Product Description

This is a clear, practical resource for the millions of people plagued by persistent mild depression. One of the most underrecognized and undertreated mood disorders, dysthymia can be treated through self-help measures, psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of all three. This book is designed to offer general information on dysthymia and outline specific measures individuals can take in order to reclaim a positive outlook on life. Practical advice and thorough research will make this the ultimate guide for those who might otherwise have resigned themselves to a lifetime of apathy, lethargy, and pessimism.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #630764 in Books
• Published on: 2004-01-22
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 208 pages

Review
"Easy to read about, tough to put into practice, Thase's strategies for feeling better are worth the time and effort."--Chicago Tribune
"Stop weeping into your Cheerios and do something to help yourself. If you've been chalking up your fatigue, irritation, pessimism and anti-social behavior to a mood swing, surprise - that mood swing you've had for 15 years may actually be dysthymia. More subtle than severe depression, Dysthymia is a mild version of the disorder that lasts for more than two years. The easy-to-read 'Blues' describes therapies, medications and alternative approaches that can help you feel better."--New York Daily News
"If you need help lifting the veil of gloom and apathy, this is the best concise guide to treating chronic depression I have seen."--James H. Kocsis, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, Cornell Medical Center
"Michael Thase is unique in that he has internationally renowned expertise both in medication treatment and in psychotherapy for depression. He writes clearly and colorfully. This book on chronic depression, a troubling affliction that is too often ignored, is a masterpiece. I couldn't put it down."--Robert M.A. Hirschfeld, M.D., Titus H. Harris Chair, Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
"This book is a step forward. Dr. Thase is an expert in depression, with a wealth of clinical experience, scholarly knowledge, and a scientist's incisive judgment. His research encompasses both biological and psychotherapeutic treatments. The reader of Beating the Blues can trust what he or she learns. This book helps bridge the gap between knowledge and its practicalapplication to heal."--Alan J. Gelenberg, M.D., Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine, and Founding Editor of Biological Therapies in Psychiatry Newsletter and Editor-in-Chief, The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry

James H. Kocsis, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, Cornell Medical Center
...this is the best concise guide to treating chronic depression I have seen.

About the Author
Michael E. Thase M.D. is Professor of Psychiatry and Medical Director of the Mood Disorders Module at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He is also Chief of the Division of Adult Academic Psychiatry and Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, in Pittsburgh.
Susan S. Lang is an award-winning Senior Science Writer at Cornell University and author of 11 other books and hundreds of magazine articles on health and psychology.

Customer Reviews

Makes you realise you are normal
This is not a self help book written by some self appointed guru. It takes medical research and presents it in a way that we can all digest. It gives a through overview of depression and the various treatments - from drugs to therapy to herbal and many more.

If you are seeking treatment for depression but are afraid then I can recommend this book - you will finish it more informed and less frightened.

What you need to know if you have chronic depression
If you suffer from a chronic form of depression the chances are that you don't even realise you are ill. Most sufferers of dysthymia believe that their symptoms are normal, or incurable, "it's just the way we are". Not so! Chronic depression can be treated, managed, maybe even cured. According to this book anyway. What is really important is that you understand the nature of your problem and are well informed about the range of possible treatments.

If you suffer from chronic depression then most "You Can Be Happy!" type of self-help books don't give you the information you need to recover and to deal with potential relapses. Most self-help books on depression assume that you know what it feels like to be happy - which, if you have been depressed for a very long time, you probably don't.

If you are looking for a book which tells you how you can fix yourself without having to ask for help from anyone else then this is not for you. If you suspect you have a form of chronic depression and want to be able to make informed decisions about your treament then it will empower you to search for the most appropriate treatment for your depression. It will help you to work out if you are depressed, and if so, what type of depression you have. It gives useful information about medications and psychotherapies, alternative remedies and self-help strategies, advice on diet and exercise. It treats all these as part of a whole solution which for most people will be a pick-and-mix of several different strategies. It is written, as far as I can judge, to be read by both patients and students. It is accessible to the layperson (no really hard Latin words) yet it contains enough information on research and references to articles in medical journals to interest a student or a practitioner.

After reading this book you should be able to decide for yourself the kind of treatment you need, and have a much more equal discussion with your doctor on the way your case should be treated and the results you can expect.