Understanding and Treating Depression: Biological, Psychological and Behavioral Perspectives

Abstract

Depression is ubiquitous in the modern world. Its effects vary from the simply unpleasant to the suicidal, and it touches every person in society, either directly or indirectly. It has been described as the major disease challenge of the 21 st century and brings a burden upon individuals and societies that is growing each year. Yet, despite the seriousness of this phenomenon, there is little understanding of how depression functions and why it occurs at all. Further, previous attempts to do so have largely been based upon the perspective of a single discipline. By contrast, this book covers and integrates a number of disciplines by presenting recent findings on genetic, neurological, biochemical, endocrinal, immunological and behavioural aspects of depression, combining them in a unique model which encompasses all these factors. It then describes how depression might best be understood, assessed and treated. In this respect, Understanding and Treating Depression: Biological, Psychological and Behavioural Perspectives is a book for clinicians from a range of disciplines. Although far too many people suffer extremely from major depression, requiring intensive hospital care and a variety of intrusive treatments, many others experience depression in lesser or minor levels of intensity. It is to the latter, overwhelming proportion of depression sufferers that this book is directed.