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.