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Very Short Introductions #504
Depression: A Very Short Introduction
What is depression? What is bipolar disorder? How are they diagnosed and how are they treated? This Very Short Introduction gives a history of these two disorders and considers how they are experienced and understood today. Scott and Tacchi also discuss how mood disorders can influence creativity.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
30 people are currently reading
540 people want to read
About the author
Mary Jane Tacchi
3 booksMary Jane Tacchi is a consultant psychiatrist who works in an NHS Mental Health Trust. She instigated the Crisis Assessment and Home Based Treatment team in Newcastle - a development that won her the national 'Hospital Doctor of the Year Award' in 2002.
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September 10, 2020First off, I am not going to rate this book. Solely because of the fact that its not meant to be read for pleasure. It reads like a medical journal.
The authors are a psychiatrist and a professor of psychological medicine, and together they have compiled a short and brief history, present and possible future of the mental illness, depression.
Like I mentioned before, it reads like a medical journal, enunciating in detail(within the limits of the book) of how mood disorders and depression were taken in the past, the possibilities thought throughout the centuries of the cause of the same, the subsequent treatment options, and where we stand now.
They highlight the limitations, due to less research and the fact that what we actually know is supported by hypothesis, rather than actual research datas, which are lacking due to lack of funding.
If you want to delve into the medical, statistical and historical aspect of depression, this is the book for you. They have tried to simplify the medical jargon as much as they can, but I am not sure how that would work for a non-medico. For me, it felt like I was reading one of my textbooks, so most of it made sense.
The authors are a psychiatrist and a professor of psychological medicine, and together they have compiled a short and brief history, present and possible future of the mental illness, depression.
Like I mentioned before, it reads like a medical journal, enunciating in detail(within the limits of the book) of how mood disorders and depression were taken in the past, the possibilities thought throughout the centuries of the cause of the same, the subsequent treatment options, and where we stand now.
They highlight the limitations, due to less research and the fact that what we actually know is supported by hypothesis, rather than actual research datas, which are lacking due to lack of funding.
If you want to delve into the medical, statistical and historical aspect of depression, this is the book for you. They have tried to simplify the medical jargon as much as they can, but I am not sure how that would work for a non-medico. For me, it felt like I was reading one of my textbooks, so most of it made sense.
September 10, 2019
I know, I know. Half a year is a long time to take to read a book this tiny. In my defense, it was pretty dense, and I kept googling some of the later sections (the ones dealing with current treatments and theories, especially BDNF which I really need to know more of) for more information. I would like to understand depression better before I find myself doing single combat with it again, please and thank you.
A reasonably significant part of the book is dedicated to the history of melancholia- some of it provided context for later theories and treatments; others facts were interesting but mostly irrelevant. I'm usually prepared to take things at face value, but there was one fact in there concerning Box 8 which I'm inclined to believe is a typo (if I'm being optimistic) or a general overstatement which in turn makes me suspect many of the other assertions in the book (if I'm being pessimistic). I'm sorry- there's absolutely no way that persons aged 19-45 in the developed world comprises of 75% of the world's population. I fully understand the need to treat depression with more seriousness than it currently is (this particular statistic had depression as the major cause of disability-affected Life Years- ANOTHER fascinating things I didn't know about till I read this book), but this just made me question everything and now I need to go look for even more alternative resources.
Nevertheless, it did introduce some interesting concepts I fully intend to follow up in more detail.
A reasonably significant part of the book is dedicated to the history of melancholia- some of it provided context for later theories and treatments; others facts were interesting but mostly irrelevant. I'm usually prepared to take things at face value, but there was one fact in there concerning Box 8 which I'm inclined to believe is a typo (if I'm being optimistic) or a general overstatement which in turn makes me suspect many of the other assertions in the book (if I'm being pessimistic). I'm sorry- there's absolutely no way that persons aged 19-45 in the developed world comprises of 75% of the world's population. I fully understand the need to treat depression with more seriousness than it currently is (this particular statistic had depression as the major cause of disability-affected Life Years- ANOTHER fascinating things I didn't know about till I read this book), but this just made me question everything and now I need to go look for even more alternative resources.
Nevertheless, it did introduce some interesting concepts I fully intend to follow up in more detail.
February 26, 2024
這是我第一本關於「憂鬱」的書。 本書主要在探討「憂鬱」這個現象的概論，以及從古至今的歷史和演變，所以裡面沒有關於如何處理或緩解憂鬱症的相關治療，如同它的書名-非常短講，就是簡短的介紹憂鬱的概念，以概論來說，算是解說的很完美了。
還有要稱讚一下這系列的面，這本封面的設計有人說看了會感到憂鬱😂 很符合本書的主題👍🏻
在最最最一開始，憂鬱症ㄧ詞還沒被普遍使用之前，人們是以「鬱病」（melancholia）來稱呼它。它的特徵比現代的憂鬱症還要更加極端，出了身體上的症狀，還會加上幻覺及妄想。 所以在當時，鬱病被用來指那些嚴重憂鬱到需要進療養院治療的患者。
到了20世紀，大眾對精神病的看法有了轉變，領悟到精神病有程度上的分別後，也出現了私人門診，提供人們一對一的治療。 這時要提到現代精神醫學之父-佛洛依德，他是如何診斷憂鬱症及他對此的觀點，對現代憂鬱症的治療有著深刻的影響。
他的理論是，人在過去未解決的問題，會在未來的人生裡產生出特定的神經症狀。 他對憂鬱的概念，可以從他對於心智如何被組織起來、人格的發展還有精神疾病的成因來探討。 在人格的發展中，他認為本我、自我和超我必須處在平衡狀態，任何一端不平衡都會發展出憂鬱或焦慮等精神症狀。還有童年的任一時期得不到該有的滿足，也都可以用來解釋後來產生的疾病。 雖然他的許多觀念在現代已被推翻，但卻影響了後來對於憂鬱症的定義，以及精神疾病的診斷與分類。
再來是現代憂鬱症的治療，從一開始的鎮靜劑到現代的抗憂鬱劑，再到後來跟患者談話的心理治療。 這在過去被稱為精神分析，現在對於精神分析的評價相當兩極化，但能不透過藥療治癒患者，卻是重要的創新。
/
本書重點：憂鬱症的成因很複雜，不會因為單一原因就產生憂鬱症狀（ex:分手、創業失敗⋯），是由多重因素造成的結果。 也沒有哪一個年齡、性別或是社會群體是對憂鬱症免疫的，它仍是一種很常見的人類經驗。 很多人會說，為什麼在過去的年代都沒聽說有人得憂鬱症，是現代人過太爽，所以心靈變得脆弱。 其實前面說過，憂鬱症的成因是許多因素交織在一起產生的，並非簡單的過得開心不開心、有沒有錢就能決定一個人會不會得憂鬱症。 憂鬱症在現在社會還是存在著偏見，是一種「隱藏的失能」，導致患者或是覺得自己可能有困難的人，想尋求協助仍遲遲不敢行動，要對抗污名化，在於大眾對精神病症要有健全的知識及認知，否則我們永遠無法用平常的眼光來看待它。
還有要稱讚一下這系列的面，這本封面的設計有人說看了會感到憂鬱😂 很符合本書的主題👍🏻
在最最最一開始，憂鬱症ㄧ詞還沒被普遍使用之前，人們是以「鬱病」（melancholia）來稱呼它。它的特徵比現代的憂鬱症還要更加極端，出了身體上的症狀，還會加上幻覺及妄想。 所以在當時，鬱病被用來指那些嚴重憂鬱到需要進療養院治療的患者。
到了20世紀，大眾對精神病的看法有了轉變，領悟到精神病有程度上的分別後，也出現了私人門診，提供人們一對一的治療。 這時要提到現代精神醫學之父-佛洛依德，他是如何診斷憂鬱症及他對此的觀點，對現代憂鬱症的治療有著深刻的影響。
他的理論是，人在過去未解決的問題，會在未來的人生裡產生出特定的神經症狀。 他對憂鬱的概念，可以從他對於心智如何被組織起來、人格的發展還有精神疾病的成因來探討。 在人格的發展中，他認為本我、自我和超我必須處在平衡狀態，任何一端不平衡都會發展出憂鬱或焦慮等精神症狀。還有童年的任一時期得不到該有的滿足，也都可以用來解釋後來產生的疾病。 雖然他的許多觀念在現代已被推翻，但卻影響了後來對於憂鬱症的定義，以及精神疾病的診斷與分類。
再來是現代憂鬱症的治療，從一開始的鎮靜劑到現代的抗憂鬱劑，再到後來跟患者談話的心理治療。 這在過去被稱為精神分析，現在對於精神分析的評價相當兩極化，但能不透過藥療治癒患者，卻是重要的創新。
/
本書重點：憂鬱症的成因很複雜，不會因為單一原因就產生憂鬱症狀（ex:分手、創業失敗⋯），是由多重因素造成的結果。 也沒有哪一個年齡、性別或是社會群體是對憂鬱症免疫的，它仍是一種很常見的人類經驗。 很多人會說，為什麼在過去的年代都沒聽說有人得憂鬱症，是現代人過太爽，所以心靈變得脆弱。 其實前面說過，憂鬱症的成因是許多因素交織在一起產生的，並非簡單的過得開心不開心、有沒有錢就能決定一個人會不會得憂鬱症。 憂鬱症在現在社會還是存在著偏見，是一種「隱藏的失能」，導致患者或是覺得自己可能有困難的人，想尋求協助仍遲遲不敢行動，要對抗污名化，在於大眾對精神病症要有健全的知識及認知，否則我們永遠無法用平常的眼光來看待它。
November 12, 2020
A guy thought you could cure depression by spinning a person to cure their 'morbid excitement', so invented what is essentially an office chair. Three stars.
February 11, 2020
As someone who has been diagnosed, and long struggled with, clinical depression, I was curious to read this Very Short Introduction to the topic, not because I was expecting a lot of illumination about what depression is and how best it can be treated, but because what I've read up to this point has been inconclusive and contradictory, and I was hoping to get an objective birds-eye view of the current thinking on the causes and treatment of depression. As I anticipated, there still is no consensus on what depression is, much less on how it can be cured. I do know from personal experience that antidepressant medications don't always work, or don't work with 100% effectiveness, and in fact I found Johann Hari's book Lost Connections made a lot of sense and resonated with my personal efforts to combat depression. (Also, I accidentally discovered that cutting out carbohydrates from my diet has had the greatest overall effect on eliminating my seemingly baseless bouts of deep depression, but the book doesn't really cover dietary causes/ treatments for depression, unfortunately). So I appreciated Tacchi and Scott's frankness and objectivity. This Very Short Introduction doesn't offer any profound insights into the topic, but it does give a good overall survey of the topic, and is a good place to start.
August 27, 2023
Depression : A Very Short Introduction (2009) by Mary Jane Tacchi and Jan Scott provides a history of how depression has been recognised, how the pathology is theorised to work and various modern treatments. Tacchi is a Psychiatrist and Scott a Professor of Psychological Medicine.
The book first provides a history of ‘melancholia’ and how depression has been written about since the ancient world. The book then moves to the modern era post 1800 and how depression was then described. The prevalence of depression in different groups is next analysed. The models of how depression impacts the brain is also described. The newer drug and counselling therapies like CBT are then outlined. Nicely the different ways people view depression and how there still dispute over whether depression is underdiagnosed or overdiagnosed. It’s very interesting to see that by some measures depression has a huge economic impact. The authors also look at whether depression is higher in creative pursuits.
The book is very well done. The subject is a good size for a Very Short Introduction book and the authors do a really good job of examining depression.
The book first provides a history of ‘melancholia’ and how depression has been written about since the ancient world. The book then moves to the modern era post 1800 and how depression was then described. The prevalence of depression in different groups is next analysed. The models of how depression impacts the brain is also described. The newer drug and counselling therapies like CBT are then outlined. Nicely the different ways people view depression and how there still dispute over whether depression is underdiagnosed or overdiagnosed. It’s very interesting to see that by some measures depression has a huge economic impact. The authors also look at whether depression is higher in creative pursuits.
The book is very well done. The subject is a good size for a Very Short Introduction book and the authors do a really good job of examining depression.
April 4, 2019
Not a self-help book, and in fact, will probably make you more depressed because:
1. No one really knows what the causes of depression are, but there seem to be a lot of them.
2. No treatment really works... some work better than others on some people, but it's basically a crap shoot, modern science isn't any better than witchcraft
3. Depression is a world wide public health problem costing society billions and generally making us all miserable.
4. Links to creativity are exaggerated.
For me personally, the most important take away was that exercise can help lower the levels of cortisol, so working out might not "cure" depression but it could help counter the worst physical effects.
1. No one really knows what the causes of depression are, but there seem to be a lot of them.
2. No treatment really works... some work better than others on some people, but it's basically a crap shoot, modern science isn't any better than witchcraft
3. Depression is a world wide public health problem costing society billions and generally making us all miserable.
4. Links to creativity are exaggerated.
For me personally, the most important take away was that exercise can help lower the levels of cortisol, so working out might not "cure" depression but it could help counter the worst physical effects.
May 5, 2017
Chapter 1: A very short history of melancholia
Chapter 2: The modern era: Diagnosis and classification of depression
Chapter 3: Who is at risk of depression?
Chapter 4: Models of depression
Chapter 5: The evolution of treatments
Chapter 6: Current controversies, future directions
Chapter 7: Depression in modern society
Chapter 2: The modern era: Diagnosis and classification of depression
Chapter 3: Who is at risk of depression?
Chapter 4: Models of depression
Chapter 5: The evolution of treatments
Chapter 6: Current controversies, future directions
Chapter 7: Depression in modern society
July 25, 2021
读的中译本，相当于一本研究综述。记录一些值得记下的点：抑郁症其实是一种终生疾病，要用长远的眼光看待；尽管新型抗抑郁药物较早期在副作用方面有了很大改善，但完整接受整个疗程的患者百分比在近50年间没有什么变动；心理治疗强调患者与咨询师是改变过程中的合作者，比精神分析采取的关系更平等；未经治疗的群体和接受治疗的群体，都存在显著的性别差异，一些报告显示女性抑郁症患病率是男性的两倍；心理资本作为一种影响国家经济竞争力的因素，其中包括工作效率、情商等；目前的研究仍难解释清楚创造力和情绪障碍之间的相关性，对于患有情绪障碍且具有创造力的个体而言，某些症状的确会把他们的创造力推高到一个新的水平，但我们要厘清情绪障碍的程度以及何为创造力。
June 9, 2018
What is depression? What is bipolar disorder? How are they diagnosed and how are they treated? This Very Short Introduction gives a history of these two disorders and considers how they are experienced and understood today. Scott and Tacchi also discuss how mood disorders can influence creativity
July 10, 2022
Informative and interesting. Reads like a medical journal which was great because I definitely don’t want the drama of it all. Should be a very (very) short introduction, really just skims the surface.
May 28, 2018
Useful, concise. Full of practical information and a good analysis of therapies and treatments.
March 3, 2019
Another stellar installment in the series.
June 18, 2019
Read in a day. Insightful.
June 26, 2021
确实是简短的介绍，简短到只是扫盲读本，有医学基础知识的可以不用读了
November 24, 2021
4.5
Krótko i merytorycznie.
Krótko i merytorycznie.
November 30, 2021
2021#45
January 11, 2022
The More You Know 🌈🌟
Read
November 13, 2024“广泛的心理现象”面面观
May 4, 2021
What do I think about this work?
Oxford's Short Introduction series are treasure!
This is a semi introduction to an academic field.
High Praises for all of them.
I wish, this was introduced to Middle School and High School students to Tamil People.
Oh, and Tamil Nadu is in India.
Why?
Most Tamil Students have no idea about career, which ties into working world.
They say,
"Anna, I don't understand anything?",
"Anna, I hate school.",
"Anna, Marks, Marks."
"Anna, What should I study?"
"Anna, If I don't get marks, my life is over"
[Anna=Brother in Tamil]
Introducing them, to Short oxford series might help them, develop their own interests in life.
Most of them make career choices, based on their family, relatives or, what's honorable?
Okay, What else?
In Tamil Nadu, depending on socio-economic status, people’s health views or opinions are shaped.
Eg: Talk to an Older Tamil Religious Person on this topic.
He'd say, praying would cure everything.
Some might inject, supernatural explanation, "demons, generation curse."
This is one dimensional explanation, there are multiple dimensions to be looked.
While, there are benefits of prayer, community support.
There are other dimensions of life.
What are my favorite parts from this work? ?
Chapter 4, 5, 6 is the meat of this work.
Okay, what's inside of meat of these chapters?
Models of Depression: Biological, Psychological, Sociological, Family, Genetic, Environment
Evolution of Treatments: Physical, Psychotherapists
Current Controversies and Future Direction
Quote from the book,
‘The good clinician treats the disease; the great clinician treats the person.’
Men
For example, men may be more likely to become withdrawn.
Rather than to seek support from or confide in other people.
They may become more outwardly hostile.
They have a greater tendency to use alcohol to try to cope with their symptoms.
Women
Birth of a baby is often a reason for celebration and a post-natal depression.
The Author says,
"Perhaps the most noticeable change in recent years is the shift away from the ‘doctor knows best’ approach towards a recognition that individuals have the right to express their treatment preferences and be involved in a process of shared decision-making."
More, from the Author,
According to Goodwin and Jamison’s textbook on Manic- Depressive Illness, the most common overlapping factors found in creativity and mood disorders are temperament (or personality style), thinking style (cognitive factors), and cyclical changes in mood.
I would recommend this for everyone, as public knowledge.
Along with this work, I would recommend,
History of Madness, Roy Porter
Roy's work gives a brief social history.
Based on Roy's work, based on history. Religious tradition handled this part of society well. Reasons were, they offered, love, empathy due to their allegiance to higher-power.
Deus Vult,
Gottfried
Oxford's Short Introduction series are treasure!
This is a semi introduction to an academic field.
High Praises for all of them.
I wish, this was introduced to Middle School and High School students to Tamil People.
Oh, and Tamil Nadu is in India.
Why?
Most Tamil Students have no idea about career, which ties into working world.
They say,
"Anna, I don't understand anything?",
"Anna, I hate school.",
"Anna, Marks, Marks."
"Anna, What should I study?"
"Anna, If I don't get marks, my life is over"
[Anna=Brother in Tamil]
Introducing them, to Short oxford series might help them, develop their own interests in life.
Most of them make career choices, based on their family, relatives or, what's honorable?
Okay, What else?
In Tamil Nadu, depending on socio-economic status, people’s health views or opinions are shaped.
Eg: Talk to an Older Tamil Religious Person on this topic.
He'd say, praying would cure everything.
Some might inject, supernatural explanation, "demons, generation curse."
This is one dimensional explanation, there are multiple dimensions to be looked.
While, there are benefits of prayer, community support.
There are other dimensions of life.
What are my favorite parts from this work? ?
Chapter 4, 5, 6 is the meat of this work.
Okay, what's inside of meat of these chapters?
Models of Depression: Biological, Psychological, Sociological, Family, Genetic, Environment
Evolution of Treatments: Physical, Psychotherapists
Current Controversies and Future Direction
Quote from the book,
‘The good clinician treats the disease; the great clinician treats the person.’
Men
For example, men may be more likely to become withdrawn.
Rather than to seek support from or confide in other people.
They may become more outwardly hostile.
They have a greater tendency to use alcohol to try to cope with their symptoms.
Women
Birth of a baby is often a reason for celebration and a post-natal depression.
The Author says,
"Perhaps the most noticeable change in recent years is the shift away from the ‘doctor knows best’ approach towards a recognition that individuals have the right to express their treatment preferences and be involved in a process of shared decision-making."
More, from the Author,
According to Goodwin and Jamison’s textbook on Manic- Depressive Illness, the most common overlapping factors found in creativity and mood disorders are temperament (or personality style), thinking style (cognitive factors), and cyclical changes in mood.
I would recommend this for everyone, as public knowledge.
Along with this work, I would recommend,
History of Madness, Roy Porter
Roy's work gives a brief social history.
Based on Roy's work, based on history. Religious tradition handled this part of society well. Reasons were, they offered, love, empathy due to their allegiance to higher-power.
Deus Vult,
Gottfried
Read
August 24, 2018616.8527 T115 2017
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews