This is a practical handbook for all professionals, especially those based in the community, and others working with people suffering from schizophrenia. It is concerned with promoting real understanding of their experiences and developing effective ways to facilitate them to maintain a reasonable quality of life.

Featuring many contributions from sufferers, carers and service providers, and based on a tried and tested needs based approach pioneered by the author and her colleagues, it begins by looking at the present `state of play' in society's approach to schizophrenia, and the experiences of both sufferers and their families. It goes on to identify the needs raised by such experiences and considers ways of meeting such needs, before detailing methods of intervention, including groupwork and the provision of resources.