This second edition of a classic text offers experience-based, practical guidelines for social workers and others regarding long term work with sufferers from the psychoses (principally affective disorders, schizophrenia and dementia). It explores the context of practice: definitions of mental health and illnesses attitudes to psychiatry and psychiatric services and the influence of social policy. Using practice axioms, the book examines direct work with sufferers, work for sufferers with the clinical team, the social environment and work with the families affected.