Beating Depression: The Complete Guide to Depression and How to Overcome It (Class Health)

261 Pages·2006·1.71 MB·English

by  Stefan Cembroxicz, Dorcas Kingham

AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
BEATING
DEPRESSION
‘A sympathetic and understanding guide’
Marjorie Wallace, Chief Executive, SANE
Dr Stefan Cembrowicz
and Dr Dorcas Kingham
Comments on Beating Depression – the ‘at your
fingertips’ guide from readers
This is a very good, comprehensive book, that is easy to use and
follow. The question and answer format works well, covering many
of the most commonly asked questions and worries. This is a book
that, when read from cover to cover, can provide a comprehensive
overview of depression but can also be kept to hand and dipped
into whenever the need arises.
Amelia Mustapha, Depression Alliance
The format of the 'frequently asked questions' is really helpful and I
wholeheartedly agree with the content of the answers and the
easily readable style. As well as being an excellent resource for the
consumer, this text will be an excellent resource for the primary
care professional who will be asked these questions on a daily
basis.
Professor André Tylee, Professor of Primary Care Mental Health,
Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London
All you need to know about depression, presented in a clear,
concise and readable way.
Ann Dawson, Director, World Health Organisation Office
for Quality, Noncommunicable Disease and Conditions
I found the book very informative, well documented, and of great
help. All the topics are well covered – the symptoms particularly I
could really identify with. I felt all the better for perusing Beating
Depression. J.C., Saffron Walden
I found the self-help advice particularly useful, and I’m keeping a
list of my favourite techniques on my bedside table. I thought there
was good advice for everybody – teenagers to grannies – in this
book. And I liked that poem. R.D., Bath
A really useful guide for anyone who wants to know more about
depression and how to manage it. Something for people of all ages,
young and old.
P.H., Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist (Mental Health)
I’ve found that depression is a complex condition, but the authors
have managed to describe it in a way I found reader-friendly. It’s
not too heavy going; they have made it short, sweet and easy to
understand. J.R., Carmarthen
BEATING
DEPRESSION
The ‘at your fingertips’ guide
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO DEPRESSION
AND HOW TO OVERCOME IT
Dr Stefan Cembrowicz MB ChB MRCGP
Senior Partner in General Practice at the Montpelier Health Centre,
Bristol; GP Trainer and Honorary University Teacher;
Member of the Avon Suicide Prevention Group
Dr Dorcas Kingham MRCS LRCP MB ChB MRCPI MRCPsych
Consultant Psychiatrist in General Adult Psychiatry,
Medical Director of the Bristol Priory Hospital
CLASS PUBLISHING • LONDON
Dedication
To our respective partners,
Mary-Jane and Jonathan
© Stefan Cembrowicz, Dorcas Kingham 2002
All rights reserved
The rights of Stefan Cembrowicz and Dorcas Kingham to be identified as the
authors of this work have been asserted by them in accordance with the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Printing history
First published 2002
The author and the publishers welcome feedback from the users of this book.
Please contact the publishers:
Class Publishing (London) Ltd,
Barb House, Barb Mews,
London W6 7PA
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone] [International +44171]
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 1 85959 063 2
Edited by Michèle Clarke
Cartoons by William Rankin
Illustrations by David Woodroffe
Indexed by Val Elliston
Typeset by Martin Bristow
Printed and bound in Finland by WS Bookwell, Juva
Contents
Acknowledgements viii
Foreword by Marjorie Wallace, Chief Executive of SANE ix
Foreword by Denise Welch x
Introduction xi
CHAPTER 1 What is depression? 1
Frequently asked questions about depression 3
Types of depression 9
Symptoms of depressive illness 13
Diagnosis of depressive illness 20
CHAPTER 2 Who gets depressive illness? 24
Depression in children 25
Adolescence and depression 25
Women 28
Men 32
Elderly 33
Bereavement 34
Post-traumatic stress disorder 35
Other medical disorders 37
Alcoholism 41
Drug abuse 43
Schizophrenia 46
v
vi Beating Depression
CHAPTER 3 Causes of depression 48
Genetics 48
Neuro- (brain) chemistry theories of depression 50
Some psychological theories of depression 60
Physical illness and depression 61
Other medication and depression 68
CHAPTER 4 Self-help 70
At home 71
At work 75
With other people 77
At night 77
Self-help tactics for early signs of mania 80
CHAPTER 5 Treatment of depression 83
Choosing your doctor 84
Choosing your treatment 87
Antidepressant treatment for depression 89
Other forms of therapy 109
CHAPTER 6 Alternative (complementary) medicine 124
Herbal remedies 126
Light therapy for SAD 130
Diet 132
Alternative modes of treatments 133
CHAPTER 7 Hospital treatment 136
Compulsory treatment of someone with depression 137
Hospital staff 140
Going into hospital 141
Leaving hospital 149
Contents vii
CHAPTER 8 Having time off and getting back to work 151
Sickleave and sicknotes 152
Benefits for sickness 154
Getting back to work 159
CHAPTER 9 Self-harm – difficult times
for you and your family 162
Dealing with someone with depression 163
Carers – looking after yourself too 166
Self-harm 167
Suicide 171
CHAPTER 10 Anxiety states 179
Generalised anxiety 181
Panic disorder 184
Phobias 187
Burnout and stress 191
Obsessional compulsive states 195
CHAPTER 11 The future 198
Glossary 202
Appendix 1 Useful addresses and websites 212
Appendix 2 Useful publications and Internet information 226
Index 230
Acknowledgements
We should like to thank the following for kindly reviewing and
commenting upon the text: Dr Ann Dawson, World Health
Organisation; Marjorie Wallace and Ceri-Jane Hackling, Sane;
Amelia Mustafa, Depression Alliance; Professor André Tylee,
Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London.
We should also like to thank Daniel and Ruth Levy for kindly
agreeing to be our cover models.
viii
Foreword
Dr Cembrowicz and Dr Kingham have produced a sympathetic
and understanding guide for those people who experience
depression. The variations of depression are explained clearly
and concisely and the authors give simple explanations about
causes and help available.
The book covers a wide range of topics from depression,
bipolar disorder and postnatal depression, to alcohol and drugs
and how they can affect depression and recovery.
The question and answer sections are invaluable since they
focus on patients and the questions families most frequently ask,
and respond to them in terms that are easily understood, non-
alarmist and compassionate.
Depression is a frightening and lonely illness and the authors
offer practical advice on common problems such as how to
manage feelings of inadequacy, frustration or despair, whether at
home or work, and techniques for living with the symptoms, such
as insomnia, agitation, panic and apathy.
Beating Depression – the ‘at your fingertips’ guide combines
medical expertise with a commonsense approach that is neither
patronising nor technical. It is an invaluable guide to people
suffering from mental illness, their families and friends.
Chief Executive of SANE
ix