Modelling and Managing the Depressive Disorders
A Clinical Guide

This book presents an alternative approach to defining and managing the mood disorders.

Gordon Parker (Author), Vijaya Manicavasagar (Author)

9780521671446, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 28 July 2005

260 pages, 2 tables
24.7 x 17.6 x 2 cm, 0.537 kg

'… this is a well-written book and the regular use of summary boxes and case vignettes makes it highly readable. The research expertise and clinical experience of the authors come across strongly and will make the book particularly attractive to clinicians. The provocative nature of the first section will cause many to challenge their view of depression. This book is highly recommended.' Journal of Psychosomatic Research

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.

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.

Subject Areas: Clinical psychology [MMJ], Psychiatry [MMH]