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Depression: What Everyone Needs to Know®
A pithy, go-to guide for understanding both what we know about the causes of depression and what to do about it.
Depression now affects more than fifteen percent of the population, and it is striking people at younger and younger ages. Depression is all too familiar, yet it remains shrouded in mystery, confusion, and fear. What is depression, exactly? How is it different from sadness? It is said that depression is a "chemical imbalance" but what does that really mean? Which chemicals are involved, and how are they imbalanced? Why is it that just as more research and treatment resources are poured into combating depression, its personal and economic toll has actually grown? What is fueling the epidemic of depression? Is there anything that can be done to stop it?
What Everyone Needs to Know® cuts through the confusion around this often-debilitating illness to address the core of these and other matters. Jonathan Rottenberg offers a practical, reader-friendly synthesis that bridges clinical science, clinical practice, and everyday life. Written in the pithy, straightforward style of Oxford's What Everyone Needs to Know® series, this volume is the essential go-to guide both for understanding what we know about the causes of depression and the depression epidemic, and for learning what to do about it-including material on how to recognize depression in oneself, a family member, or a friend, and how to navigate life after depression. Written for all those who struggle with depression, their loved ones, mental health professionals, and the wider public, What Everyone Needs to Know® offers guidance for navigating the bewildering marketplace of treatment options while combatting the misinformation and myths that still surround
this condition.
Depression now affects more than fifteen percent of the population, and it is striking people at younger and younger ages. Depression is all too familiar, yet it remains shrouded in mystery, confusion, and fear. What is depression, exactly? How is it different from sadness? It is said that depression is a "chemical imbalance" but what does that really mean? Which chemicals are involved, and how are they imbalanced? Why is it that just as more research and treatment resources are poured into combating depression, its personal and economic toll has actually grown? What is fueling the epidemic of depression? Is there anything that can be done to stop it?
What Everyone Needs to Know® cuts through the confusion around this often-debilitating illness to address the core of these and other matters. Jonathan Rottenberg offers a practical, reader-friendly synthesis that bridges clinical science, clinical practice, and everyday life. Written in the pithy, straightforward style of Oxford's What Everyone Needs to Know® series, this volume is the essential go-to guide both for understanding what we know about the causes of depression and the depression epidemic, and for learning what to do about it-including material on how to recognize depression in oneself, a family member, or a friend, and how to navigate life after depression. Written for all those who struggle with depression, their loved ones, mental health professionals, and the wider public, What Everyone Needs to Know® offers guidance for navigating the bewildering marketplace of treatment options while combatting the misinformation and myths that still surround
this condition.
192 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2021
16 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 5, 2022
Depression: What Everyone Needs to Know was a decent short look into the topic.
Author Jonathan Rottenberg is a Professor of Psychology at the University of South Florida, where he is the Director of Clinical Training and Director of the Mood and Emotion Laboratory. He is an expert on the depression epidemic, on emotional functioning in depression, and on why some people thrive after depression.
Jonathan Rottenberg:
Rottenberg opens the book with a definition of depression, giving the reader the diagnostic criterion. He notes that, unlike many other illnesses, a diagnosis of depression is made without any objective biological testing methodology.
The book is written in a somewhat matter-of-fact, no-frills manner that I felt worked in its presentation. Its relatively short length should also not have trouble holding the reader's attention.
Rottenberg covers most of the issues surrounding depression in a somewhat cursory fashion.
To his credit, he debunks the "chemical imbalance theory" which was (and still is) in some circles the prevalant view of psychological disorders like depression.
As the book progresses, he covers a good bit of ground: CBT is mentioned, as are SSRIs and other treatments for depression. He also writes on the role of self-talk and discursive thinking in depression in the later part.
******************
A short, succinct look into the topic; I felt that the author did a fairly decent job covering the material here.
3.5 stars.
Author Jonathan Rottenberg is a Professor of Psychology at the University of South Florida, where he is the Director of Clinical Training and Director of the Mood and Emotion Laboratory. He is an expert on the depression epidemic, on emotional functioning in depression, and on why some people thrive after depression.
Jonathan Rottenberg:
Rottenberg opens the book with a definition of depression, giving the reader the diagnostic criterion. He notes that, unlike many other illnesses, a diagnosis of depression is made without any objective biological testing methodology.
The book is written in a somewhat matter-of-fact, no-frills manner that I felt worked in its presentation. Its relatively short length should also not have trouble holding the reader's attention.
Rottenberg covers most of the issues surrounding depression in a somewhat cursory fashion.
To his credit, he debunks the "chemical imbalance theory" which was (and still is) in some circles the prevalant view of psychological disorders like depression.
As the book progresses, he covers a good bit of ground: CBT is mentioned, as are SSRIs and other treatments for depression. He also writes on the role of self-talk and discursive thinking in depression in the later part.
******************
A short, succinct look into the topic; I felt that the author did a fairly decent job covering the material here.
3.5 stars.
December 13, 2021
This was really informative! The book covers a lot of subjects within the realm of depression including history, testing criteria, myths, and a lot of other good stuff.
A great book for anyone who wants to gain an understanding of depression
A great book for anyone who wants to gain an understanding of depression
July 11, 2022
A clearly written, yet information dense book about depression containing many facts including its causes and treatment. I think it is especially good for medical students who study psychiatry, or for relatives of people affected by the disorder as a tool of psychoeducation.
November 20, 2022
Just trying to educate myself on how to help those around me who are suffering tremendously due to this insidious disease. Highly recommended read.
May 8, 2024
Everyone should read this. Even as someone who has lived with depression for 20+ years, there was some pretty eye opening stuff in here. It's a really easy read too.
September 3, 2022
Good review of what we know about depression. Interesting conversation on post-remission trajectories.
August 30, 2022
Good review of core concepts related to depression. Interesting conversation on trajectories after recovery.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews