Depression: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

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. Jan Scott has undertaken major research studies on both depression and manic depression. She is a Professor of Psychological Medicine at Newcastle University, and has published over 200 scientific papers and reviews, as well as textbooks, treatment manuals and book chapters for specialist and general readerships. She has also contributed to several Government publications. Together with Mary Jane Tacchi she is the author of Improving Adherence in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorders (John Wiley, 2005). ; Mary Jane Tacchi is a Consultant in General Adult Psychiatry who is also trained in cognitive therapy. She instigated the Crisis assessment and home based treatment team in Newcastle - a development which won her the national 'Hospital Doctor of the Year Award' in 2002. She has undertaken research on brief cognitive therapy for depression and adherence therapy for manic depression, and has written extensively on the problems of engagement with services and adherence with treatment. Preface; 1 A very short history of melancholia; 2 The modern era: diagnosis and classification of depression; 3 Who is at risk of depression?; 4 Models of depression; 5 The evolution of treatments; 6 Current controversies, future directions; 7 Depression in modern society; References; Further Reading; Index