Ask the Doctor: Depression
Vincent Friedewald
Andrews McMeel Publishing, Kansas City. 1998. 114 pp. Illust.
ISBN 0-8362-2711-5
Overall rating: Very good
Strengths: Complete, well written, organized, comfortable style
Weaknesses: Requires high school education level to read
Audience: Patients and families
This book was written to provide just enough information about the common and important condition of depression to a sophisticated lay audience. It achieves that goal in a comfortable, readable format at reasonable cost.
The information provided is much more complete and helpful than any brochures I’ve seen. Its style is friendly and logical and should encourage healthy behaviour in patients who would benefit from more information than most physicians have time to provide.
Questions at the end of each chapter review important facts, ask patients about their personal experiences and encourage discussion with their doctor. This suggests effective action; however, I would like to see research regarding the actual effects before deciding its value.
The book avoids becoming a competing authority. Throughout the text and the questions there is a respectful implication that further information can be obtained from the patient’s physician or other professional. It summarizes a conservative, middle-of-the-road, scientifically supported approach to understanding and treating depression. It is up-to-date and includes brief summaries (equal treatment) of recently introduced medications, the older agents, the psychotherapies and electroconvulsive therapy. It does not prefer one treatment type. Excess detail that might confuse or frighten a patient is avoided.
I like this little book and selectively recommend it to a sophisticated (at least high school education) audience of patients and their families. It would be most useful for patients who are already recovering from, or are currently experiencing the less severe depressions.