Psychiatric comorbidities such as depression, anxiety and substance use are extremely common amongst people with schizophrenia. They add to poor clinical outcomes and disability, yet are often not at the forefront of the minds of clinicians, who tend to concentrate on assessing and treating the core symptoms of schizophrenia, notably delusions and hallucinations. There is an imperative to assess every patient with schizophrenia for psychiatric comorbidities, as they might masquerade as core psychotic symptoms and also because they warrant treatment in their own right. This volume addresses these issues using a clinical lens informed by the current literature. Published as part of the Oxford Psychiatry Library series, the book serves as a concise and practical reference for busy clinicians.

This issue is divided into two sections. The topics are Section 1 is on schizophrenia with psychiatric comorbidities: Management of Depression in Schizophrenia, Management of Schizophrenia with Comorbid Anxiety Disorders (OCD & Social Anxiety), Schizophrenia with Impulsive and Aggressive Behaviors, Management of Schizophrenia with Suicide Risks, Management of schizophrenia with eating disorders, Schizophrenia with Substance Abuse disorders. Section 2 is on Management of Schizophrenia with Physical Comorbidities: Management of Schizophrenia with Obesity, Metabolic, and Endocrinological disorders, Schizophrenia with Medical disorders (Cardiovascular, Pulmonary and Gastrointestinal), Schizophrenia with Auto-immune disorders, Schizophrenia with Neurological and Movement disorders, Treatment issues in Schizophrenia with Comorbid disorders.

Schizophrenia is one of the most difficult diagnoses to make. And, once made, it was once among the most limited, offering few options in the management of care for schizophrenia patients with comorbid conditions. It was not until 1994, with the publication of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV), that diagnostic guidelines first permitted additional diagnoses on Axis I, such as anxiety disorder, in the presence of schizophrenia. Yet remnants of the old hierarchical diagnostic system remain, diverting attention from the pressing issue of managing what appear to be common -- and treatable -- disabling conditions, such as panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), that often occur with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia and Comorbid Conditions: Diagnosis and Treatment lays diagnostic oversimplification of schizophrenia to rest once and for all. All schizophrenia patients are not the same. The editors of this groundbreaking work criticize the reductionist view of schizophrenia as a single unitary disorder -- a view that has led many psychiatrists and mental health care professionals to overlook potentially important syndromes. Asserting that these patients should be managed on the basis of their individual clinical presentations, not just their categorical diagnosis, recognized experts in their specialties offer a fascinating array of topics. Chapter 1 goes straight to the heart of this assertion, beginning with epidemiology and showing how hierarchical diagnostic concepts keep associated psychiatric syndromes (APS) hidden from clinical and scientific attention. Also presented are the findings of the few treatment studies of APS in schizophrenia. Additional chapters feature the following topics: * Chapter 2 takes an indepth look at the extensive literature on depression in patients with schizophrenia, including a discussion on differential diagnosis and treatment approaches.* Chapters 3 and 4 detail obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic symptoms, using case vignettes to illustrate the clinical management of schizophrenia with these two conditions.* Chapters 5 and 6 discuss the recognition and management of medical and surgical illness and the management of pregnancy in patients with schizophrenia, respectively.* Chapter 7 reviews cognitive impairment in older patients with schizophrenia, including etiology, assessment, and treatment approaches.* Chapter 8 presents old and new approaches to the treatment of aggressive behaviors and violence in patients with schizophrenia.* Chapter 9 extensively reviews substance abuse in schizophrenia, with suggested practical approaches to assessing and treating the "dual-diagnosis" schizophrenia patient. Intended to help practitioners enhance their recognition of and improve treatment for the large -- and often neglected and clinically challenging -- group of schizophrenia patients with comorbid conditions, this unique collection combines a wealth of clinical and research experience of enduring value to practitioners and researchers alike.

Schizophrenia is often associated with an inadequate response to pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. How to treat patients who have an unsatisfactory response to anti-psychotics, including clozapine - which is unequivocally the most powerful antipsychotic medication for this recalcitrant population - remains a clinical conundrum. A range of adjunctive medications have been tried with mixed results; there has also been renewed interest in the role of neuromodulatory strategies, electroconvulsive therapy, and cognitive and vocational approaches. Perhaps a bright spot for the future lies in the evolution of pharmacogenetic approaches for individualized care. In this book, leading experts from Europe, Australia and the Americas provide a timely appraisal of treatments for the most severely ill schizophrenia patients. This clinically focused book is informed by the latest research on the neurobiology and treatment of schizophrenia. It is comprehensive in scope, covering current treatment options, various add-on approaches, and a range of psychosocial treatments. The contributors are respected experts who have combined their clinical experience with cutting-edge research to provide readers with authoritative information on fundamental aspects of clinical care for schizophrenia.

This book explains in detail the diagnosis, management, and treatment of comorbid disorders in patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Important insights are provided into the nature of the symptoms of psychiatric comorbidities in these patients, and particularly children and adolescents, with a view to assisting clinicians in reaching a correct diagnosis that will permit the implementation of appropriate treatment strategies, whether psychological or pharmacological. The full range of potential comorbidities is considered, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders, eating disorders, disruptive behavioral disorders, Tourette’s disorder, and substance-related disorders. In each case guidance is provided on how to avoid incorrectly attributing symptoms to ASD and on treatment options. Psychiatric Comorbidities in Autism Spectrum Disorders will be of value to all practitioners who are confronted by patients with these complex co-occurring conditions.

This book summarizes scientific advances in our understanding of the interrelationship between obsessive-compulsive symptoms and schizophrenia and reflects on the implications for future research directions. In addition, guidelines are provided on practical assessment, diagnosis and treatment interventions, covering both pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. The book acknowledges the need for a perspective that recognizes heterogeneous subgroups and diverse neurobiological explanations; accordingly, multidimensional research-based conceptual frameworks are provided that incorporate recent epidemiological, neurocognitive, neurogenetic and pharmacodynamic findings. Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in Schizophrenia has been written by an international team of experts who offer insights gained through their extensive experience. It will be an invaluable guide to this frequent and clinically important comorbidity and will be particularly useful for mental health practitioners.

This book analyzes schizophrenia management in the context of recent clinical therapeutic advances that have transformed the measurements and outcomes landscape. Unlike any other resource, this volume carefully develops the social and clinical guidelines that affect the life of the patient and defines its role in schizophrenia treatment outcomes. The text begins by determining the concepts, development, neuroscience, and guidelines for positive outcomes before analyzing the gaps in the literature. The text addresses medical concerns in relation to outcomes in schizophrenic patients, including substance use, impact from antipsychotic medications, and medical comorbidities. The text also covers external determinants that may inhibit positive outcomes, including cultural factors, stigma, and environmental issues. Written by experts in schizophrenia care, this book compiles sound research, current clinical trends, and modern measurement markers into a well-organized compendium that delivers this data into a practical guide for measuring treatment outcomes in patients suffering from the disease. Schizophrenia Treatment Outcomes is the ultimate guide for psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers, and all medical practitioners interested in improving outcomes for schizophrenia patients.