Interventions for Schizophrenia certainly looks good, has a nice layout, useful handouts and worksheets, and is undoubtedly produced with the best of intentions. Although psychological treatments for schizophrenia have an increased evidence base, are popular with patients and are recommended as a core intervention by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, they are yet to feature routinely in packages of patient care.
This manual is designed for clinical psychologists, psychiatric nurses, social workers, occupational therapists and other mental health workers treating patients in group or individual settings on the ward or at home. It is divided into three parts: a brief overview of the theory, assessment and, in the third part, individual modules of engagement and treatment preparation, understanding and managing positive symptoms, maximising mental health and bringing it all together. Each module has suggested session plans, worksheets and case examples.
However, I have a few reservations, based not entirely on the glib dismissal of the medical model which is portrayed as the antithesis to the collaborative psychological model (we have moved on surely?). My main reservation is whether this manual will actually help deliver psychological therapies to patients: whether armed with this clinicians will feel able, or indeed should feel able, to go out and practise. This appears to be the intention of the author. We know from experience with family interventions the difficulty of putting theory into practice and the importance of proper training and ongoing supervision.
I would recommend this handbook as a starting point only. Perhaps another use would be for trainees preparing to answer an essay question or patient management problem on psychological treatments in schizophrenia.
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