Understanding Depression A Complete Guide to Its Diagnosis and Treatment

by Klein, Donald F.; Wender, Paul H.

• ISBN13: 9780195156133
• ISBN10: 0195156137
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-04-21
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

When Understanding Depression was first published over ten years ago, it quickly became a trusted guide for the millions of Americans suffering from depression. Now the long-awaited revised and expanded second edition of this definitive and readable book is available to a new generation of those struggling with depression and their families. Informed by up-to-date research on new drugs and treatments for biological depression, the authors again carefully illustrate the importance of accurately diagnosing the disease and using scientific data and tested research methods in treating it. The book provides the means of evaluating the benefits and disadvantages of both pharmaceutical and psychological treatment of depression and explores the different treatments available. The completely revised medication chapter covers both the old and the new antidepressants and SSRIs, as well as popular herbal supplements like St. John's Wort. It also focuses on the environmental and hereditary causes of biological depression, about which there are still many misconceptions, even among professionals. The authors include several self-rating tests which readers can use to determine the need to seek a psychological evaluation. Using excerpts from patient histories to show their progress from the onset of depression to treatment to recovery, the authors put a human face on the specter of depression. Most of its victims fail to seek help, whether out of guilt or ignorance, and many are misdiagnosed by physicians or psychotherapists who fail to recognize the symptoms of the illness. Understanding Depression is an excellent source of support, providing a highly informed and readable guide to this much misunderstood disease.

Author Biography

Donald F. Klein is Professor of Psychiatry at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Director of Research at New York State Psychiatric Institute. Paul H. Wender is Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Psychiatric Research at the University of Utah School of Medicine. He is the author of The Hyperactive Child, Adolescent and Adult, and co-author of Mind, Mood, and Medicine with Donald F. Klein.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(8)
Symptoms of Mood Disorders: Recognizing Biological Depression	9	(60)
The Question of Names	9	(5)
Recurrent Problems in Patients' Illnesses	14	(32)
Treatment	46	(13)
Mild Forms of Depression and Manic-Depression (Bipolar Disorder)	59	(8)
The Interpersonal Consequences of Depression and Manic-Depression	67	(2)
What Happens to the Depressive or Manic-Depressive Individual Over Time?	69	(14)
The Symptoms of Depression in Children and Adolescents	71	(3)
The ``Natural History'' of Depression and Manic-Depression	74	(9)
What Causes Depression and Manic-Depression?	83	(16)
Hereditary Factors: Patterns of Depressive and Manic-Depressive Illness in Families	83	(1)
Heredity Versus Environment	84	(4)
Genes Plus Events Can Equal Depression	88	(2)
Can Upbringing and Life Experience Cause Depressive Illness?	90	(3)
Chemistry and Depression	93	(4)
Other Illnesses and Depression	97	(1)
Predicting Depressive Illness	97	(2)
Diagnosis and Treatment of Depression	99	(26)
Diagnosis	99	(2)
The Effectiveness of Medical Treatment of Depression	101	(1)
The Decision to Use Drugs, Psychotherapy, or Both: Relative Costs and Benefits	102	(4)
Drug Treatment	106	(6)
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)	112	(2)
Psychological Management of Depression	114	(3)
The Relationship of the Doctor and the Patient	117	(1)
The Family's Role in the Treatment of Depression and Manic-Depression	117	(3)
Self- and Family Monitoring of Depression	120	(5)
A Brief Guide to Psychopharmacological Drugs	125	(26)
Side Effects and the Physician's Desk Reference (PDR)	131	(1)
The Second-Generation Antidepressants	132	(5)
The First-Generation Antidepressants	137	(3)
Mood-Stabilizing Drugs	140	(2)
Anticonvulsants	142	(3)
Neuroleptics	145	(1)
Atypical Antipsychotics	146	(1)
Minor Tranquilizers: Benzodiazepines	147	(1)
Newer Sleeping Agents	148	(1)
Herbal Remedies	149	(1)
Monitoring Drug Treatment	149	(2)
Illnesses Related to Depression	151	(18)
Panic and Depression	151	(11)
Atypical Depression	162	(2)
Seasonal Affective Disorder	164	(2)
Premenstrual Syndrome	166	(3)
How to Get Help	169	(12)
Who Is Most Qualified to Diagnose and Treat?	169	(5)
Finding a Psychiatrist with Training in Biological Disorders	174	(1)
Meeting with the Psychiatrist for the First Time	175	(1)
Second Opinions	176	(2)
Psychotherapy for the Depressed Patient	178	(1)
Conclusion	178	(3)
Epilogue	181	(18)
What Don't We Know? What's Blocking Progress? What to Do?	181	(1)
Recent Progress	182	(1)
Negative Trends	183	(2)
Drug Discovery	185	(6)
The Current State of Psychiatry	191	(8)
Index	199