Dr Harry Barry - Flagging the Therapy: Pathways Out of Depression and Anxiety

Dr Barrys first book was truly unique. In FlaggingtheTherapy, he develops his highly accessible approach to mental health with a particular emphasis on how different treatments for depression, anxiety and other psychological problems work. Another superb contribution from one of Irelands most insightful doctors.
Dr Muiris Houston, medical correspondent, the IrishTimes

Writing in his inimitable style, Dr Barry describes the various pathways in the brain that underpin the myriad symptoms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and so on. By reading the book, which is liberally studded with case descriptions, patients will be able to identify closely with many of these reports. Therapists too will find this book very useful as it not only describes pharmacological interventions but also details the various talking interventions and alternative therapies. Once again, Dr Barry has achieved his goal of removing the barriers that deter people from seeking professional help due to embarrassment or lack of knowledge. He is to be lauded for this.
Prof. Patricia Casey. Department of Psychiatry. University College Dublin

This is a truly ground-breaking, innovative and profoundly enlightening work. Dr Harry Barry leads the reader on a holistic journey through the mind and its. emotional responses in a way that is both explorative and explanatory. Brilliantly written, it is essential reading for anyone who wants to develop a comprehensive knowledge of effective approaches to positive mental health in our society.
Maria Carmody, President. National Counselling Institute of Ireland (NCII)

In this intelligent and enlightening study, Dr Barry has managed to combine everyday stories with an easily understood discussion on the neurobiological basis of mental ill-health. His non-judgemental attitude to the various ther apies which are at our disposal for recovery and his holistic approach to mental and spiritual well-being are revolutionary. FlaggingtheTherapy is not just a book for sufferers of mental illness; it is mandatory reading for all those who have the slightest interest in good health and human happiness.
Carol Hunt, SundayIndependent

Dr Barry has done medicine and mental health a great service by writing an authoritative yet accessible exposition on cutting-edge thinking relating to recovery from states of anxiety and depression. This is a remarkable achievement but, more importantly, the book is a reliable field guide for patients and practitioners alike. The Salmon of Knowledge has revisited the Boyne! I strongly recommend that you read this book.
Dr Justin Brophy, President, The College of Psychiatry of Ireland

Flagging the Therapy offers a great understanding to all on how to better ones life. It will help thousands with anxiety and depression to understand that they are not alone, and how and why they feel the way they do; most of all, it offers them hope. I could not put this book down.
Lisa Fitzpatrick, media/stylist consultant

In FlaggingtheTherapy:PathwaysOutofDepressionandAnxiety, Dr Harry Barry has once more gifted us with his encyclopaedic knowledge of depression and anxiety as it presents to the general practitioner. Extending his unique model of analysing human distress, which he provided in his previous book, FlaggingTheProblem:ANewApproachtoMentalHealth, Dr Barry now presents a bio-psychosocial approach that covers everything from medication to meditation, herbal therapies to homeopathy, and the range of drug-therapy pathways, alternative-therapy pathways and talking-therapy pathways, to mention but a few. Most importantly, Dr Barry demonstrates his care, compassion, creativity and commitment, and the importance of the work of general practitioners, who are at the forefront of promoting health and dealing with ill-health and societal problems.
Marie Murray, health columnist with the IrishTimes, Director of Student Counselling Services in University College Dublin, and Director of Psychology at St Vincents Hospital Fairview

This book provides a highly readable account of the biology of stress, with appropriate advice for those seeking to rid themselves of the symptoms of anxiety and depression. For those troubled by mood disorder, the book is an invaluable source of information.
Prof. Ted Dinan, Department of Psychiatry, University College Cork

Flagging the Therapy is a wonderfully insightful book that helps people understand themselves, their anxiety and depression, and gives them the chance to embrace life again.
Cathy Kelly, author and UNICEF ambassador

Dr Barry is a general practitioner with an extensive range of experience working in communities where mental-health difficulties abound. Drawing on a wealth of first-hand clinical experience, this very readable book captures how physical and psychological therapies complement one another in helping people to overcome anxiety and depression. He charts a truly holistic path to mental health, where both the head and the heart are viewed as indispensable to achieving healing.
Tony Bates, founding director of Headstrong: The National Centre for Youth Mental Health

Dr Barry has written a fascinating and information-packed tour of mental-health therapies. He takes us through the science of emotional problems and describes this complex topic using easy-to-understand concepts and language. The tone brims over with his enthusiasm, wisdom, and everyday experiences as a treating clinician. Throughout, the emphasis is on the holistic approach, and he couples the research evidence with his personal views when assessing the effectiveness of the bewildering range of medication and talking-therapy choices facing anybody with anxiety or depression today. FlaggingtheTherapy will help making the right treatment choices easier.
Prof. Patrick McKeon, Aware

There are so many people that have played a part in making this book possible. I would like to start by thanking my editor, Sen OKeeffe (and his background staff) of Liberties Press, for seeing its potential and agreeing once again to create order out of my ramblings. I also thank Peter OConnell of Liberties for his wise advice at crucial stages of writing the text and his help with media and marketing.

I have already mentioned my friend and colleague Enda Murphy and his invaluable assistance. I have to thank his lovely wife Mei for putting up with the pair of us through nights of soul searching and hard work.

My thanks go to Cathy Kelly, author and UNICEF ambassador, for her continuing support and for taking the time from a hectic schedule to review the book. I also welcome the support and interest of fellow Raggy Doll Club honorary member and media organiser Lisa Fitzpatrick, and of well-known SundayIndependent journalist Carol Hunt, whose articles are so filled with humour and humanity. These women represent the best of modern Ireland and it is a privilege to be associated with them.

I also would like to thank Dr Muiris Houston for taking the time to review the text, and for his friendship and support. His reports in the excellent IrishTimes Health Plus supplement under editor Barry OKeeffe are widely respected by us all.

I would like once again to thank Prof. Ted Dinan, UCC, for his support and useful articles; also Prof. Patricia Casey, whose opinion I greatly value. I would like to thank reviewer Dr Justin Brophy, President, Irish College of Psychiatry a fellow neuroplastic advocate; and Prof. Pat McKeon of St Pats and founder member of Aware, for sharing his extensive knowledge of bipolar disorder.