Reflections on Psychotherapeutic approaches to schizophrenic psychoses: past, present and future, by Alanen, de Châvez, Silver & Martindale

Psychotherapeutic approaches to schizophrenic psychoses: past, present and future (Alanen, de Châvez, Silver. & Martindale, 2009) is published for the International Society for the Psychological Treatments of the Schizophrenias and other Psychoses (ISPS) and is an interesting work on an important topic. The editors are experienced and recognized experts in the field, and the book includes contributions from prominent writers from all over the world. In the introduction, the editors underline that they “come from a psychodynamic orientation and are very aware of the need for more integrative development, to be better able to respond to the diverse needs of individual schizophrenic patients, their families and their friends.”

The book is divided into three sections: (I) The past: early history of the treatment of schizophrenic psychoses and the pioneers of the psychotherapeutic approach; (II) From past to present: world developments from the 1940s to the present; (III) From present to future: different modalities of treatment and interventions.

In their concluding chapter, the editors sum up the message of the book with four points:

1. The dominant biological models of schizophrenic psychoses and the treatment approaches based on them have upheld one-sided and fatalistic views of this disorder that frequently provoke low levels of help care and professional dedication for psychotic patients and their families. Nevertheless, there is an increasing development towards a more integrated understanding of the character and treatment of these disorders based on both neurobiological and psycho dynamically oriented research.

2. Improved quality of treatment and social care for these persons has been proven to be possible and is now a necessary aim.

3. This book contains extensive reviews of psychological treatments that are effective with patients with schizophrenic psychoses illustrating their mul-tidisciplinary character and utilizing a variety of approaches and perspectives.

4. This book in