"For graduate students, residents, current practitioners, and others seeking a single body of work to deepen their understanding of schizophrenia and treatment approaches benefiting those affected by the syndrome, [this book] is made to order....The authors are recognized leaders in promoting the cognitive model of schizophrenia and its treatment. Yet, this book goes well beyond the model by providing a concise, historic overview of how schizophrenia has been conceptualized and addressed and how contemporary biological knowledge can be integrated with the cognitive model to address this serious disorder....In developing this book, the authors clearly set a high bar with an ambitious set of objectives: providing a historical overview of schizophrenia; describing the syndrome's etiology; synthesizing theory, research, and practice; offering cognitive and biological perspectives; and providing practical advice to treatment providers. In each instance, the book has met the challenge. It is recommended for professionals across health disciplines as well as others interested in state-of-the-art treatment approaches to schizophrenia."
"Therapists and psychiatrists will discover many approaches that will be useful in working with patients with psychosis in a variety of settings and situations beyond the formal cognitive therapy session....This rich and powerful book will be valuable to anyone in the field of mental health who works with people with psychotic disorders and who would like to be able to do more to help them."
American Journal of Psychiatry
"In its 14 chapters, the reader is treated to not only a detailed presentation of cognitive therapy and practice in schizophrenia, but also a rich overview of the disorder and current biological models that conceive of cognitive deficits as the central core of schizophrenic psychopathology....The authors make a persuasive case that, when used in conjunction with pharmacotherapy, cognitive therapy could become a key ingredient in offering hope and recovery to many patients with schizophrenia."
"This book is a thoughtful, well-documented attempt to provide both a theoretical rationale and a set of useful tools for the therapeutic encounter with a still mysterious and troubling illness."
"The book offers detailed guidance for formulating individual cases and tailoring cognitive and behavioral interventions to meet each patient's needs....Combining cognitive therapy and pharmacotherapy, the book provides valuable advice on engaging patients who may be fearful or suspicious. It is a comprehensive and convincing reference for practitioners, including clinical psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, rehabilitation specialists, and graduate students."--Schizophrenia Magazine
Schizophrenia Magazine - Peggy Thompson
"A comprehensive volume that is a guide to learning and applying cognitive therapy to schizophrenia. This fills a critical gap....It is exceptional in that it is filled with clinical insights and suggestions based on experience....The book is also exceptional in its clarity and depth of coverage....This book will stand as a classic leading to a generation of therapists able to bring hope and clinically important help to those suffering from schizophrenia. Beck and colleagues have completed the circle from a tantalizing case study over 50 years ago to a well formulated guide to understanding psychotic symptoms and applying cognitive therapy."--Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Book Reviews
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Book Reviews - Jim Claiborn
"For graduate students, residents, current practitioners, and others seeking a single body of work to deepen their understanding of schizophrenia and treatment approaches benefitting those affected by the syndrome, [this book] is made to order....The authors are recognized leaders in promoting the cognitive model of schizophrenia and its treatment. Yet, this book goes well beyond the model by providing a concise, historic overview of how schizophrenia has been conceptualized and addressed and how contemporary biological knowledge can be integrated with the cognitive model to address this serious disorder....In developing this book, the authors clearly set a high bar with an ambitious set of objectives: providing a historical overview of schizophrenia; describing the syndrome's etiology; synthesizing theory, research, and practice; offering cognitive and biological perspectives; and providing practical advice to treatment providers. In each instance, the book has met the challenge. It is recommended for professionals across health disciplines as well as others interested in state-of-the-art treatment approaches to schizophrenia."--Psychiatric Services
Psychiatric Services - Lon C. Herman
"In its 14 chapters, the reader is treated to not only a detailed presentation of cognitive therapy and practice in schizophrenia, but also a rich overview of the disorder and current biological models that conceive of cognitive deficits as the central core of schizophrenic psychopathology....The authors make a persuasive case that, when used in conjunction with pharmacotherapy, cognitive therapy could become a key ingredient in offering hope and recovery to many patients with schizophrenia."--Psychological Medicine
Psychological Medicine - Anand K. Pandurangi
"Therapists and psychiatrists will discover many approaches that will be useful in working with patients with psychosis in a variety of settings and situations beyond the formal cognitive therapy session....This rich and powerful book will be valuable to anyone in the field of mental health who works with people with psychotic disorders and who would like to be able to do more to help them."--American Journal of Psychiatry
American Journal of Psychiatry - Richard Warner
"The major achievement of [this book]...can...be seen in the integration of cognitive-behavioral and biological knowledge into a conceptual framework. This is achieved by comprehensively examining various domains of research on the origins, development, and maintenance of key symptoms....Four detailed chapters provide cognitive conceptualizations of delusions, hallucinations, negative symptoms, and formal thought disorder. These conceptualizations reflect the careful thinking of talented clinicians who have immersed themselves in their subject and achieved valuable insights....The chapters on treatment....Offer concrete and detailed guidance for addressing each type of symptom, complete with case examples. They reflect the authors' considerable experience disseminating this therapeutic approach and I expect even experienced clinicians to find them extremely helpful....It is fascinating to be reminded in this book of how much research in schizophrenia has expanded over the last decades. By bringing together a lot of this research and generating new ideas, this book is sure to add to further major developments in our ideas about schizophrenia."--Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Journal of Psychosomatic Research - Tania M. Lincoln
"Interesting, clearly written, and filled with thought-provoking and useful information, this text is an excellent resource for clinicians wanting to understand cognitive theory and techniques and their use in the treatment of individuals with psychosis. Concepts are presented to provide accessibility to clinicians specializing in psychosis but less familiar with cognitive techniques as well as clinicians well-versed in the use of cognitive techniques but with less experience treating people with psychotic symptoms. Aaron Beck, a pioneer in defining cognitive treatment of depression and anxiety, is in a unique position to elucidate differences and similarities between using cognitive treatment in psychosis and in more traditional diagnoses....A valuable resource that practitioners will find themselves using frequently in their work."--Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal - Sandra Wilkniss and Kristin Davis
"This book, like others written by Beck, provides a thoughtful integration of research, theory, and wisdom gained from many years of practice. It provides the reader with a solid conceptual understanding of the phenomenology and factors associated with the development and course of schizophrenia....Beck and associates have produced a very thoughtful and timely work that brings together research, theory, and practice elements from a number of areas....One of the primary strengths is the extent to which the authors have integrated cognitive and biological science in their formulations of the symptom clusters and in their integrative theory of schizophrenia. The theoretical chapters provide the reader with an excellent review and critique of the research on cognitive functioning, neurobiology, and psychophysiology of schizophrenia."--Social Service Review
Social Service Review - Stanley G. McCracken
"This book is a thoughtful, well-documented attempt to provide both a theoretical rationale and a set of useful tools for the therapeutic encounter with a still mysterious and troubling illness."--MIWatch.org
MIWatch.org - Richard Evans
"The book offers detailed guidance for formulating individual cases and tailoring cognitive and behavioral interventions to meet each patient''s needs....Combining cognitive therapy and pharmacotherapy, the book provides valuable advice on engaging patients who may be fearful or suspicious. It is a comprehensive and convincing reference for practitioners, including clinical psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, rehabilitation specialists, and graduate students."--Schizophrenia Magazine
"Interesting, clearly written, and filled with thought-provoking and useful information, this text is an excellent resource for clinicians wanting to understand cognitive theory and techniques and their use in the treatment of individuals with psychosis. Concepts are presented to provide accessibility to clinicians specializing in psychosis but less familiar with cognitive techniques as well as clinicians well-versed in the use of cognitive techniques but with less experience treating people with psychotic symptoms. Aaron Beck, a pioneer in defining cognitive treatment of depression and anxiety, is in a unique position to elucidate differences and similarities between using cognitive treatment in psychosis and in more traditional diagnoses....A valuable resource that practitioners will find themselves using frequently in their work."--Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal
— Sandra Wilkniss and Kristin Davis
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal
"This book, like others written by Beck, provides a thoughtful integration of research, theory, and wisdom gained from many years of practice. It provides the reader with a solid conceptual understanding of the phenomenology and factors associated with the development and course of schizophrenia....Beck and associates have produced a very thoughtful and timely work that brings together research, theory, and practice elements from a number of areas....One of the primary strengths is the extent to which the authors have integrated cognitive and biological science in their formulations of the symptom clusters and in their integrative theory of schizophrenia. The theoretical chapters provide the reader with an excellent review and critique of the research on cognitive functioning, neurobiology, and psychophysiology of schizophrenia."--Social Service Review
— Stanley G. McCracken
"Synthesizing research on the psychology and biology of schizophrenia, Beck et al. show how a cognitive approach can be used to understand and treat even the most severely ill patient. This book is a masterpiece that challenges conventional thinking and describes one of the most exciting developments in psychiatry today. It is essential reading for all mental health professionals."—Richard Bentall, PhD, Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Bangor, UK
"This book represents a major advance in the application of cognitive theory and therapy. It is fitting that the founder of cognitive therapy is now pioneering its use with people with schizophrenia, who were once thought to be virtually untreatable. The authors provide a groundbreaking integration of neurobiological and cognitive-behavioral approaches to understanding the disorder and improving patients' lives. Unique contributions of the book include the descriptions of cognitive distortions and cognitive triads specific to schizophrenia and the development of cognitive models of thought disorder and negative symptoms, which have been neglected until now."—Tony Morrison, ClinPsyD, Professor of Clinical Psychology and Associate Director of Early Intervention, University of Manchester, UK
"This book manages something that none has yet achieved: it provides an authoritative, measured, clear, and up-to-date overview of a huge breadth of material, whilst giving sufficient depth to leave the reader satisfied that they know enough to inform on good clinical practice....The clear writing style helps the reader get to grips with some of the complexities of the neuroanatomy and neurochemistry of the disorder, something that I have often found rather less transparent in other sources....I recommend this book wholeheartedly to all clinicians with an interest in the cognitive theory and/or therapy of schizophrenia. It is an invaluable summary of the current state of the art."
Journal of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy
"The major achievement of [this book]...can...be seen in the integration of cognitive-behavioral and biological knowledge into a conceptual framework. This is achieved by comprehensively examining various domains of research on the origins, development, and maintenance of key symptoms....Four detailed chapters provide cognitive conceptualizations of delusions, hallucinations, negative symptoms, and formal thought disorder. These conceptualizations reflect the careful thinking of talented clinicians who have immersed themselves in their subject and achieved valuable insights....The chapters on treatment....Offer concrete and detailed guidance for addressing each type of symptom, complete with case examples. They reflect the authors' considerable experience disseminating this therapeutic approach and I expect even experienced clinicians to find them extremely helpful....It is fascinating to be reminded in this book of how much research in schizophrenia has expanded over the last decades. By bringing together a lot of this research and generating new ideas, this book is sure to add to further major developments in our ideas about schizophrenia."
Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Reviewer: Gary B Kaniuk, PsyD (Cermak Health Services)Description: This book describes schizophrenia from a cognitive theoretical and biological perspective in order to understand symptomatology, assessment, and treatment. t shows how pharmacotherapy and psychosocial interventions can work hand-in-hand within a solid evidence-based foundation.Purpose: According to the authors, "We have attempted to provide, first, an understanding of the origin, development, and maintenance of the symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, thinking disorder, and negative symptoms). Second, we have used our understanding of the symptomatology and our therapeutic experience fortified by the research in this area to present our suggestions for the treatment of this disorder. Finally, we have attempted to integrate the vast amount of research on the biology of schizophrenia with the relatively sparse work on its psychological aspects into a comprehensive psychobiological model of schizophrenia."Audience: The audience includes clinical psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, and rehabilitation specialists, as well as graduate students and residents in these fields. Dr. Aaron Beck, professor emeritus of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania and president of the Beck Institute, developed cognitive therapy in the 1960s. Dr. Neil Rector is director of research at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto and is a founding fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, as is Dr. Neal Stolar, medical director at Project Transition in the Philadelphia area. Dr. Paul Grant is director of research in the department of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania. Features: An overview and biological look at schizophrenia begins the book, which then addresses the actual symptomatology from a cognitive perspective. The authors discuss both assessment and therapy issues, concluding by summarizing their integrative model of the interaction of "predisposing neurobiological, environmental, cognitive, and behavioral factors in the development of schizophrenia." The book does a nice job of addressing the importance of the therapeutic relationship, combining both process and content issues, an approach not often seen in cognitive therapy books. It contains excellent tables and figures, along with instructive case illustrations/vignettes. The eight appendixes contain assessment tools (Beck Cognitive Insight Scale, Cognitive Assessment of Psychosis Inventory), cognitive triads for delusional beliefs, and cognitive distortions within psychosis. The book combines theory, research, and practice very well. The story of John Nash's recovery from schizophrenia in the first chapter gives readers a good sense of where the book is headed and how the cognitive approach makes sense as opposed to a strictly biological model.Assessment: This excellent book provides a thorough look at schizophrenia from both a biological and psychosocial perspective. Its step-by-step approach combines both research and practice. The authors address all the difficult issues including hallucinations, delusions, and negative symptoms, and show how the cognitive model can be applied. The book gives clinicians hope that something can be done to help individuals suffering from such a devastating mental illness.
