May 1, 2003 By: yunews
New York, NY, May 1, 2003 -- When Dr. Susan E. Mason, associate professor at Wurzweiler School of Social Work, and Rachel Miller, research social worker at Hillside Hospital, began writing a book, they did something unheard of: they asked their patients with schizophrenia at Hillside Hospital (part of the Long Island Jewish Medical System) to help them write it.
鈥淭here was a substantial need for a book written specifically for patients鈥攖here were already several books for families, care-takers, and students,鈥 said Dr. Mason. 鈥淥ur book is the only one that has real interviews with patients. It鈥檚 really moving鈥攅very story is a real story.鈥
In Diagnosis Schizophrenia: A Comprehensive Resource for Patients, Families and Helping Professionals, 35 patients describe how they got sick and their road to recovery. The book also contains the latest research, as well as information about social services and medication. According to Dr. Mason, the collaborative project proved therapeutic for the patients, particularly when the prestigious Columbia University Press accepted it for publication.
Before they found a willing publisher, however, the authors faced prejudice from companies and agents convinced that people with schizophrenia don鈥檛 read. 鈥淭he frustrating part was that we really knew the truth鈥攖hey do read. We have shown that we have good ideas about how to work with these patients,鈥 said Dr. Mason.
The book answered a huge market need, said Dr. Mason. It went to a second printing, Amazon.com ordered more copies for sale, and the pharmaceutical company Bristol-Myers Squibb bought 900 copies to train its staff. The book was also rated by the Library Journal as a 鈥渕ust-have鈥 for every library in the US. Author profits are going to a patient fund at Hillside in Glen Oaks, NY.
Recognized experts in the field, the authors have addressed four international conferences. 鈥淭he book is opening the gates to a better understanding of schizophrenia and allowing us to learn more from others to enhance our knowledge base,鈥 said Dr. Mason.
