- Hardcover: 416 pages
- Publisher: Basic Books (14 Dec 2001)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0465086632
- ISBN-13: 978-0465086634
- Product Dimensions: 23.9 x 16.7 x 3.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,031,413 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
From E. Fuller Torrey, M. D. , the author of the best-selling Surviving Schizophrenia (more than 250,000 sold), and Michael B. Knable, D. O. , the first truly comprehensive, up-to-the-minute guide to manic-depressive illness. . Surviving Manic Depression is the most authoritative book on this disorder, which affects more than two million people in the US alone. Based on the latest research, it provides detailed coverage of every aspect of manic depression-from understanding its causes and treatments to choosing doctors and managing relapses-with guidance drawn from the latest scientific information. Drs. Torrey and Knable provide thorough, up-to-date coverage of all aspects of the disease, including a detailed description of symptoms (with many direct descriptions from patients themselves), risk factors, onset and cause, medications (including drugs still in the testing stage), psychotherapy, and rehabilitation, as well as information about how the disease affects children and adolescents. Here too are discussions of special problems related to manic depression, including alcohol and drug abuse, violent behavior, medication noncompliance, suicide, sex, AIDS, and confidentiality. Surviving Manic Depression also includes special features such as a listing of selected websites, books, videotapes, and other resources.
About the Author
E. Fuller Torrey, M.D., is president of the Treatment Advocacy Center and Executive Director of the Stanley Foundation Research Programs. He is also Professor of Psychiatry at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. His books include Schizophrenia and Manic-DepressiveDisorder, Out of the Shadows, Nowhere to Go, and Surviving Schizophrenia. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland. Michael B. Knable, D.O., is Medical Director of the Stanley Foundation Research Programs and Clinical Instructor in Psychiatry in the residency program at George Washington University Hospital, Washington, D.C. He lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
Manic-depressive illness, like other severe psychiatric disorders, has come out of the closet. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Manic-depressive illness, like other severe psychiatric disorders, has come out of the closet. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book describes itself as "a manual on bipolar disorder", and it is exactly that: almost 400 pages packed with information on everything you could want to know, arranged in a clear, easy-to-find format.
The emphasis (rightly in my opinion) is firmly biological; the authors frequently describe manic-depression as "a brain disease" and clearly see medication as the mainstay of treatment. Two chapters are devoted to medication, one on mood stabilisers and the other on antidepressants, anti-psychotics, tranquillisers etc. A large number of individual drugs are discussed (seven mood-stabilisers, unlike most books which only cover the usual three) and there are useful tables comparing their properties, side-effects and interactions. Their safety in pregnancy and in very young or old patients is discussed.
This is only an example - the other parts of the book, dealing with causes, risk factors, prognosis etc are similarly comprehensive. To the educated non-expert at least, it seems scientifically sound with plenty of references. It also seems up-to-date, discussing recent research with the necessary note of caution that so much is not yet understood. The material can be technical in places, but is helpfully summarised in lists and tables.
This is not to say that the book is all facts and figures either - the illness "from the inside" is sympathetically and vividly portrayed. And there is a great deal of practical advice for patients and families on self-help measures, insurance issues, medication non-compliance, substance abuse... An appendix lists a large number of books, videos, websites and other resources, all with comments as to their content and usefulness.
Given the biological standpoint of the authors, it is not surprising that there is little on psychotherapy, although it is not opposed, and the work of voluntary support groups is praised highly. The link with creativity is discussed a bit dismissively, but with further reading suggested.
Care is taken to distinguish bipolar disorder from other diseases with similar symptoms, and from "unipolar depression". However, I still found the book of interest even though my own diagnosis is uncertain in this last regard. I would say this is essential reading for anyone interested in mood disorders from a biological point of view.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
29 reviews
78 of 81 people found the following review helpful
An extremely important book
12 July 2002
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a book I wish no one had to read, but for those of us who have a loved one suffering from manic depression, this is the absolutely essential read. There are some parts of it, concerning various studies and statistics, which aren't really germane to what we, as family members, need to know about the illness, but the bulk of the work is tremendously helpful. We are given the symptoms of the illness, in all of its varied forms, and quite importantly, the current medications are thoroughly discussed, with all of their helps and hindrances, including side effects and interactions with other drugs. It's not an easy book to read, but I don't mean that in the comprehension sense: in that way, anyone can read and understand. It's just that manic depression is such a terrible illness, not only on the person who has it, but on all those around that person who love him or her and try to be helpful. When you read some of the small case studies, and also learn about some of the very tragic situations for those afflicted, sometime you just want to close the book and cry for awhile. However you get through this book, it's essential that you do, for it can only improve everyone's understanding of this illness, and hopefully enable the rest of us to cope with, and love unequivocally, our ill family member. More than any drug or treatment, I truly believe that love and unconditional care from us is essestial. It's not a cure, but it will help.
41 of 45 people found the following review helpful
More than you expect
20 Nov 2002
Format:Hardcover
The title does this book justice. Manic Depression afflicts more than a million and may affect as many as 3,000,000 people in the US alone. With that many suffering, there is no dearth of literature on this subject.
Yet most of the information prior even to the early 1990's is dated and obtuse. There is much confusion in the earlier literature between schizophrenia and bipolar. It is now understood that bipolar disorders are chemical deficiencies in the brain and can largely be controled by medications and that the patients can achieve normalcy. That's where this book is so valuable. Just published in 2002, it reviews the most recent meds and their side effects. Someone suffering with this condition needs to know this stuff. Moreover there is comprehensive information for those suffering from clinical depression and other disorders that medications frequently can help.
And that's my final remark on this wealth of information. That's why it lives up to its title. This book helps the patient and her/his family to cope. As with meds, the patients learn their life problems never really go away, but how they deal with them improves.
After reading this book, both patients and those who interact with them will be enriched in their comprehension and better able to adapt to the bipolar condition.
38 of 42 people found the following review helpful
a must read for anyone who suffers or knows someone who does
13 Oct 2002
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I just got this book yesterday from Amazon. To say its the best, most salient book on the subject I have ever read- well I cannot do it justice.
I have read almost every book on this subject, since I am afflicted by it. It is very well written, moe for the lay person, than the medical establishment. I've learned more about this from this book than any other book I have read. And it is written not only for people who are manic depressive, but those who love us.
It's pretty much a must read, and should be read by everyone who either suffers from it, or knows a loved one who does.
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