In clear, non-technical language, this guide explains the latest findings on depression, the complex mood disorder that affects nearly 17 million Americans each year. Illustrations throughout.

In Depression and the Soul, John Peteet proves the old adage that the best physician is also a philosopher. He considers how to approach the problem of depression within a larger context, and reviews current concepts of successful living relative to the heart (emotion and volition), the mind (cognition and coping), and the soul (the self in relation to transcendent reality). Each chapter goes on to further explore the relationship between depression and the context of a patient’s entire life. This is done through consideration of how the existential struggles of depressed individuals engage their spiritual lives, by reviewing current empirical literature on depression and spirituality, comparing the perspectives of various spiritual traditions or world views, and summarizing ways that spirituality and depression interact.

The geriatric population, defined as men and women 65 years and older, is the fastest growing population in the world. While gerontology, the study of the aging process in human beings, has brought insights about the physical, emotional, and social needs of this population, little attention has been given to the mental health of the aging, and often treatable disorders are overlooked entirely. Depression is one of the leading mental disorders in any age group, but among the elderly it is often viewed as a normal part of aging. But it’s not. Depression at any age requires attention and treatment. For sufferers and their families and caregivers, this go-to guide introduces readers to depression among the aging and elderly. It looks at both sufferers who’ve been diagnosed in their younger years as well as those with a new diagnosis, and reviews the symptoms, the diagnostic process, treatment options including alternative and holistic approaches, and long term care for those experiencing mild, moderate, or severe depression. With real stories throughout, the book illustrates the many forms depression can take, and Serani offers a compassionate voice alongside practical advice for sufferers, caregivers, and families. An extensive resource section rounds out the book. Anyone suffering from depression in later life, and anyone who cares for someone suffering, will want to read this important guide to living well with depression in the golden years.

"Men are often reluctant to discuss issues that are important to their general health and well-being. This one-of-a-kind guide provides helpful information, in an easy-to-read format, on major health concerns including diet and nutrition, exercise, sexuality, and emotional health. This guide should help men make better decisions about their health."--Jeffrey P. Koplan, M.D., M.P.H., Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) * Guidelines for staying healthy at any age * Overviews of the body's systems and organs--heart and lungs, reproductive system, brain and nervous system, urinary system, bones and joints, and the immune system * Explanations of the major diseases and their treatments, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, drug abuse, and depression * Sensitive discussions of sexuality and reproduction, including sexual dysfunction, prostate health, stds, birth control, and age-related changes to sex and sexuality * Diet and exercise guidelines * Dozens of tables, boxes, and charts on key topics * Quick-reference format for finding the answers you need

The American Medical Association sorts through a wide array of professional views to compile solid, clear-cut information on menopause in one comprehensive volume. Now, every woman can make informed health-care decisions with her doctor during this life-changing condition, and weigh individual needs and health risks in choosing the best treatments. From recognizing its earliest symptoms to reducing the potential of menopause-related health problems, here is everything you need to know about: Physical symptoms throughout all phases of menopause Feeling good emotionally Early detection of heart disease, breast cancer and other health risks Osteoporosis prevention-how to maintain strong, healthy bones Treatments including hormone replacement therapy, other prescription medications and complementary therapies Gynecological problems and procedures Lifestyle recommendations for fitness, nutrition and stress management Staying sexually active during menopause. The American Medical Association Essential Guide to Menopause includes a listing of brief touchstones to good health, Your Menopause Health Priorities Checklist, as well as a detailed glossary of medical terms made easy. Now you can be prepared for the changes that come with menopause -- and feel assured and empowered -- with this authoritative, indispensable guide.

The timely second edition of this bestselling guide will inform and encourage struggling adolescents and their families. In Adolescent Depression, psychiatrists Francis Mark Mondimore, MD, and Patrick Kelly, MD, explain that serious depression in adolescents goes beyond "moodiness." Depression is in fact an illness—one that can be effectively treated. The authors describe the many forms of depression and the many symptoms of depression in young people—from sadness to irritability, self-harm, drug and alcohol abuse, and violent rages. Incorporating the latest research from the field of adolescent psychiatry, this comprehensive and compassionate guide answers questions that many parents have, including What are the symptoms of depression in teenagers? How is depression diagnosed? What is the difference between depression and bipolar disorder, and which does my child have? How can I find the best mental health professional team for my child? What kinds of counseling and psychotherapy are available? Are medications safe, and how does a doctor choose a medication for my child? What can I do if my adolescent is using alcohol, crystal meth, marijuana, or other substances? How do autism and Asperger's syndrome, eating disorders, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, ADHD, and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder interact with depression? What should I do if I sense that my child is in danger? With all of this going on, how can I take care of myself?

“A brilliant illumination of how the ancient wisdom of the yogic tradition can penetrate the often-intractable challenges of depression.”—Phil Catalfo, Yoga Journal Take the natural path to mental wellness. More than twenty-five million Americans are treated with antidepressants each year, at a cost in excess of $50 billion. But the side effects of popular prescription drugs may seem nearly as depressing as the symptoms they’re meant to treat. Veteran yoga instructor Amy Weintraub offers a better solution—one that taps the scientifically proven link between yoga and emotional well-being as well as the beauty of ancient approaches to inner peace. Addressing a range of diagnoses, including dysthymia, anxiety-based depression, and bipolar disorder, Yoga for Depression reveals why specific postures, breathing practices, and meditation techniques can ease suffering and release life’s traumas and losses. Weintraub also reflects on her own experience with severe depression, from which she recovered through immersing herself in a daily yoga routine. Yoga for Depression is the first yoga book devoted exclusively to the treatment of these debilitating conditions. Amy Weintraub will help readers see their suffering and themselves in a vibrant new light.

At some time, most families will need to provide home care for an aging family member who is ill or disabled. While home caregiving provides many benefits, it takes careful planning, support, and patience. The American Medical Association Guide to Home Caregiving provides the information you need to take the best possible care of an elderly, ill, or disabled person in a home setting. Written by experts from the American Medical Association, the book explains such essentials as how to: * Plan and arrange a room to adapt to a loved one's needs * Give medications, maintain hygiene, monitor symptoms, deal with incontinence, provide emotional support, and relieve boredom * Choose a home healthcare provider * Pay for home healthcare, including Medicare and Medicaid, and long-term care insurance * Care for a person with Alzheimer's disease or a terminal illness * Choose between alternative living arrangements such as assisted living facilities or nursing homes * Take care of yourself, the caregiver With advice that touches both the physical and the emotional aspects of caregiving, this supportive, practical handbook will help make the experience as successful and rewarding as possible for you and your loved one. For more than 150 years, the American Medical Association has been the leading group of medical experts in the nation and one of the most respected health-related organizations in the world. The AMA continues to work to advance the art and science of medicine and to be an advocate for patients and the voice of physicians in the United States.

Holistic Mental Health Revised is a concise guide that compares traditional western medicine or allopathic medicine to alternative or holistic treatments for mental disorders. A new section on Spiritual Healing attempts to begin to explain the unexplainable! HMH-R will add clarity to the often confusing and misleading information the media and physicians promote when discussing alternative therapies such as herbs, nutritional interventions and supplements. HMH-R answers the questions of which treatment is more harmful, and which is more beneficial, traditional or alternative. It gives specific recommendations using treatments other than prescription medications and backs the suggestions with current research. HMH-R is the most thorough guide to date, comparing all the available treatment options for mental disorders and illness. Anyone affected by, or has a family member with Alzheimer's, anxiety, stress, depression ADHD, chronic headaches or migraines, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia needs to read Holistic Mental Health Revised

Based on the latest scientific findings, a comprehensive guide to the diagnosis and treatment of teenage depression. Each year thousands of American teenagers are diagnosed with clinical depression. If ignored, poorly treated, or left untreated, it can be a devastating illness for adolescents and their families. Drawing on her many years of experience as a pychiatrist working with teenagers, Dr. Maureen Empfield answers the questions parents and teens have about depression, providing detailed information on: *Identifying the different types of depression *How depression is diagnosed *Which teenagers are most at risk *Suicide *The effect of depression on other teenage problems *How depression is treated and by whom *The drugs used to treat teenage depression - what they are and how they work *When a teenager needs to be hospitalized for depression *and more Understanding Teenage Depression provides the latest scientific findings on this serious condition, and the most up to date information on its treatment. The book includes numerous vignettes drawn from Dr. Empfield's clinical practice as well as first person accounts from teenagers who have themselves suffered from depression. Understanding Teenage Depression is a book that anyone who's been touched by this disease - whether parents, teachers, family members or teens themselves - will find invaluable.