Understanding the Causes of Depression and Treatment: Top 10 Best-Selling Depression Self-Help Books

An important step towards the treatment of depression is to understand the causes of depression.

Depression

Depression or melancholia is a clinical syndrome attributable to psychogenic or organic factors. Beck and Alford (2009) argued that depression is responsible for more human suffering than any other single disease. Depression is responsible for the second largest number of mental hospital admissions in the United States. There is a 5-12 percent probability among males and 10-25 percent probability among females of developing the condition during one’s lifetime.

Treatment of Depression

Beck and Alford (2009) argued that attributes associated with depression include alterations in mood such as sadness, loneliness, or apathy; negative self-concept; regressive and self-punitive wishes such as desire to escape, or die; vegetative changes such as anorexia, insomnia, or loss of libido; and change in activity level such as agitation or retardation. Depression treatment includes psychopharmacological interventions and psychotherapeutic treatments. Psychopharmacological treatments, interpersonal psychotherapy, and cognitive therapy have proven effective in the treatment of depression. Busch, Rudden and Shapiro (2004) emphasized that depression treatment techniques focus on helping patients recognize their vulnerability to causal factors, and application of strategies to better manage their vulnerability.

Conclusion

Depression is fuelled by genetic, biochemical, and environmental factors. O'Connor (2010) argued that patients’ own habits contribute to the condition as patients learn to hide or work around it, depriving themselves of a true recovery. Patients should replace depressive patterns with new and effective set of skills. A holistic approach offers hope for joy and healthy emotion.

References

Beck, A. & Alford, B. (2009). Depression: Causes and Treatments. University of Pennsylvania Press. Philadelphia. 1-405.

Busch, F., Rudden, M. & Shapiro, T. (2004). Psychodynamic Treatment of Depression. American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc. Arlington. 1-204.

O'Connor, R. (2010). Undoing Depression: What Therapy Doesn't Teach You and Medication Can't Give You. Little, Brown and Company. USA. 1-374.

Depression: A Stubborn Darkness by Edward T. Welch - Dr. Welch emphasized that faith should be intertwined with techniques for diagnosis and treatment.

Depression-Free, Naturally: 7 Weeks to Eliminating Anxiety, Despair, Fatigue, and Anger from Your Life by Joan M. Larson - Dr. Larson advocated the biochemical approach to identify deficiencies, abnormalities, or allergies; and the intake of vitamins and nutrients for recovery.

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David D. Burns - Dr. Burns recommended scientifically proven techniques that have been effective in lifting spirits and developing a positive outlook towards life. According to Dr. Burns, treatment of depression could be accomplished without the use of drugs.

Healing Anxiety and Depression by Daniel G. Amen & Lisa C. Routh - The authors argued that there are major depression centers in the brain. Imaging allows discovery of the specific type of depression; and treatment should include diet, supplements, medication, exercise, and social and therapeutic support.

Self-Coaching: The Powerful Program to Beat Anxiety and Depression by Joseph J. Luciani - Dr. Luciani advocated cognitive behavior therapy to listen to negative internal dialogs for changing thoughts and actions. Patients should identify specific personality types and change thought patterns.

Talking to Depression: Simple Ways to Connect When Someone in Your Life is Depressed by Claudia J. Strauss - Strauss argued about the role of family and friends of patients suffering from depression. Strauss recommended responses and language that are effective by explaining the working of the depressed mind.

The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Depression: A Step-by-step Program by William J. Knaus & Georg H. Eifert - The authors developed an easy-to-use workbook for detecting irrational thoughts and replacing negative behavior with positive behavior.

The Depression Workbook: A Guide for Living with Depression and Manic Depression by Mary E. Copeland & Matthew McKay - The authors developed an easy-to-use workbook for enabling readers develop coping skills and be responsible for their own wellness. The workbook allows tracking and control of moods, and building a support system for increasing confidence and self-esteem.

The Mindfulness & Acceptance Workbook for Depression: Using Acceptance & Commitment Therapy to Move through Depression & Create a Life Worth Living by Kirk D. Strosahl & Patricia J. Robinson - The authors advocated using depression to change life for the better. Dr. Strosahl developed an easy-to-use workbook, based on acceptance and commitment therapy, for evaluating depression and developing a plan for focusing energy on living the much desired life.

Undoing Depression: What Therapy Doesn't Teach You and Medication Can't Give You by Richard O'Connor - Dr. O’Connor argued that hiding or working around depression offered little satisfaction. A holistic approach is required to replace patterns of thinking, relating, and behaving with skills that are more effective.