Modelling and Managing the Depressive Disorders: A Clinical Guide

The DSM and ICD mental illness classificatory systems define mood disorder as essentially a single condition varying only by severity; however, there are major problems with this approach. In this book, Gordon Parker and Vijaya Manicavasagar expose the weaknesses in the existing models, and describe a new approach to sub-typing and managing depression based on there being some specific defined manifestations, including melancholia and psychotic depression, as well as versions of the condition highly dependent on life stresses and personality styles. They argue that depression can exist as a disease, a disorder, a syndrome and a normal reaction, and it therefore requires a multi-modal approach to conceptualization and management. Highly illustrated in full colour throughout and written in an entertaining, but informative and practical style, this book should be read by all those responsible for managing or caring for individuals with mental illness.

• Challenges the existing thinking on depression • Describes a new framework for understanding and treating this range of related disorders • Written in an entertaining and practical style supplemented with colourful and clear illustrative content

Acknowledgements; Introduction; Part I. The Current Model for Depressive Disorders and its Impact on Clinical Management: 1. A declaration of independence; 2. Defining and diagnosing depression; 3. Depression sub-typing: independence and interdependence; Part II. The Diagnosis and Management of Psychotic and Melancholic Depression: 4. Management of melancholic depression; 5. Management of psychotic depression; 6. Bipolar melancholic/psychotic depression; 7. Our model of non-melancholic depression; 8. Self-esteem; 9. Personality style and functioning; 10. Identifying the constructs to non-melancholic depression - stress; 11. Resilience and vulnerability; 12. Psychological interventions for non-melancholic depression; Part III. Modelling and Managing the Non-Melancholic Depressive Disorders: 13. Acute stress-related non-melancholic depression; 14. Acute stress-related non-melancholic depression: \'key and lock\' mode; 15. Chronic stress-related non-melancholic depression; 16. The perfectionist personality style and non-melancholic depression; 17. Irritability and non-melancholic depression; 18. Anxious worrying and non-melancholic depression; 19. Social avoidance and non-melancholic depression; 20. Personal reserve and non-melancholic depression; 21. Rejection sensitivity and non-melancholic depression; 22. Self-focussed personality style and non-melancholic depression; 23. Self-criticism and non-melancholic depression; 24. Natural and alternative treatments for non-melancholic depression; Appendix 1. The DMI-18 and the DMI-10; Appendix 2. The core system of measuring psychomotor disturbance; Appendix 3. The temperament and personality (T&P) measure.

‘What I found particularly refreshing about this book was the brio with which it was written … the attitude and approach displayed by the authors of this volume are surely a hopeful prognostic sign for future research in depression.’ Allan Y. Young, The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists

\'… these chapters … discuss the ideal attributes of a therapist and provide easily understandable case vignettes illustrating the personality disorders, [therefore] they are especially appropriate for students of psychiatry and psychology; some patients might find them a useful resource. They provide an easy-to-understand outline that would be helpful to a wide audience.\' The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease

\'It\'s all good stuff and get\'s you thinking, especially about \' what is the illness I see before me, what is it\'s likely natural history, why and how is the best way to treat it.\' Australia and New Zealand Association of Psychiatrists in Training