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A Mood Apart: Depression, Mania, and Other Afflictions of the Self
When first published in 1997 this groundbreaking work on the science of mood both redefined the field and—with compassion, understanding, and scientific rigor—made it accessible to those who would most benefit from the latest findings. Now, Peter Whybrow, one of the world's most distinguished psychiatrists, has updated his definitive account of mood disorders. In A Mood Apart he argues that disorders such as depression constitute afflictions of the self, exploring the human experience of manic depressive illness, and rediscovering the human being behind the diagnosis. Drawing on cutting-edge research and his experience as a clinician, he shows how the science and culture surrounding mood disorders have changed since the first edition. Nearly two decades since its original publication, A Mood Apart remains an essential book for anyone who has been affected by depression.
408 pages, Paperback
First published April 14, 2015
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177 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 11, 2016
Tried so hard to be literary and informative. Tedious. Many medical sections were recounting 30+ years ago research and he barely mentioned breakthroughs that are critical to patients. It is dull.
June 19, 2019
I picked this one up at the library and something about it was familiar so I think I may have read it before, or at least tried to. It’s a hard read but very interesting. It’s not your usual book on mood disorders but goes into the neuroscience behind them and gives case studies and then analyses them.
If you are just looking for more information on Bipolar or Depression because you’ve been newly diagnosed than this is not your book. However if you are quite familiar with Bipolar or Depression and are in a place where you would like to know more about the science behind it, you will find this interesting.
The original book was written in 1997 but I read the updated and revised edition which is new enough to be current.
It’s not a light read as I said, you will need no distractions when you read and it will take you a while to get through the book, even if you read fast as I do. But if you suffer from a mood disorder and are currently stable enough to digest a book of this size and theme, I highly recommend reading it.
If you are just looking for more information on Bipolar or Depression because you’ve been newly diagnosed than this is not your book. However if you are quite familiar with Bipolar or Depression and are in a place where you would like to know more about the science behind it, you will find this interesting.
The original book was written in 1997 but I read the updated and revised edition which is new enough to be current.
It’s not a light read as I said, you will need no distractions when you read and it will take you a while to get through the book, even if you read fast as I do. But if you suffer from a mood disorder and are currently stable enough to digest a book of this size and theme, I highly recommend reading it.
June 29, 2018
Insightful book on mood disorders; mania and melancholy.
Good combinations between personal narratives of people affected by these disorder and scientific explanation of such illnesses.
Limbic alliance (Thalamus, hypothalamus, Hippocampus, Amygdala) as homeostatis regulator. Mood disorder as results of imbalance/impair on such regulating system?
Good combinations between personal narratives of people affected by these disorder and scientific explanation of such illnesses.
Limbic alliance (Thalamus, hypothalamus, Hippocampus, Amygdala) as homeostatis regulator. Mood disorder as results of imbalance/impair on such regulating system?
February 19, 2019
Doesn't anyone else find it strange how he breaches confidentiality of several of his patients?
Might've enjoyed this more if I didn't study psychology. So much of it was really redundant for me to read, and a lot of what he writes isn't in line with the current viewpoints/terminology used in the psychology field.
Might've enjoyed this more if I didn't study psychology. So much of it was really redundant for me to read, and a lot of what he writes isn't in line with the current viewpoints/terminology used in the psychology field.
October 4, 2020
"A Mood Apart" reads smoothly. Anyone wanting to know more about mood disorders will be drawn in by the compassionate approach of the author. Dr. Whybrow presents cases of patients portraying the struggle typical of those suffering from these illnesses, which until more recently were not well understood.
Dr. Whybrow also delves into the physiological aspects of these disorders and explains the causes, a result of a cocktail of factors, not just a genetic disposition.
The book contains a multitude of notes, neatly organized at the back, allowing for a more complete understanding, as well as an appendix, which introduces the reader to the pharmacology of mood disorders. This monumental work offers a great understanding of mood disorders. I highly recommend it.
Dr. Whybrow also delves into the physiological aspects of these disorders and explains the causes, a result of a cocktail of factors, not just a genetic disposition.
The book contains a multitude of notes, neatly organized at the back, allowing for a more complete understanding, as well as an appendix, which introduces the reader to the pharmacology of mood disorders. This monumental work offers a great understanding of mood disorders. I highly recommend it.
August 23, 2016
Peter Whybrow has written a practical guide to mood disorders that also somehow manages to be a beautiful and compelling work of nonfiction. I look forward to rereading it and plan to recommend it to anyone seeking a better understanding of the complexity of bipolar disorder, not only those personally affected.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews