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The most important book about schizophrenia in decades and perhaps evera total gamechanger Sylvia Nasar author of A Beautiful Mind

A comprehensive deeply researched and highly readable portrait of schizophreniaits history its various manifestations and how todays treatments have promising and often lifesaving potential

This incredibly captivating Siddhartha Mukherjee author of The Emperor of All Maladies portrait of schizophrenia the most malignant and mysterious mental illness by renowned psychiatrist Jeffrey Lieberman interweaves cultural and scientific history with dramatic patient profiles and clinical experiences to impart a revolutionary message of hope For the first time in history we can effectively treat schizophrenia limiting its disabling effectsand were on the verge of being able to prevent the diseases onset entirely

Drawing on his fourdecade career Dr Jeffrey Lieberman expertly illuminates the past present and future of this historically dreaded and devastating illness Interweaving history science and policy with personal anecdotes and clinical cases Malady of the Mind is a rich illuminating experience written in accessible fluid prose From Dr Liebermans vantage point at the pinnacle of academic psychiatry informed by extensive research experience and clinical care of thousands of patients he explains how the complexity of the brain the checkered history of psychiatric medicine and centuries of stigma combined with misguided legislation and health care policies have impeded scientific advances and clinical progress Despite this there is reason for optimism by offering evidencebased treatments that combine medication with psychosocial services and principles learned from the recovery movement doctors can now effectively treat schizophrenia by diagnosing patients at a very early stage achieving a mutually respectful therapeutic alliance and preventing relapse thus limiting the progression of the illness Even more promising decades of work on diagnosis detection and early intervention have pushed scientific progress to the cusp of preventionmeaning that in the near future doctors may be able to prevent the onset of this disorder

A mustread for those interested in medical history psychology and those whose lives have been affected by schizophrenia this penetrating important Andrew Solomon author of Noonday Demon work offers a comprehensive scientific portrait crucial insights sound advice for families and friends and most importantly hope for those sufferers now and future generations