Home: Books: Mood Disorders: Depression

Depression Books

The Beast: A Journey Through Depression- Tracy Thompson, Plume, 1996, In an eloquent, unflinchingly honest autobiography, a journalist recounts her struggle with depression, which culminated in a terrifying bout with suicide, and her search for an understanding of and a cure for it.

Dealing With Depression Naturally/the Drugless Approach to the Condition That Darkens Millions of Lives- Syd Baumel , Keats Pub, 1995, There are natural antidepressant therapies which can restore emotional health, from vitamins and dietary adjustments to visualization exercises and sleep therapy. Baumel tells how to assess the pros and cons of these various therapies and how to apply them to personal issues in this strong self-help guide.

Depression After Childbirth, How to Recognize and Treat Postnatal Illness- Katharina Dalton, Oxford University Press, December, 1996, Discussion of postnatal depression and its treatment.

Depression and its Treatment- John H. Greist, M.D. and James W. Jefferson, M.D.Publisher: Warner Books; 1992, Warner Books, 1994, Depression is the most common psychological disorder, and at least 10% of Americans will experience a major depression at some point in their lives. This clearly-written, straightforward guide explains depression and its causes and discusses treatments from drugs to psychotherapy. Developed by the American Psychiatric Press.

The Depression Workbook: A Guide for Living with Depression and Manic Depression- Mary Ellen Copeland, Publisher: New Harbinger Publications; 1992, A detailed overview of the history, causes and treatment of mood disorders. Offers step-by-step, self-help guidance for taking responsibility for your own wellness; using charts to track and control your moods; find appropriate mental health professionals; build a support system, increase your self-confidence and self-esteem; using relaxation, diet, exercise and full-spectrum light to stabilize your moods; and avoid conditions that can exacerbate you moods swings. "An essential tool to assist people struggling with depression and mania to gain insight to actively enter a lifelong journey of healing and wellness."

Feeling Good Handbook- David D. Burns, M.D., Plume; 1990, What David Burns has to say about self-helping your way out of depression really works. It's the holy grail for those who, for what ever reason, won't go to a professional for help. This is a do it yourself guidebook for emotional restructuring. Anyone can do it. It's simple, it just isn't easy. Peter Plantec Former Psychotherapist, now author

Good Mood: The New Psychology of Overcoming Depression- Julian L. Simon, Open Court Press; 1993.

The Good News About Depression- Mark S. Gold, Bantam Doubleday Dell, 1995, Ten years ago pioneering biopsychiatrist Mark Gold wrote a visionary guide to the effective medical therapies emerging for the treatment of depression. Now, in this newly revised edition of his classic book, Dr. Gold reveals how, in just a decade, sophisticated new research and drug therapies have revolutionized the care of all types of depression.

Helplessness : On Depression, Development, and Death - Martin E. P. Seligman, W H Freeman & Co, 1992, (A Series of Books in Psychology)

Holiday of Darkness: A Psychologist's Personal Journey Out of His Depression- Norman S. Endler, Wall & Thompson, 1990

How to Heal Depression- Harold H. Bloomfield, M.D. and Peter McWilliams, Prelude Press; 1994, The first companion to the eighteen-year bestseller, How to Survive the Loss of a Love, this clear, simply-written program explains what depression is, what causes it, and what the most effective treatments are.

How to Heal Depression, Cassette Version- Harold H. Bloomfield, M.D. and Peter McWilliams, Prelude Press; 1996, The first companion to the eighteen-year bestseller, How to Survive the Loss of a Love, this clear, simply-written program explains what depression is, what causes it, and what the most effective treatments are. 3 cassettes. - Audio

Hypericum & Depression- Harold H. Bloomfield , Peter McWilliams , Mikael Nordfors (Contributor), , Can Depression Be Successfully Treated With a Safe, Inexpensive, Medically Proven Herb Available Without a Prescription?

Listening To Prozac- Peter D. Kramer, M.D., Penguin, USA (Reprint Edition), 1994, A psychiatrist explores some of the implications of anti-depressants, and especially of Prozac's unusual effects on the personality. Kramer also discusses the recent research on depression, as well as several other issues which seem linked to depression.

Listening To Prozac, Cassettes- Peter D. Kramer, M.D., Simon & Schuster Audio, 1994, A psychiatrist explores some of the implications of anti-depressants, and especially of Prozac's unusual effects on the personality. Kramer also discusses the recent research on depression, as well as several other issues which seem linked to depression. - Audio

Living With Depression & Manic Depression : Self-Help Strategies/Cassette - Mary Ellen Copeland, New Harbinger , 1994, - Audio

Living Without Depression and Manic Depression: A Workbook for Maintaining Mood Stability- Mary Ellen Copeland, New Harbinger , 1994, A Workbook for Maintaining Mood Stability - Those affected with depressive and manic depressive disorders can live fairly normal lives with proper treatment: this title provides self-help tips to supplement treatment programs, providing encouragement for self-advocacy and including recommendations for support and self-help therapy. From minimizing negative influences from the past to using peer counseling effectively, this provides a workbook packed with tips.

A Mood Apart : Depression, Mania, and Other Afflictions of the Self- Peter C. Whybrow, Harpercollins, February 1, 1997, In A Mood Apart, one of the country's most distinguished psychiatrists--an internationally renowned authority in the field--examines mood disorder as "an affliction of the self, " exploring the human experience of manic depressive illness, rediscovering the human being within the diagnosis.

Moodswing- Ronald Fieve, Bantam Books, 1996 (revised & expanded), This expanded edition updates the research and treatments of depression that have emerged in the last fifteen years. Fieve sheds new light on specific mood disorders such as PMS, seasonal depression, and has new chapters on substance abuse. Contains information and anecdotal stories about depressives and manic depressives; by the individual who spearheaded lithium therapy.

On the Edge of Darkness: Conversations about Conquering Depression.- Kathy Cronkite, Doubleday; 1994, A reassuring message for the 24 million Americans who suffer from depression each year. Cronkite interviewed dozens of journalists, actors, and politicians who have experienced--and conquered--depression. This work is a major step toward eradicating the stigma attached to depression.

Out of the Nightmare: Recovery From Depression And Suicidal Pain- David L. Conroy, PhD , New Liberty Press, 1991, This should be required reading for every suicidal person, therapist, counselor, friends and families of suicidal persons, and those left behind by the suicide of a loved one. It is non-technical but very comprehensive, and will almost surely help.

Overcoming Depression- Dimitri F. and Janice Papolos, Harper-Perennial; February 1, 1997, A bestselling classic in the field and the definitive book most recommended by doctors is now thoroughly updated and revised. This vital and accessible guide provides state-of-the-art medical information and solid practical advice for the millions who suffer from depression and manic depression and for their families.

Prozac Nation : Young and Depressed in America : A Memoir- Elizabeth Wurtzel, , Painful, poignant, and ultimately triumphant, Prozac Nation is Elizabeth Wurtzel's catharsis--a cry of rage at the chronic depression which has dominated most of her young life. "A powerful portrait of one girl's journey through the purgatory of depression."--The New York Times.

Questions and Answers about Depression and its Treatment- Dr. Ivan Goldberg, The Charles Press; 1993., A 112 page FAQ on depression & manic depression. Covers all aspects. Includes self-evaluation scales. Highly recommended.

Searching for Mercy Street; My Journey Back to My Mother, Anne Sexton- Linda Gray Sexton, Little, Brown, and Company, NY, 1996, An unsparing account of the anguish and fierce love between Linda Gray Sexton and her brilliant, unstable and ultimately self-destructive mother, Anne Sexton. Anne taught Linda how to write, how to see, how to imagine; and only Linda could have written a book that captures so vividly the intimate details and lingering emotions of their lives together.

Secrets of Serotonin- Carol Hart , St. Martins, 1996, Serotonin--a completely natural hormone manufactured by your own body--can dramatically transform your mood, reduce your appetite, and improve your life. Serotonin has a powerful effect on the brain--in fact, millions of people take Prozac every day to compensate for low serotonin levels without knowing that changes in diet and lifestyle may be all they need. This breakthrough book helps you take charge of your own health and healing.

Silencing the Self : Women and Depression - Dana Crowley Jack , Harpercollins, 1993, An important contribution to the fields of psychology and women's studies, Silencing the Self is a startling treatise on the roots of female depression that draws on new understandings of the importance of relationships in women's lives.

Undercurrents : A Life Beneath the Surface - Martha Manning , Harpercollins, 1996, The memoir of an ordinary woman--a mother, a daughter, a psychologist, a wife--who skillfully, uncannily tells the tale of her spiraling descent into a severe, debilitating depression, Manning's is a witty and graceful account that belies the popular understanding of the controversial treatment she sought.

Undercurrents: A Therapist's Reckoning with Her Own Depression- Martha Manning, Harpercollins, 1995, L.A. Times Book Review ad says in part: "Raves for this riveting chronicle of a therapist's experience with electro- convulsive therapy." New York Times Book Review: "(A) convincing testament to the inexorable cruelty of depression and a frightening reminder of its unprejudiced choice of victims."

Undercurrents: A Therapist's Reckoning with Her Own Depression (cassette)- Martha Manning, Harper Audio, 1995, As a wife, mother, and psychotherapist, Manning led a very full life--until depression engulfed and overwhelmed her. She details her experience with electroshock therapy, the treatment that delivered her from the brink of suicide. 2 cassettes. - Audio

Understanding Depression- Donald Klein, M.D., and Paul Wender, M.D. (founders of the National Assn. for Depressive Illness), Oxford; 1993, A definitive guide to depressive illness--its causes, course, and symptoms--that clarifies the difference between depression and biological depression. Includes several self-rating tests. "Offers hope for relief from a terrifying affliction and practical, step-by-step advice for finding that relief."-- New York Times.

Winter Blues: Seasonal Affective Disorder and How to Overcome It.- Norman E. Rosenthal, M.D., The Guilfold Press; 1993, from the author “It contains the stories of many of the people with winter difficulties whom I have known and treated over the years, as well as guidelines for how to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder. My favorite part of the book, though, are poems and stories about how various people, some of them famous writers and artists, have dealt with their seasonal changes.”

You Mean I Don't Have to Feel This Way? : New Help for Depression, Anxiety, and Addiction - Collette Dowling, Harrison Pope , James I. Hudson (Contributor), Bantam Doubleday Dell; 1993, The author of Perfect Women challenges society's long-held belief that depression and related disorders stem from moral weakness or a lack of self-control, but instead are caused by chemical imbalances, often inherited, which can be successfully treated with medication.

Modified November 18, 2005