Reviewed by Beatrice Popescu
EJOP Founding Editor
Roz D’Ombraine Hewitt is a journalist, a broadcaster and a talented interviewer for The Independent, Telegraph and other publications in UK . She has wide experience of writing on health issues and especially mental health and well-being.
“Moving on” is a straightforward, accessible and inspiring guide offered by Roz D’Ombraine Hewitt to the public providing information on the myths and misconceptions surrounding schizophrenia, the possible causes and how the illness is diagnosed, medication and other treatment options, sources of support, improving health and well-being, employment-paid and voluntary, complementary therapies, counseling and psychotherapy.
About one person in a hundred will be diagnosed with schizophrenia at some time in their life. The condition can be severe and debilitating with symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations and the loss of concentration, motivation and social skills. But schizophrenia is not a degenerative or life-threatening condition and in the recent years improved knowledge and understanding, psychological treatments and more tolerable medication have greatly increased people’s ability to manage their symptoms and live a “normal life.”
The guide also includes the latest research findings and personal accounts of recovery by people with the diagnosis.
Journalist and broadcaster Roz D’Ombraine Hewitt, a member of the British Psychological Society (BPS), argues that the most effective treatment is not by “dosing up” patients, but through effective support, work opportunities and the provision of day centers.
“Medication isn’t the only story. There’s so much that can help people, not just the chemical cosh.” The author argues.
According to Roz D’Ombraine Hewitt, of Cromwell Avenue, Highgate, there is now strong research from psychologists showing that alternative treatments, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, can play a vital role in preserving quality of life.
With a controversial new mental health bill advocating greater powers for forced treatment currently being debated in Parliament, the BPS has lobbied the government to take its findings into account.
They want health chiefs to reduce the focus on compulsory treatment orders – where patients are forced to take medication against their will – in favour of other means of treatment and support.
Schizophrenia affects about one in a hundred people at some point in their lives, which can be a time of great uncertainty and fear. Yet to this day there are widely held misconceptions about the causes and consequences.
The disorder, which comes from the Greek word for “split mind”, is a psychiatric diagnosis typically characterized by problems with the sufferer’s perception of reality. Schizophrenics also demonstrate disorganized thinking and can often experience delusions or hallucinations.
Roz D’Ombraine Hewitt recently written book, Moving On: A Guide to Good Health and Recovery from Schizophrenia, aims to dispel some of the misconceptions around the condition and offer practical support to sufferers and their families.
Although there are some academic and self-help books on the subject, the author believes there were no books giving concrete guidance on how to continue living a fulfilling and healthy life. “One of the contributors to the book, for example, was absolutely terrified when she was first diagnosed. She thought she’d have a split personality and would start doing things she was unaware of.”
The book is based on research and advice from those who work with diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia, and from people who know what it is like to live with the condition.
It also provides all the information – such as sources of support and counselling and state benefits and legal rights – that is invaluable in coming to terms with a diagnosis.
While schizophrenia can be a severe and debilitating disorder, it is not degenerative or life-threatening and in recent years, a combination of improved knowledge, better psychological treatment and more tolerable medication have greatly increased people’s ability to manage their symptoms and their life.
D’Ombraine Hewitt opinionates that lots of people don’t actually know what schizophrenia is. That was a great starting point to dispel misconceptions – start with the basics and build up from there.”
Chapter One and Two introduce us in a large context of defining schizophrenia and etiology issues. Apart from presenting the DSM criteria for the diagnosis of schizophrenia, thoughts and speech disturbances are highlighted when trying to produce a valid diagnosis. Special attention is given to the importance of diagnostic. “Generally psychiatrists are sensitive to the problems that may result from a diagnosis of a mental illness. For example, it may hamper someone’s chances of getting a job, or insurance cover. The psychiatrist may also hope that someone will have just one episode of illness and, meanwhile, it is better not to “label” the person.” Patient’s experiences are relevant to the author, this is why she includes them in the book. The author believes that because of the stigma and misconceptions that surround schizophrenia, receiving diagnosis may be disturbing. Liz P explains. “When I was told by my GP that I’d been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, it was a real shock. I my mind it meant that I had a split personality, a Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde personality, and that there was an evil side to me that would come out. At the time I was working at a university and had access to the library so I read up on schizophrenia and how lots of people don’t even think it exists. “ In Chapter Two the causes of schizophrenia are examined and all the myths are being put under scrutiny: bad parenting, inheritance, stress, viral infections, birth and pregnancy complications, brain damage, illegal drugs, biochemical imbalance.
Chapter Three examines medication and other treatments options and allows us to enter the challenging world of John, a person with schizophrenia who undergoes changes in treatment with antipsychotics. Soteria approach is largely explained and testimonials of patients are given.
The guide’s fourth chapter includes sources of support, particularly important to people or families in crisis. Traditional sources such as mental health professionals, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, CMHNs, families are quoted, and new sources are presented, such as advocates. Liz S’s story: “ I was in the hospital, ill, confused, definitely not stupid, although there were days when I didn’t have the confidence to realize it. I felt that the people around me wouldn’t listen to me. The first thing my advocate did was listening to me. He also assured me that he was independent, which made me feel safe about saying exactly how I felt.” This chapter has looked at the sources of professional, personal and voluntary support which may be helpful to people’s recovery.
The next chapter describes some of the ways in which individuals can improve their physical and psychological health and well-being:
Chapter Six looks into employment options, paid and voluntary. “Eighty-five percent of people with a long-term mental illness are unemployed and in the UK they have the highest unemployment rate of any group of people with disability. Yet work can be a valuable coping mechanism, and provide a sense of purpose and value and returning to work after a period of absence due to illness may be a confirmation to someone that they have recovered.
Complementary therapies and psychological therapies are examines in the following chapters. Emphasis is placed on the second group and valuable advice is given on how to find a therapist, how to make a selection, Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is presented as a successful therapy for Shuresh: “CBT has meant that I can challenge my persecutory voices or not listen to them at all. I used to think that I was the devil or Mahatma Gandhi. I got nervous when I went to the shops and I thought everyone was speaking about me.”
Moving On is an exceptional collection of patient’s experiences with this devastating illness and more than this: a brilliant guide for recovery. Reading this book you not only feel that there is hope for people diagnosed, but you are left with a sense of confidence in the system. Moving On is an excellent book with a wealth of references and full of information for patients, families and care-givers.