Beating Depression: The 'at Your Fingertips' Guide

Contents......Page 6
Foreword......Page 10
Introduction......Page 12
1 What is depression?......Page 14
Diagnosis of depressive illness......Page 33
Symptoms of depressive illness......Page 26
Types of depression......Page 22
Frequently asked questions about depression......Page 16
2 Who gets depressive illness?......Page 37
Adolescence and depression......Page 38
Women......Page 41
Men......Page 45
Elderly......Page 46
Bereavement......Page 47
Post-traumatic stress disorder......Page 48
Other medical disorders......Page 50
Alcoholism......Page 54
Drug abuse......Page 56
Schizophrenia......Page 59
3 Causes of depression......Page 61
Neuro- (brain) chemistry theories of depression......Page 63
Some psychological theories of depression......Page 73
Physical illness and depression......Page 74
Other medication and depression......Page 81
4 Self-help......Page 83
At home......Page 84
At work......Page 88
At night......Page 90
Self-help tactics for early signs of mania......Page 93
5 Treatment of depression......Page 96
Choosing your doctor......Page 97
Choosing your treatment......Page 100
Antidepressant treatment for depression......Page 102
Other forms of therapy......Page 122
6 Alternative (complementary) medicine......Page 137
Herbal remedies......Page 139
Light therapy for SAD......Page 143
Diet......Page 145
Alternative modes of treatments......Page 146
7 Hospital treatment......Page 149
Compulsory treatment of someone with depression......Page 150
Hospital staff......Page 153
Going into hospital......Page 154
Leaving hospital......Page 162
8 Having time off and getting back to work......Page 164
Sickleave and sicknotes......Page 165
Benefits for sickness......Page 167
Getting back to work......Page 172
9 Self-harm – difficult times for you and your family......Page 175
Dealing with someone with depression......Page 176
Carers – looking after yourself too......Page 179
Self-harm......Page 180
Suicide......Page 184
10 Anxiety states......Page 192
Generalised anxiety......Page 194
Panic disorder......Page 197
Phobias......Page 200
Burnout and stress......Page 204
Obsessional compulsive states......Page 208
11 The future......Page 211
Glossary......Page 215
Appendix 1 Useful addresses and websites......Page 225
Appendix 2 Useful publications and Internet information......Page 239
Index......Page 243