Depressive disorders have profound social and economic consequences, owing to the suffering and disability they cause. They often occur together with somatic illness which worsens the prognosis of both. Prevention, detection and optimal treatment of these disorders are therefore of great clinical and economic importance. This edition of the first title in the acclaimed Evidence & Experience series from the World Psychiatric Association has been fully revised and features a new section on depression in primary care the main channel for the management of these disorders in countries around the world. The format remains a systematic review of each topic, evaluating published evidence, complemented by up to six commentaries in which experts provide valuable insight gained from clinical experience. All the evidence, systematically reviewed and analysed, in one place. Practical context imparted in expert commentaries from around the world, which were highly popular in the previous edition. Provides an unbiased and reliable reference source for practising psychiatrists and physicians everywhere. Features a new section on the treatment of depression in primary care. Edited by a highly experienced, internationally renowned team. This book will be informative and stimulating reading for everyone working with people with depressive disorders in all countries and settings: psychiatrists, psychologists, primary care physicians and other mental healthcare professionals. Review of the first edition The discussion papers are excellent. I strongly recommend this masterfully edited book, which remarkably succeeds in combining research evidence and clinical experience. It is probably the most helpful update on depression available today, both for the researcher in mood disorders and the practising clinician. S. Grandi in Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 2000

Depressive disorders have profound social and economicconsequences, owing to the suffering and disability they cause.They often occur together with somatic illness which worsens theprognosis of both. Prevention, detection and optimal treatment ofthese disorders are therefore of great clinical and economicimportance.This edition of the first title in the acclaimed Evidence &Experience series from the World Psychiatric Association has beenfully revised and features a new section on depression in primarycare - the main channel for the management of these disordersin countries around the world.The format remains a systematic review of each topic, evaluatingpublished evidence, complemented by up to six commentaries in whichexperts provide valuable insight gained from clinicalexperience.* All the evidence, systematically reviewed and analysed, in oneplace.* Practical context imparted in expert commentaries from aroundthe world, which were highly popular in the previous edition.* Provides an unbiased and reliable reference source forpractising psychiatrists and physicians everywhere.* Features a new section on the treatment of depression inprimary care.* Edited by a highly experienced, internationally renownedteam.This book will be informative and stimulating reading foreveryone working with people with depressive disorders in allcountries and settings: psychiatrists, psychologists, primary carephysicians and other mental healthcare professionals.Review of the first edition"The discussion papers are excellent. I stronglyrecommend this masterfully edited book, which remarkably succeedsin combining research evidence and clinical experience. It isprobably the most helpful update on depression available todayboth for the researcher in mood disorders and the practisingclinician." S. Grandi in Psychotherapy andPsychosomatics, 2000

Review Contributors.Foreword.Preface to Third Edition.Preface to First Edition.1 Diagnosis of Depressive Disorders (GordonParker).1.1 Four Questions and an Alternative (SidneyZishook).1.2 The Blurring of Caseness in DepressiveDisorders (Ahmed Okasha).1.3 Fresh Look at Alternatives for DiagnosingDepression (Santosh K. Chaturvedi).1.4 Severity and Subtypes of Depression (JulesAngst).1.5 Severe Depression and Melancholia (WilliamCoryell).1.6 The Need to Functionalise PsychiatricDiagnosis (Herman M. van Praag).2 Pharmacological Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: AReview (George I. Papakostas, Per Bech and MaurizioFava).2.1 Antidepressants: A Well-Evaluated Class ofMedications (Eugene S. Paykel).2.2 Many Variables Affect Clinical Response (Chee HongNg).2.3 Challenges in Concept and Practice (CyrilH¨oschl).2.4 The Relevance to Psychiatry in DevelopingCountries (R. Srinivasa Murthy).2.5 New Evidence and Caution (Inna D'Empaire andSheldon H. Preskorn).2.6 Specific Actions, Patient Subgroups and Stages ofIllness (Siegfried Kasper).2.7 The French Experience (Julien D. Guelfi).3 Psychotherapies for Depression in Adults: A Review ofRecent Developments (Michael E. Thase).3.1 The Paradox of Evidence-Based Psychotherapy (MyrnaWeissman).3.2 Incorporating the Insights of Psychotherapy Research inEveryday Practice (Goiovanni A. Fava).3.3 Psychotherapy for Depressed Patients in Low- andMiddle-Income Countries, Particularly in Asia (PichetUdomratn).3.4 Research and Synergies across Countries andCultures (Lakshmi Vijayakumar).3.5 A Wider Cultural Perspective (Yu Xin).4 Depression in Children and Adolescents: AReview (Brian Jacobs and Eric Taylor).4.1 Advances in Understanding Prevention and Treatment and theNeeds in Developing Countries (Atif Rahman).4.2 The Risks of Bipolar Disorder (Gabrielle A.Carlson).4.3 The Need for Specifically Targeted and Precise TreatmentsAiming for Remission (Benedetto Vitiello).4.4 Childhood Depression is Distinct from Depression inAdolescents and Adults (Alvin A. Rosenfeld).4.5 Depression in Infants, Children and Adolescents (SamTyano).5 Depressive Disorders in the Elderly: AReview (Edmond Chiu, David Ames, Brian Draper and JohnSnowdon).5.1 Focusing on Asia (Kua Ee Heok).5.2 Effective Treatments Despite Diagnostic Complexity andDiverse Populations (David L. Dunner).5.3 Depression and Anxiety in DementiaCaregivers (Cornelius Katona and Gill Livingston).5.4 Recognition of Old Age Depression inChinese (Mian-Yoon Chong).5.5 Treatment of Depressive Disorders in Elderly Complicatedwith Medical Co-morbidities and Multiple MedicationUse (Jana Lincoln and Sheldon H. Preskorn).6 Depressive Disorders in Primary Care: AReview (Simon Gilbody and Linda Gask).6.1 A Paradox of Screening for Mental Disorders in Primary Careand the Importance of Severe Disorders in DevelopingCountries (David Goldberg).6.2 Diagnosis, Intervention and the Emergence of thePatient's Voice (Christopher Dowrick).6.3 Untreated Depression in Mexico - Can Primary Care Makea Difference? (Mar´ia Elena Medina-Mora).6.4 Understanding the Practice of Primary HealthCare (Jane Gunn).Index.