Customer Reviews

Surviving Manic Depression: A Manual on Bipolar Disorder for Patients, Families, and Providers

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I have read several intelligently written books on the subject of manic depression. I have suffered from the disorder for twenty-six years and have not been able to find a better book on the subject. Chances are the new paperback edition, which should be updated to include new medications, will be even better than this book.

I have read several books by E. Fuller Torrey, who is, to my knowledge, America's most reliable and caring psychiatrist for the severely mentally ill.

Those lured by the table of contents into thinking they will find new information here about some of the state-of-the-art psychopharmacology for bipolar disorder or revolutionary breakthroughs, etc. will be disappointed by this comprehensive, honest, and hard-working book. It is most appropriate as an introductory guide for laypersons who have been diagnosed themselves or have a family member with bipolar disorder and who want information and reassurance plus referrals to additional sources of information. It is not a book for mental health professionals treating persons with bipolar disorder who are seeking new information about this disease, or for highly informed patients who are already familiar with the course of the illness, its symptoms, available treatments, etc. They will find little that is new here. Nonetheless this is an admirable work that will be very helpful to many people, and it is well organized and comprehensive.

This book, (co-author Fuller Torrey is one of the worlds foremost experts on the subject) is, by far, the best "how to manage manic-depression" book I have ever read, and, I believe, ever written. My only regret is that this book wasn't available to me when I needed it even more a few years ago but much of the information contained in it wasn't known a few years years ago. Its that up-to-date, and extremely well written. Anyone who has manic-depression, or who cares about the millions of people who do, will love this book.

Bipolar disorders's risk factors, symptoms, and treatment options are surveyed in a title which covers the historical treatment of the disorder, its special challenges, and the related problems which can affect individuals. From an assessment of drugs newly on the market to further references on websites and video, Surviving Manic Depression covers the latest findings on manic depression's causes and treatment.

I bought this book to educate myself on Bipolar Disorder, having a brother who has been recently diagnosed. Because the nature of this illness is not 'cut and dry' and because what may work for one person doesn't work for another I feel it is very difficult to write a book that is all-encompassing when it comes to this disorder.

I have read many books on BD in the past month and this one was my favorite from a family member's point of view. There were many parts of this book that pertained to our family's personal situation. The one thing I particularly found helpful was that the authors don't tend to 'sugar-coat' this illness as I have found in reading other books.

I bought several books on bipolar when my husband was diagnosed, and this was the absolute best for giving me up-to-date information on treatment, medication and everything else I wanted to know. I felt I knew almost as much as the doctors and could ask informed decisions. It is not an "easy read", but is full of great information. If someone you love is bipolar, get this book!

Since being diagnosed with BP I have looked for books to help me understand more about the disease. This is the best I have found. Unlike most other works, it treats BP as a disorder different from depression and the authors respect their readers, giving details and theories that many other books leave out. It may be work to read, but it is very rewarding. Every bipolar person and family members of bipolar people should read this comprehensive book.