Books & Reports
Information
What Works (and What Doesn't)
AF Jorm, H Christensen, KM Griffiths A Korten, B Rodgers, Centre for Mental Health Research: Canberra, 2001.
An evidence-based review of a range of medical, psychological and alternative 'treatments' for depression.
Most of the material in this book appears in the BluePages site. If you would like a hard copy of the information, the book can be ordered from PANDANAS books, ANU.
(Ph. 02 6125 3269; Fax: 02 6125 9975; website: http://rspas.anu.edu.au/bookshop/.
National Action Plan for depression
Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care. Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care: Canberra. 2000.
http://www.health.gov.au/hsdd/mentalhe/resources/reports/depression.htm
This report provides a framework and strategies for addressing the problem of depression in Australia.
Self Help
Feeling Good. The New Mood Therapy.
David D Burns (Morrow, 1999). A well known, and effective self help book for depression based on the principles of cognitive behaviour therapy.
Beating the Blues.
S Tanner & J. Ball (Doubleday: Sydney, 1989). A popular book written by two Sydney psychologists. Clearly set out and easy to understand, the book is based on the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy.
Control your depression.
PM Lewinsohn, RF Munoz, R.F., MA Youngren, & AM Zeiss. (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1986; 2nd edition)
Personal experience
Darkness Visible
W. Styron. (Vintage: NY, 1992). Author William Styron's beautifully written and moving account of his experience of depression. One reader of the book wrote "What I felt Styron put into words"[1]. Chosen by the US Board of the Modern Library as one of the 100 best non-fiction books of the 20th Century.
Malignant Sadness: The Anatomy of Depression
L. Wolpert. (Faber & Faber: London, 1999). Professor Wolpert is a Professor of biology. In this book he describes his personal experience with depression and summarises what is known about the condition.
References
[1] A reader from Sherman Oaks, CA. An amazing heartfelt insight into the truth about depression. Spotlight reviews. February 14, 1999.