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The Age of Melancholy
Depression has become the most frequently diagnosed chronic mental illness, and is a disability encountered almost daily by mental health professionals of all trades. "Major Depression" is a medical disease, which some would argue has reached epidemic proportions in contemporary society, and it affects our bodies and brains just like any other disease. Why, this book asks, has the incidence of depression been on such an increase in the last 50 years, if our basic biology hasn't changed as rapidly? To find answers, Dr. Blazer looks at the social forces, cultural and environmental upheavals, and other external, group factors that have undergone significant change. In so doing, the author revives the tenets of social psychiatry, the process of looking at social trends, environmental factors, and correlations among groups in efforts to understand psychiatric disorders.
262 pages, Hardcover
First published May 11, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 24, 2012
A provocative read -- my main takeaway is that emotional/mental problems are not necessarily "inside the skin," or not necessarily limited there, at any rate. Good applications for pastors.
May 19, 2008
The Director of my college’s library puts out a newsletter every month telling us about new acquisitions in our areas, and this book was featured in the February 2006 newsletter. Since the topic, depression, applies to some research I am doing right now I decided to check it out. It discussed the social origins of depression, but it also discussed the history of psychiatry, defined social psychiatry, and discussed how the author believes psychiatry should change in order to be more useful.
My experience with this book is mostly positive. The topic was initially interesting because there is a lot of debate as to the causes of depression, and whenever my General Psychology class talks about mental disorders, we are inevitably discussing this nature/nurture controversy. The first few chapters were very intriguing because they discussed this issue while also discussing social psychiatry. The author describes how psychiatrists need to take into account a client’s social situation (i.e., culture, social status, employment, family ties) when diagnosing and treating disorders. This idea, the corner stone of social psychiatry, seemed to be a given to me as I read this. My first thought was, “Isn’t that what everyone thinks?” Apparently not. I began to realize as I continued reading that I was educated (or “raised” as I thought of it) in this way – my instructors always made a point to discuss a client’s social experiences, as did my supervisors and colleagues when I worked in community mental health. How can I look at a client and not look at their social circumstances I wondered. I also found the author’s discussions of the history of the community mental health movement of interest. However, once I got past this information I started to feel that much of what he said was redundant. Psychiatry needs to change. Psychiatrists need to use their sociological imagination. We understand. Perhaps I experienced this as redundant simply because I already agreed with his arguments.
Also included in the book are discussions of the history of depression as a diagnosis (and of the DSM itself), a discussion of social factors that may cause depression and the research surrounding them (work-related factors are specifically important), and a discussion of the history of PTSD and how trauma (especially war) can bring it about. All of these things may be of interest to clinical psychology geeks, but I am not too sure how the public would feel about it since some of the writing can be technical and the author assumes a level of understanding that not all readers may have. Overall, I would suggest this book to people who already have a certain level of understanding of psychiatry and clinical psychology and would recommend it to others with reservations.
My experience with this book is mostly positive. The topic was initially interesting because there is a lot of debate as to the causes of depression, and whenever my General Psychology class talks about mental disorders, we are inevitably discussing this nature/nurture controversy. The first few chapters were very intriguing because they discussed this issue while also discussing social psychiatry. The author describes how psychiatrists need to take into account a client’s social situation (i.e., culture, social status, employment, family ties) when diagnosing and treating disorders. This idea, the corner stone of social psychiatry, seemed to be a given to me as I read this. My first thought was, “Isn’t that what everyone thinks?” Apparently not. I began to realize as I continued reading that I was educated (or “raised” as I thought of it) in this way – my instructors always made a point to discuss a client’s social experiences, as did my supervisors and colleagues when I worked in community mental health. How can I look at a client and not look at their social circumstances I wondered. I also found the author’s discussions of the history of the community mental health movement of interest. However, once I got past this information I started to feel that much of what he said was redundant. Psychiatry needs to change. Psychiatrists need to use their sociological imagination. We understand. Perhaps I experienced this as redundant simply because I already agreed with his arguments.
Also included in the book are discussions of the history of depression as a diagnosis (and of the DSM itself), a discussion of social factors that may cause depression and the research surrounding them (work-related factors are specifically important), and a discussion of the history of PTSD and how trauma (especially war) can bring it about. All of these things may be of interest to clinical psychology geeks, but I am not too sure how the public would feel about it since some of the writing can be technical and the author assumes a level of understanding that not all readers may have. Overall, I would suggest this book to people who already have a certain level of understanding of psychiatry and clinical psychology and would recommend it to others with reservations.
October 1, 2020
Disclaimer: I read preface and intro and carefully skimmed some of CH 4 & 8.
Dr. Blazer pushes readers to move past overemphasis on the biological and individualized nature of depression to carefully place it within history, within community and recognize the unique factors and disadvantages faced by those experiencing it.
His clear voice, long experience at Duke Medical and UNC and his quick overview of the development of the modern label of Major Depressive Disorder in 1972 has in many ways harmful and oversimplifying was helpful.
Learned a lot in 75 minutes about depression and the future possibilities for a reemergence of social psychiatry partnered with Pastors and numerous Emotional Caregivers and Biomedical leaders.
PS: well written and not lost in the jargon of higher criticism or erudite scholarly conversation
PPS: will encourage those who are hesitant to see fast medical prescriptions of antidepressants passed out as a cure all; rather than seeing the Depression epidemic as something to truly tune into as a signal of deep aspects of wider societal ills needing remedying and champions.
Dr. Blazer pushes readers to move past overemphasis on the biological and individualized nature of depression to carefully place it within history, within community and recognize the unique factors and disadvantages faced by those experiencing it.
His clear voice, long experience at Duke Medical and UNC and his quick overview of the development of the modern label of Major Depressive Disorder in 1972 has in many ways harmful and oversimplifying was helpful.
Learned a lot in 75 minutes about depression and the future possibilities for a reemergence of social psychiatry partnered with Pastors and numerous Emotional Caregivers and Biomedical leaders.
PS: well written and not lost in the jargon of higher criticism or erudite scholarly conversation
PPS: will encourage those who are hesitant to see fast medical prescriptions of antidepressants passed out as a cure all; rather than seeing the Depression epidemic as something to truly tune into as a signal of deep aspects of wider societal ills needing remedying and champions.
July 18, 2012
This book conveys one idea, that it is extremely important to look towards the social context for prevention of depression, anxiety and other common "disorders" of our fast paced world, in addition to or even more than towards each individual. What I took out of reading this is that attributing the good, the bad and the ugly occurrences, moods and reactions in our lives exclusively to our own persona is self-defeating. Looking at stress as a product of circumstances and our developmental history places it at an arm's length and allows for cognitive space to deal with everyday issues.
December 16, 2016
I read this for my abnormal psychology class assignment, i did a case study on character of my choice and depression was part of his diagnosis. This book did help and it did provide useful information.
April 3, 2008
Blazer wants a good psychiatry, but his prescription is too modest: you need a conversion of culture to achieve his psychiatry.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews