Rethinking Depression

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-x

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2. Current Problems in Understanding Depression

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Introduction

      • Kristina Downing-Orr

      Pages 3-13

   3. Shelly

      • Kristina Downing-Orr

      Pages 15-21

   4. Toward a More Definitive Understanding of Depression

      • Kristina Downing-Orr

      Pages 23-31

   5. Biological Theories about the Causes of Depression

      • Kristina Downing-Orr

      Pages 33-46

   6. Psychological Theories about the Causes of Depression

      • Kristina Downing-Orr

      Pages 47-59

   7. Alternative Theories about the Causes of Depression

      • Kristina Downing-Orr

      Pages 61-78

3. Current Problems in Diagnosing Depression

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 79-79

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   2. Diagnosis

      • Kristina Downing-Orr

      Pages 81-90

   3. The Subjectivity of Symptoms

      • Kristina Downing-Orr

      Pages 91-98

   4. Problems in Classifying Depression

      • Kristina Downing-Orr

      Pages 99-116

4. Evaluating Treatments for Depression

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 117-117

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   2. Problems Related to Physiological Treatments

      • Kristina Downing-Orr

      Pages 119-129

   3. Problems Related to Psychological Treatments

      • Kristina Downing-Orr

      Pages 131-146

5. Recommendations for Improving Diagnosis and Treatment

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 147-147

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   2. Toward an Improvement in Treatment

      • Kristina Downing-Orr

      Pages 149-155

6. Back Matter

   Pages 157-164

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As both an academic and professional psychologist, my background is somewhat unique. Most psychologists either opt for the research route, where they study human behavior in the hope of generating insightful theories, or they choose to work clinically with clients and patients. The problems with these distinct pathways should seem appar­ ent. In their academic role, research psychologists study and gener­ ate numerous theories about people, both as individualsandas social beings. However, while their conclusions may provide the basis for therapeutic work, research psychologists are not clinicians. Con­ versely, clinical psychologists and other therapists are trained princi­ pally to work with clients and patients. While many clinicians carry out research projects, their time is mostly spent offering professional help to people. Although both roles serve to advance the science and practice of psychology, researchers in their ivory towers may find their abstract theories and conclusions are inapplicable in the "real world," whereas therapists might discover they work within pre­ scribed treatment frameworks without questioning the limits of these approaches. Because of my two professional roles, I have aimed to bridge this gap. Here, I have combined my experiences of researching and treat­ ing depression with the intentions of improving treatments and of encouraging better communication between the two psychologies. Kristina Downing-Orr Oxford, England V Acknowledgments Many people provided the inspiration for this book, and I will be etemally grateful for all their assistance.

• depression
• diagnosis
• thinking
• treatment

• Oxford, England

  Kristina Downing-Orr

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