Malignant Sadness

Lewis Wolpert

• Publisher: Faber & Faber
• Year: 2011
• Topic: Psychology
• eBook ISBN:
  9780571266715
• Subtopic: Abnormal Psychology
• Index: Psychology

'An excellent book, the most objective short account I know of all the various approaches to depression.' Anthony Storr

Several years ago, Lewis Wolpert had a severe episode of depression. Despite a happy marriage and successful scientific career, he could think only of suicide. When he did recover, he became aware of the stigma attached to depression - and just how difficult it was to get reliable information. With characteristic candour and determination he set about writing this book, an acclaimed investigation into the causes and treatments of depression, which formed the basis for a BBC TV series.

This paperback edition features a new introduction, in which Wolpert discusses the reaction to his book and BBC series, and recounts his own recurring struggle with depression.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Table of Contents
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• CHAPTER ONE : The Experience of Depression – Past and Present
• CHAPTER TWO : Defining and Diagnosing Depression
• CHAPTER THREE : Mania
• CHAPTER FOUR : Other Cultures
• CHAPTER FIVE : Who Gets Depressed and Why?
• CHAPTER SIX : Suicide
• CHAPTER SEVEN : Emotion, Evolution and Malignant Sadness
• CHAPTER EIGHT : Psychological Explanations
• CHAPTER NINE : Biological Explanations and the Brain
• CHAPTER TEN : Antidepressants and Physical Treatments
• CHAPTER ELEVEN : Psychotherapy
• CHAPTER TWELVE : What Works?
• CHAPTER THIRTEEN : An Excursion to the East
• CHAPTER FOURTEEN : The Future
• References
• Index
• About the Author
• Copyright