Beating the Blues: New Approaches to Overcoming Dysthymia and Chronic Mild Depression

by Michael E. Thase, Susan S. Lang

Overview

Mild depressions are so insidious that sufferers often don't seek help. They think, "that's just the way I am. There's really not much I can do about it." As Dr. Michael Thase and science writer Susan S. Lang reveal, they can do something about it. Persistent mild depression, which afflicts up to 35 million Americans, can be readily and permanently cured.
In Beating the Blues, Thase and Lang show how chronic mild depression can be relieved by learning strategies that help sufferers to recognize and change negative and distorted thinking patterns that lead to a downward spiral of pessimism. They reveal that a combination of medication and therapy has been shown to be the most effective treatment for mild depression, with an impressive 85% of patients experiencing full relief. Thase and Lang also discuss when a person should seek help from a therapist and what kinds of therapy seem the most effective. They outline the safer new antidepressants that are helpful for both mild and severe depressions, detailing each drug's strength and weakness; and examine alternative therapies, including stress management, physical exercise, acupuncture, supplements, and other mind/body therapies. Finally, they provide in-depth discussions of mild depression in children, adolescents, college students, and elderly parents, as well as those with chronic stress.
Beating the Blues is an inspiring and empowering book, offering everything a person needs to know in order to overcome mild depression.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195304534
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	03/23/2006
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)

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.

Table of Contents

	Preface	ix
	Acknowledgments	xi
Part 1	Understanding Dysthymia and Its Milder Forms
1.	What Is Dysthymia?	3
2.	The Spectrum of Dysthymia and Depression	14
3.	How Dysthymia Is Diagnosed	30
4.	Who Gets Dysthymia and Why: Causes and Risk Factors	41
Part 2	How to Feel Better
5.	The Psychology of Feeling Good	57
6.	Psychotherapy	87
7.	Medications	98
8.	Exercise and Nutrition	112
9.	Herbal and Other Types of Supplements	118
10.	Supplemental Strategies	128
Part 3	Special Concerns of Various Populations
11.	Dysthymia in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults	141
12.	Gender and Dysthymia	147
13.	Dysthymia and Aging	154
	Conclusion: Putting It All Together	161
Appendix 1.	Daily Symptom Log	165
Appendix 2.	Most Commonly Used Antidepressants for Dysthymia	166
Appendix 3.	Resources (Organizations, Web Sites, Discussion Groups, etc.)	168
	References	175
	Index	185

Editorial Reviews

"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 practical application 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

From the Publisher