Rapid Reference to Schizophrenia - Rapid Reference Series.

DESCRIPTION

Each title in the Rapid Reference series provides the reader with authoritative and accessible information from a clinical expert in the field, to assist with treatment decisions. Each title includes standard core content (epidemiology, management, therapy) combined with the additional information—such as FAQs and patient organizations—needed by the primary care practitioners to provide effective patient care. The books also include drug listings, clinical trials, information on future developments, and web site listings, to keep the reader up to speed with new developments and to extend their knowledge of the disease area. Titles in the series focus on chronic conditions seen most often in the primary care setting. With patients becoming better informed about the nature and management of their conditions, Rapid Reference is a timely new series that offers the primary care practitioners easy access to the best information for patient care and management.

KEY FEATURES

• Expert information succinctly written for ease of use.
• Abundant use of bulleted lists and short tables, for quick access to comparative information.
• Presents evidence-based sources for practice where available, either through research or best-practice guidelines.
• Frequently Asked Questions chapter helps practitioners prepare for patient visits and provide better patient care.
• Drugs appendix lists available drugs, with contraindications and side effects.
• Useful addresses and websites appendix provide additional resources for both the physician and patient.

1. Introduction and Background

2. Definition and epidemiology

3. Aetiology

4. Diagnosis

5. Prevention
-reduction/removal of risk factors
-enhanced prenatal care
-role of stress reduction -reduction of secondary forms of schizophrenia (eg drug induced, head trauma)
-(pre)detection of high risk patients and patients with childhood neurodevelopmental deviance
-prodromal detection and early intervention strategies

6.Treatment
-pharmacological
-description of typical antipsychotics
-types
-mechanism (s) of action
-efficacy
-adverse effects
-description of atypical antipsychotics-concept and validity of >atypicality=
-mechanism (s) of action and relative receptor affinity profile of each atypical antipsychotic
-clozapine
-efficacy
-adverse effects
-risperidone -efficacy
-adverse effects
-olanzapine-efficacy
-adverse effects
-quetiapine-efficacy
-adverse effects
-ziprasidone-efficacy
-adverse effects
-description of other antipsychotic medications which are under debate as to whether they are typical or atypical agents
-amisulpiride, sulpiride, zotepine
-mechanism (s) of action
-efficacy
-description of other psychotropic medications which are used to augment the treatment response to either typical or atypical antipsychotic agents
-nonpharmacological
-electroconvulsive therapy
-psychotherapies/psychosocial rehabilitation
-individual supportive psychotherapy
-cognitive behavioral therapy -cognitive remediation
-compliance therapy -social skills therapy
-assertive community treatment
-case management
-family therapy
-mental health services and systems of care

7. Management
-domains of outcome, with emphasis on cognition
-acute psychotic episode
-first episode psychosis
-choice of drug -dosing strategies
-other aspects of care
-maintenance therapy -initial choice of drug and sequential choice of agents
-dosing and duration of treatment
-other aspects of care
-treatment refractory schizophrenia
-assessment -sequential choice of agents
-dosing and duration of treatment
-role of augmentation -role of ECT
-other aspects of care
-comorbidities

8. Future developments
-drugs which are under development
-new psychosocial approaches
-Evidence-Based-Medicine and schizophrenia

9. Frequently asked questions
-is there a test for schizophrenia and can it be used to diagnose family members at risk?
-does drug use/abuse cause schizophrenia? -how violent are people with schizophrenia?
-if the illness is caught early can it be treated with a better outcome?
-how long should a person be on medication?
-how do you choose the right medication and how do you know its the right one? -how long should you wait on one drug before switching to another drug?
-what is the best way of switching from one drug to another?
-what is the best combination of treatment?
-are other treatments (eg herbals, vitamins, meditation) helpful for schizophrenia?
-how do you convince a person with schizophrenia to comply with their treatment?
-if you suspect sombody has schizophrenia, who should you contact to get help for them?

10. References

11. Appendices Drug information Useful addresses and websites

AUTHOR INFORMATION