Summary
Schizophrenia is a severe and debilitating disease of the brain that affects approximately 1 percent of the population worldwide. This psychotic disorder causes severe mental disturbances that disrupt thought patterns, speech, and regular daily activities of life. Those with schizophrenia can exhibit odd or disturbing behaviors. The disorder can be devastating to those who suffer from it, as well as frightening and exhausting for their families. However, recent research on the causes of schizophrenia, its diagnosis, and the effectiveness of different treatments provides a more hopeful outlook for those affected. Schizophrenia, Second Edition describes the symptoms of this disease and the impact it has on patients and their loved ones. It also examines how scientific studies seek to untangle the multiple causes of schizophrenia and reviews research on how well drug and nondrug treatments work for schizophrenia patients.
About the Author(s)
Heather Barnett Veague, Ph.D., received her doctorate from Harvard University and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Albany Medical College, and Stanford University. She focuses on cultivating a developmental approach to psychopathology and has received advanced training in the assessment of autism spectrum disorders, learning disorders, mood disorders, ADHD, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and psychotic disorders.
M. Foster Olive received his bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of California, San Diego, and went on to receive his Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA. He is currently an associate professor in the Behavioral Neuroscience Program in the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University. His research focuses on the neurobiology of addiction, and he has published in numerous academic journals including Psychopharmacology, The Journal of Neuroscience, and Nature Neuroscience. He has also authored several books in the Drugs: The Straight Facts series, including titles such as Peyote and Mescaline, Sleep Aids, Prescription Pain Relievers, Designer Drugs, Crack, and LSD.