Healing Anxiety and Depression

An articulate psychiatrist and neuroscience researcher uses brain imaging to group anxiety and depressive disorders into seven clusters, all which "light up" specific parts of the brain when certain conditions or patient mind-states are created. The dry nature of this material is offset by the authors' compassion for their patients and the effort they have put into making their findings useful. With familiar case vignettes, they describe how patients respond to traditional therapy and medication, as well as to a host of alternatives, such as herbs, nutrients, and various other interventions. A well-done audio and an important starting point for lives that are less than they could be because of chronic depression, mood instability, and anxiety. T.W. (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

March 1, 2004
Based on the work done in the Amen Clinics, this program presents information on a variety of depression and/or anxiety disorders. It argues that a major component of these diseases is a failure of part or parts of the brain to function normally. Evidence is presented on why it is important to include brain scans that test the function rather than just the physical structures of the brain as an important diagnostic tool. Seven major disorders are described along with symptoms and current treatment. Specifically, the authors address the kinds of medications that may or may not be useful in treating these conditions. They also counsel that medication alone is not usually successful and explain the importance of individual and family counseling, behavior modification, and other interventions. The data is complex yet comprehensible. Amen admits that the use of SPECT scans is still not generally accepted by many in the medical community and that insurance companies may not cover them. Expertly read by Alan Sklar, this program is highly recommended for all public library and consumer health collections.-Kathleen Sullivan, Phoenix P.L.

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.