Synopses & Reviews
This volume presents an integrated approach to the psychotherapy of patients with depressive disorders that incorporates state-of-the-art biological knowledge. The authors synthesize elements of psychoeducational, cognitive, and behavioral therapies, psychodynamic understanding, coping skills training, family therapy, and psychopharmacology into a cohesive treatment designed to prepare nonprescribing therapists of all disciplines to help people suffering from depressive illnesses live more effectively.
Review
"This book transcends the polarities of the psychosocial and biological approaches for the management of depression and presents a rational, proven, integrated therapeutic approach to depressive disorders. Most importantly, it is filled with 'clinical pearls' and astute clinical observations on depression and its management provided by authors with decades of clinical experience in treatment and research. It is a book that will be invaluable for practitioners of every mental health discipline, especially those who do not routinely utilize antidepressant medications. For those who do, it provides a pragmatic psychotherapeutic framework to guide this approach in patient management. The book is a must read' for all clinicians who are engaged in the treatment of depressed patients. I recommend it highly and without reservations. It is a welcome modern addition to the literature on diagnosis and treatment of mood disorders." --Lewis L. Judd, Mary Gilman Marston Professor; Chair, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine
"A powerful and practical discussion of some of the most profound and important questions in psychiatry....I savored the insights in this book and have already begun to apply its lessons....I recommend it to the entire psychotherapeutic community, patients and practitioners alike." --Nada L. Stotland, M.D., Chicago, Ill.
"This text is clearly written troughout, and is liberally sprinkled with enough useful references to command respect and not so many as to render the tome overly dense ...comprehensive and readable...The book holds together so seamlessly that it would be a disservice to deconstruct it and offer samples of it out of context, although those could certaintly be generated for instructional or discussion purposes. Clearly, the synthesis is based on much practical experience and is moved along by some outstandingly smooth and logical writing. Extra subtle bonuses include the homo-positive ancedotes dealing with same-gender couples that will make gay readers feel right at home, as well as the exquisite and persistent emphasis on primary understanding, by the practitioner, of the idosyncratic meaning of the disease to the client/patient, which may serve to enlighten more dogmatic or patriarchal readers and encourage a more emphatic stance. " --Laura L. Post, MD, Gladman Day Treatment Center, Oakland, CA, Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic
Synopsis
This volume presents an integrated approach to the psychotherapy of patients with depressive disorders that incorporates state-of-the-art biological knowledge. Providing an overview of the most-studied biological theories of depressive disorders, the book also reviews the primary symptoms of depression and DSM-IV criteria for various depressive disorders. The authors then synthesize elements of psychoeducational, cognitive, and behavioral therapies, psychodynamic understanding, coping skills training, family therapy, and psychopharmacology into a cohesive treatment designed to prepare nonprescribing therapists of all disciplines to help people suffering from depressive illnesses live more effectively. The book also explores how the principles of biologically informed psychotherapy for depression are applicable to other disorders.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 205-215) and index.
About the Author
Stephen R. Shuchter received his B.A. and M.D. from the University of Chicago and trained in psychiatry at Yale University. A Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), Dr. Shuchter has been the Director of Outpatient Psychiatric Services since 1975, where he has been an active clinician, researcher, and teacher in the areas of grief, depression, and psychotherapy. Married and the father of three daughters, he is active as a professional musician and is a recent Senior Olympics gold medalist in basketball.
Sidney Zisook trained in psychiatry at Massachusetts general Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He was an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Texas at Houston, where he directed the outpatient service and ran the Psychiatric and Behavioral Science Program before moving to UCSD in 1981. Currently, Dr. Zisook is Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Residency Training in Psychiatry at UCSD. He has a long and abiding interest in training and education, and has been an active contributor to the psychiatric literature in the areas of grief and bereavement, mood disorders, and psychiatric treatments.
Nancy Downs graduated with distinction from the Human Biology Program at Stanford University, and received her M.D. from UCSD. She completed a psychiatric residency at UCSD and was awarded the Chairman's Research Prize for her paper, "The Relationship Between Affective Disorders and Personality Disorders in Psychiatric Outpatients." Dr. Downs is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor and Associate Residency Training Director for the Department of Psychiatry at UCSD. As a board certified psychiatrist, she enjoys teaching medical students and residents and working with and learning from the patients she sees at the UCSD Outpatient Clinic. Her favorite forms of coping are running, making music, and spending time with her husband, daughter, and son.
Table of Contents
1. Biological Models of Depressive Disorders: Historical Perspectives, Genetic Hypotheses, Neurotransmitter Hypotheses, Neuroreceptor Regulation Hypotheses, Neurohormonal Hypotheses, Circadian Rhythm Hypotheses, Kindling and Behavioral Sensitization, Anatomic Substrates, Psychopharmacological Treatment.
2. Changing Models of Psychopathology: Psychodynamic Models, Biological Models
3. The Symptoms of Depression: DSM-IV Criteria, Mood Symptoms, Vegetative Symptoms, Cognitive Symptoms, Suicidal Thoughts.
4. The Language of Depression: Effects of Depression on Interpersonal Relationships, Effects of Depression on Productive Capacities: Burnout, Impact of Depression on Identity and Self-esteem, Developmental Consequences of Depression, Depression in "More" and "Less" Healthy Personalities.
5. How to Conduct Biologically Informed Psychotherapy for Depression: General Considerations and Strategies and Strategies; Education; Psychodynamic Understanding in Depression; Coping Skills Exploration, Training, and Support; Work with Significant Others; Psychotherapy of Psychopharmacological Treatment; Managing the Suicidal Patient.
6. Treatment Planning, Design, and Conduct: Assessment, Structure of Treatment Sessions, Length and Frequency of Treatment Sessions, Conduct of the Psychotherapist, Transference and Countertransference Issues.
7. Comparison with Other Psychotherapies for Depression: Theoretical Constructs of Pathology and Etiology of Depression, Goals and Implementation of Psychotherapy, Techniques and Practices of Psychotherapy, the Psychotherapeutic Relationship, Limitations and Potentially Harmful Effects of Therapies for Depression.
8. Case Examples: Mary, Jim, Linda, Bill, Janet, Phillip.
9. Applications to Other Clinical Disorders: Anxiety Disorders, Mania/Hypomania, Schizophrenic Disorders, Comparison to CBT and IPT and Supportive Therapy.
Index.