Narratives of Recovery from Serious Mental Illness

by William Tucker

Overview

In this informative and inspiring book the author narrates the stories of 12 patients whom he treated during their recovery from serious mental illness. These narratives reveal their common struggles: misdiagnosis, dual-diagnosis, impeded access to medication, medication-adherence issues, homelessness, employment/unemployment issues, and problems with governmental agencies.   They also reveal some of the satisfactions of practicing outreach psychiatry: appreciating the patients’ resilience, persistence, and talents, and the cooperation of outside service-providers, all of which promote recovery. Each patient’s path is unique. Their successes remind us that schizophrenia, paranoia, bipolar illness, and substance abuse need not preclude a productive and satisfying life.

· Direct quotations from patients demonstrate their awareness of their problems and progress.

· Patients’ acceptance promotes flexibility and creativity from their psychiatrist.

· Team members provide innovative and targeted support.

· The psychiatrist identifies aspects his interactions with these patients that contributed to his professional development.

· A unique feature is the documentation of patients’ monthly progress for up to 6 years.

Though no one knows what initiates recovery, this book vividly describes how it does so.   For psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers these are compelling stories of hope and a powerful call to consider outreach psychiatry.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783319815855
Publisher:	Springer International Publishing
Publication date:	05/31/2018
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 2016
Pages:	165
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

William Tucker is clinical professor of psychiatry at the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. He has maintained a private practice in general psychiatry for over 40 years and has been actively engaged in teaching community psychiatry to psychiatric residents and advanced clinical interviewing to medical students in general medicine. Early in his career he was director of residency training in psychiatry at a Columbia-affiliated community hospital. Subsequently he was director of psychiatric services and thereafter chief medical officer of the NY State Office of Mental Health. Following these positions he was team psychiatrist for an ACT team in Jamaica (Queens), which was administered by a non-profit organization responsible for 500 clients throughout New York City. He has been president of the NY County District Branch of the American Psychiatric Association, and he is currently an APA Distinguished Life Fellow. For over 20 years he has served as associate editor of Psychiatric Quarterly, and he is a reviewer for Psychiatric Services, Academic Psychiatry, and Community Mental Health Journal. He has contributed to the professional literature on psychiatric education, the implementation and use of telemedicine, the use of technology for follow-up of people with schizophrenia, homelessness, psychopharmacology, psychological trauma, and the process of change in medical and psychiatric patients as they take charge of their disabilities.

Table of Contents

Introduction.-What is Recovery, and How Does it relate to Stability?.- What is Serious Mental Illness?.- Why We Need Outreach Psychiatry.- My Personal Career Trajectory.- The Pathways Model.- My View How these Patients Changed.- How these Narratives Emerged.- Confidentiality and Consent.- Reference List.- Gary N.- Pamela P.- Bernardo H.- Victoria N.- Richard G.- Maria C.- Alex A. - Seth S.- Donald M. - Carl Z. - Seema S. - Justin E.- Second Thoughts and Conclusions.- Conclusions.    

Editorial Reviews

Although written primarily for psychiatrists, this book may also prove useful and inspirational for patients with mental illness, trainees in the field, psychologists, case managers, social workers, family members of those with significant psychiatric problems, and anyone else whose life is intertwined with those who have severe mental illness. … It is well written and well worth reading by any clinician — rookie, novice, or seasoned provider.” (Steven T. Herron, Doody's Book Reviews, September, 2016)

From the Publisher

Reviewer: Steven T Herron, MD (CPI/Assurance Health and Wellness)
Description: Often, caring for severely mentally ill patients can be challenging, not only for their unusual symptoms or presentations, but also due to their seemingly minimal recovery or frequent deteriorations in their condition. The author of this book has chosen to focus on his successes to offer hope to those working with this challenging set of patients.
Purpose: The author suggests three purposes for this book: 1) to illustrate some specific cases he feels were a success; 2) to indicate the importance of "outreach psychiatry" in reaching eventually stability; and 3) to encourage other psychiatrists to pursue this specialized area.
Audience: Although written primarily for psychiatrists, this book may also prove useful and inspirational for patients with mental illness, trainees in the field, psychologists, case managers, social workers, family members of those with significant psychiatric problems, and anyone else whose life is intertwined with those who have severe mental illness.
Features: Made up of 12 unique cases, this book discusses individuals Dr. Tucker was involved in treating after entering outreach psychiatry after years of working in another capacity in the field. Chapters generally begin with a review of the individual's history, followed by a discussion of treatment that often includes unique issues and obstacles to improvement. Dr. Tucker continues through the treatment and offers a postscript to complete the stories.
Assessment: There are other books that discuss individual cases, the vast majority of these presentations are offered as brief case examples to highlight very specific parts of a case for diagnostic or treatment clarification. Dr. Tucker delves deeper into these presentations to give readers a broader understanding of the challenges unique to each individual. The result is a refreshing, inspirational, and realistic view of some patients with severe mental illness. It is well written and well worth reading by any clinician — rookie, novice, or seasoned provider.

Doody's Review Service