Product Description
Depression hurts. Sometimes it overwhelms. But what do we really know about it? Is the current opinion about its nature and treatment true? Whether you or someone you know suffers from depression, you have choices that will enhance recovery. Rather than relying on the drugs-alone approach, which is expensive, often toxic, and doesn't work well, there may be other more effective and less bothersome recovery aids. In this bold new book, renowned physician, psych... More >>
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This is a sad commentary on such a serious subject.
Rating: 1 / 5
ALICE MILLER, PHD., WROTE DRAMA OF THE GIFTED CHILD FIRST AND FOREMOST. THIS BOOK, THIN AND EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE, WILL RELEASE YOU FROM YOUR DEPRESSION BY LEADING YOU TO ITS CAUSE – WHICH SETS YOU ON THE ONLY PATH TO LIVING LIFE AS THE PERSON YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE.
Rating: 1 / 5
As someone who suffers periodically from depression, I’ve read a fair number of books and articles about the subject and I have to say I was not very impressed by Charles Whitfield’s “The Truth About Depression.” The title suggests that this is going to be a balanced overview of possible treatments for depression, but in fact Whitfield has a very strong bias that permeates the entire book.
Simply put, the man does not like medication.
Now, I sympathize with his arguments against the drug industry… it’s undoubtedly true that drug companies are looking to make a profit and, in that pursuit, push doctors to prescribe their products. It is also true that SOME doctors tend to over-prescribe and don’t spend enough time trying to understand the source of a person’s depression. But, this does NOT mean that prescription medication doesn’t have an important role to play in fighting depression.
Whitfield tries to make the case that there’s little-to-no evidence to suggest that medication is ever effective, and that’s just plain wrong. A much more balanced and educational book on this subject is “Listening to Prozac,” which takes an informed look at the pro’s and con’s of taking medication for psychological problems.
In the never-ending debate about the role of nature vs. nurture in causing depression, Whitfield goes waaaay too far in blaming childhood trauma. Not everyone who is depressed suffered a childhood trauma. He tries to define trauma so loosely that 99% of us could say, “Oh, yeah, I guess I was traumatized!” but he is not convincing.
There is a genetic dimension to depression and his complete denial of that fact is harmful for those who are trying to understand and fight against their depression. Yes, proper counselling is important and it is also important to look at childhood traumas. No question about it. But Whitfield goes way too far in placing the blame entirely on trauma and ignoring the potentially helpful role of medication.
A much more balanced and informative book on the subject of depression is DePaulo’s “Understanding Depression: What We Know and What You Can Do About It.” DePaulo looks at the role of trauma, genetics, and various other factors in causing depression to surface and is much more open-minded in looking at possible treatments.
Rating: 2 / 5
Dear Charlie,
I stopped taking the book so personally at the end of chapter 9, and moved on to the expose’ of the industry.
Beyond that, I am reading the section about alternative approaches to healing, including bibliotherapy. If I understand this correctly, this book is meant to move readers in a personal healing.
Thus, if other readers are being caught off balance by the brain damage evidence (59% of readers?)… then these readers in particular are poised to experience righteous anger at the drug companies. After the shock of realizing they may be physically damaged as well as emotionally, psychologically and spiritually damaged, I bet these readers are hopping mad to read about industry practices.
It is quite the book, I must say.
Thanks for an amazing book.
Robynne Moran
Rating: 5 / 5
I am impressed with every aspect of this work, from the concise writing style–which makes this book so useful to virtually anyone who acquires it–through content, layout, and a most remarkable array of references. “The Truth about Depression” will be a resource that I will use time and again in my writing and research. In September, I will eagerly look to find “The Truth about Mental Illness” on the market.
Rating: 5 / 5