Beating the Blues: New Approaches to Overcoming Dysthymia and Chronic Mild Depression [Paperback]

Michael E. Thase M.D. (Author), Susan S. Lang (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 23, 2004

Mild depressions are so insidious that sufferers often don't seek help. They think, "that's just the way I am. There's really not much I can do about it." As Dr. Michael Thase and science writer Susan S. Lang reveal, they can do something about it. Persistent mild depression, which afflicts up to 35 million Americans, can be readily and permanently cured.
In Beating the Blues, Thase and Lang show how chronic mild depression can be relieved by learning strategies that help sufferers to recognize and change negative and distorted thinking patterns that lead to a downward spiral of pessimism. They reveal that a combination of medication and therapy has been shown to be the most effective treatment for mild depression, with an impressive 85% of patients experiencing full relief. Thase and Lang also discuss when a person should seek help from a therapist and what kinds of therapy seem the most effective. They outline the safer new antidepressants that are helpful for both mild and severe depressions, detailing each drug's strength and weakness; and examine alternative therapies, including stress management, physical exercise, acupuncture, supplements, and other mind/body therapies. Finally, they provide in-depth discussions of mild depression in children, adolescents, college students, and elderly parents, as well as those with chronic stress.
Beating the Blues is an inspiring and empowering book, offering everything a person needs to know in order to overcome mild depression.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Easy to read about, tough to put into practice, Thase's strategies for feeling better are worth the time and effort."--Chicago Tribune

"If you need help lifting the veil of gloom and apathy, this is the best concise guide to treating chronic depression I have seen."--James H. Kocsis, M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, Cornell Medical Center

"Stop weeping into your Cheerios and do something to help yourself. If you've been chalking up your fatigue, irritation, pessimism and anti-social behavior to a mood swing, surprise - that mood swing you've had for 15 years may actually be dysthymia. More subtle than severe depression, Dysthymia is a mild version of the disorder that lasts for more than two years. The easy-to-read 'Blues' describes therapies, medications and alternative approaches that can help you feel better."--New York Daily News

"Michael Thase is unique in that he has internationally renowned expertise both in medication treatment and in psychotherapy for depression. He writes clearly and colorfully. This book on chronic depression, a troubling affliction that is too often ignored, is a masterpiece. I couldn't put it down."--Robert M.A. Hirschfeld, M.D., Titus H. Harris Chair, Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

Dxpression researcher Thase and science writer Lang...offer numerous ways in which mild depression can be overcome. They offer tips for determining whether you have depression, list common medications that can have depressive side effects, identify who's at risk for developing dysthemia and offeradvice on talking to a physician.... They also suggest treatments, ranging from psychotherapy and medication to exercise and social support. -Science News

"This book is a step forward. Dr. Thase is an expert in depression, with a wealth of clinical experience, scholarly knowledge, and a scientist's incisive judgment. His research encompasses both biological and psychotherapeutic treatments. The reader of Beating the Blues can trust what he or she learns. This book helps bridge the gap between knowledge and its practical application to heal." --Alan J. Gelenberg, M.D., Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine, and Founding Editor of Biological Therapies in Psychiatry Newsletter and Editor-in-Chief, The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry

About the Author

Michael E. Thase M.D. is Professor of Psychiatry and Medical Director of the Mood Disorders Module at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He is also Chief of the Division of Adult Academic Psychiatry and Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, in Pittsburgh.
Susan S. Lang is an award-winning Senior Science Writer at Cornell University and author of 11 other books and hundreds of magazine articles on health and psychology.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (March 23, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195304535
• ISBN-13: 978-0195304534
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #827,298 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Clear, Concise, and Friendly Book on Dysthymia and Mild Depression, February 24, 2006

By 

Scott McDaniel "Scott McD." (Gaithersburg, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beating the Blues: New Approaches to Overcoming Dysthymia and Chronic Mild Depression (Hardcover)

I really like Thase and Lang's Beating the Blues. It gets to the point and clearly and simply answers lots of questions I've had. For example, what to look for in a therapist. It goes through the symptoms and shows how dysthymia, mild depression, and major depression differ from each other. It also addresses a few other similar conditions like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Once it gets to the "so what should you do about it" section of the book, it takes many approaches from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in terms of analyzing what you're thinking and how that affects your feelings. A basic assumption is that our thoughts generate our emotions, and we can tend to use somewhat distorted thought patterns that set up a feedback loop with feelings of tiredness, apathy, feelings of self-worth. It pulls a good deal of material from Feeling Good: A New Mood Therapby by David Burns, though I prefer this book's tone and style. Then, the Beating the Blues compares three types of approaches: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Therapy, and Problem Solving Therapy. The last part of the book deals with specific sub-groups: children and adolescents, women, and the elderly.

One thing I appreciate about the book is its clear and direct writing style. One author (Michael Thase) is a medical doctor while the other author (Susan Lang) is a science writer. Having that professional writer in the mix is key, I think. It's a friendly and non-technical approach, but it's not condescending or too much of a cheerleader for my tastes. It's also an easy book to scan, with good chapter and section headers that let you know what's safe to skip and what's not. Overall, a very good book.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fills the Gap for Those Struggling with Dysthymia, March 23, 2005

By 

Nancy Rosen "Clinical Social Worker" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beating the Blues: New Approaches to Overcoming Dysthymia and Chronic Mild Depression (Hardcover)

This book fills a gap in the mental health field; the many books out on depression have not been a good fit for those struggling with dysthymia. Beating the Blues speaks to those who have been managing to function, but missing out on pleasure and full productivity. Easy to read and apply, the information and
techniques shared in this book can change lives. I have shared it with both teens and adults-members of both age groups connected quickly with the book, feeling that it captured what they were experiencing. Both teens and adults benefited from a deeper understanding of how dysthymia was impacting their lives, and had success with the strategies for change. I recommend having a few copies around since you will inevitably want to lend some out.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Packed with Information, February 14, 2005

By 

L. Larmour (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beating the Blues: New Approaches to Overcoming Dysthymia and Chronic Mild Depression (Hardcover)

I recommend Beating the Blues to anyone who often feels mildly depressed and can't seem to shake the down feelings. I thought this book gave a great synthesis of the findings of recent research and clinical studies on mild and moderate depression and the most effective treatments, including several new, experimental therapies. I found the detailed self-help strategies valuable, as well as the guidelines for deciding whether to seek psychotherapy or medications.

The book was made even more useful by the inclusion of many bulleted lists and charts, which I could refer back to for a summary of a chapter or to find specific information.

I lent the book to a co-worker whose mother had become depressed since moving to an elder-care facility. After reading it, she said that she now has a better understanding of what her mother is going through, and she is using the chapter on aging and dysthymia, as well as the chapter on medications, to take steps to alleviate her mother's symptoms.

I've read many self-help books, and I can't remember another so packed with valuable, easily usable information. I definitely recommend Beating the Blues.