The Interactive World of Severe Mental Illness ─ Case Studies of the U.S. Mental Health System

In our society, medication is often seen as the treatment for severe mental illness, with psychotherapy a secondary treatment. However, quality social interaction may be as important for the recovery of those with severe mental illness as are treatments. This volume makes this point while describing the emotionally moving lives of eight individuals with severe mental illness as they exist in the U.S. mental health system. Offering social and psychological insight into their experiences, these stories demonstrate how patients can create meaningful lives in the face of great difficulties.

Based on in-depth interviews with clients with severe mental illness, this volume explores which structures of interaction encourage growth for people with severe mental illness, and which trigger psychological damage. It considers the clients’ relationships with friends, family, peers, spouses, lovers, co-workers, mental health professionals, institutions, the community, and the society as a whole. It focuses specifically on how structures of social interaction can promote or harm psychological growth, and how interaction dynamics affect the psychological well-being of individuals with severe mental illness.

Larry Ende received his MSW from the Jane Addams College of Social Work in Chicago, and specializes in psychodynamically-oriented therapy with children and adolescents and with severely mentally ill adults. He has a Ph.D in Literature from SUNY Buffalo

Diana Semmelhack is Professor of Behavioral Medicine at Midwestern University and a Board Certified Clinical Psychologist. She has done extensive research on group work

Clive Hazell operates a private practice in Chicago and teaches at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Argosy University and The National College of Naprapathic Medicine.

Arthur (Art) Freeman is Professor of Psychology and Executive Program Director of the Clinical Psychology programs at Midwestern University (Downers Grove, IL and Glendale, AZ). He has published seventy five professional books and 100+ book chapters, reviews, and journal articles.