This textbook by the authors of the study is subtitled A Manual for Practice and Research and indeed can almost be seen as two books in one. As a clinical manual for the treatment of depression it has a very great deal to offer practitioners, with detailed discussion of both western and Chinese medicine approaches. As far as the former is concerned, there are sections on the definition of major depression, description of conventional treatments for depression and their efficacy, and theories on the causation of depression (psychological and biological). The larger part of the book however is occupied with the Chinese medicine approach. Apart from fairly short sections offering a presentation of basic theories, most of it is aimed at a level that will inform students and practitioners: disease causes (including the six depressions and six stagnations, and yin fire), depression and the life cycle (adolescence, the menstrual cycle, menopause, pregnancy, postpartum and ageing), analysis of the main presenting patterns, treatment strategies and techniques etc., and three case studies. Much of this is offered in impressive detail and is accompanied by further useful discussion of the patient-practitioner relationship, assessing the risk of suicide in depressed patients, and when physician referral might be necessary.

 

 

 

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