource for families that have members who have been diagnosed with the illness. It has just about everything a person could ever need. They cover diagnosis to community services. I recommend everyone having this book in there personal library.

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was fascinating.

[Kathy]

interesting and scary and so sad for that whole family!

[Christin · Rating 5 out of 5]

everyone with a deep desire to understand a loved one’s diagnosis and how to best provide safe and loving support.

[Ellen Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Encouraging. If you get a diagnosis of schizophrenia for a loved one, don't write them off. With support, medication, proper treatment, many patients can have joyful, productive lives. Their story is not written out because of a diagnosis. Let the story play out.