Schizophrenia and Psychotic Spectrum Disorders aims to engage young caregivers in psychiatry, psychology, nursing and social work so that they will be able to become well informed about this significant-and at times confusing-illness. Because schizophrenia is considered to be one of the most complicated and severe psychiatric disorders, this book has the goal of summarizing key issues of the illness, such as its presentation, frequency and age of onset, and diagnostic characteristics. It also contains informative chapters about the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, ranging from brain development issues, genetics, and likely abnormalities in neurotransmitters. This book will give young professionals and those joining the field an excellent and accessible background to treatment. In this area, Schizophrenia and Psychotic Spectrum Disorders provides a comprehensive approach to diagnosis, treatment initiation, strategies for non-response, approaches of therapy, and importantly, ways to provide family therapy and support.

Psychotic disorders are frequently misunderstood and/or misdiagnosed by many clinicians that deal with children, including clinical social workers, mental health counselors, child psychiatrists, and child psychologists. Many times it is difficult for a mental health professional to determine whether the problematic behaviors exhibited (such as hearing voices and seeing things that do not exist) are the result of an altered normal developmental process or the result of a serious mental disorder. Psychotic Disorders in Children and Adolescents will provide mental health professionals and students a resource that contains specific information needed to assess better the exact nature of what is affecting the young patient. The book addresses normal developmental process and cultural influences vs. psychotic disorders; normal grief vs. pathological grief vs. depression; and brief psychotic episodes vs. organic and chronic types of psychosis.

Psychotic disorders are frequently misunderstood and/or misdiagnosed by many clinicians that deal with children, including clinical social workers, mental health counselors, child psychiatrists, and child psychologists. Many times it is difficult for a mental health professional to determine whether the problematic behaviors exhibited (such as hearing voices and seeing things that do not exist) are the result of an altered normal developmental process or the result of a serious mental disorder. Psychotic Disorders in Children and Adolescents will provide mental health professionals and students a resource that contains specific information needed to assess better the exact nature of what is affecting the young patient. The book addresses normal developmental process and cultural influences vs. psychotic disorders; normal grief vs. pathological grief vs. depression; and brief psychotic episodes vs. organic and chronic types of psychosis.