Lee H. Coleman - Depression: a guide for the newly diagnosed

Lee H. Coleman, PhD, ABPP, is a clinical psychologist specializing in clinical work, outreach, supervision, and consultation to university populations. He is currently assistant director and director of training at the California Institute of Technologys student counseling center.

Imagine being slowly lowered into a cave, against your will. The light fades, and the rock walls close in. You find yourself alone in complete darkness, lost, distressed, agitated, and maybe suicidal. This is the experience of depression. Imagine that a knowledgeable, kind, and thoughtful person appears with survival supplies, and even more important, a flashlight and map to lead you out of this terrifying place. Imagine no more. Depression: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed brings an invaluable map and light for those struggling with depression, the illness most likely to strike any of us during our lives. Buy it. Keep it handy for yourself and those you love.

J. Anderson Thomson, Jr., MD, staff psychiatrist at the University of Virginia Elson Student Health Center and coauthor of Facing Bipolar

This is a straightforward, helpful, and easy-to-read guide for the depressed person.

Myrna Weissman, PhD, coauthor of Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depressed Adolescents and AClinicians Quick Guide to Interpersonal Psychotherapy

Depression is a treatable condition, but a complex one that requires those afflicted to understand what they are facing and what they need to do to get better. In this highly accessible book, Lee Coleman guides the reader through the complexity in a comforting and straightforward way, addressing issues of diagnosis, treatment, and maintaining recovery. If you have depression and are confused about what to do, I highly recommend you start your path to wellness by reading this book.

Gregg Henriques, PhD, professor of clinical psychology at James Madison University and author of A New Unified Theory of Psychology

The book is sufficiently comprehensive, yet concise and accessible enough for almost any mental health practitioner to recommend to clients who are experiencing depression. It enables any reader who experiences depression to join in their own treatment as an informed and empowered participant. The author integrates insights from the extensive professional literature on depression and treatment effectiveness with wisdom and sensitivity gained in his own clinical practice to provide a useful, straightforward orientation to depression treatment.

Karen Maitland Schilling, PhD, professor emerita of psychology at Miami University

Publishers Note

Care has been taken to confirm the accuracy of the information presented and to describe generally accepted practices. However, the authors, editors, and publisher are not responsible for errors or omissions or for any consequences from application of the information in this book and make no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the contents of the publication.

The authors, editors, and publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that any drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accordance with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug and consult with their health care provider for any change in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new or infrequently employed drug.

Some drugs and medical devices presented in this publication may have Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for limited use in restricted research settings. It is the responsibility of the health care provider to ascertain the FDA status of each drug or device planned for use in their clinical practice.

Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books

Copyright 2012 by Lee Coleman New Harbinger Publications, Inc. 5674 Shattuck Avenue Oakland, CA 94609 www.newharbinger.com

Cover design by Amy Shoup; Text design by Michele Waters-Kermes; Acquired by Melissa Kirk; Edited by Will DeRooy

All Rights Reserved.

Epub ISBN: 978-1-60882-198-3

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file with publisher