Experiences of Depression

In this book, the author integrates nearly 30 years of clinical insight and research on the nature of depression and the life experiences that contribute to it. Beginning with case studies of two patients in long-term treatment, this book demonstrates the value of considering the psychological dimensions of depression. The author identifies two subtypes of depression that, despite a common set of symptoms, have distinct roots. One, which he terms anaclitic depression, arises from feelings of loneliness and abandonment. The other, which he terms introjective depression, is born of feelings of failure and worthlessness. Recognizing these fundamentally different depressive experiences has spurred a wide range of research, the development of assessment tools, and advances in understanding the nature, etiology, and treatment of this disorder. The author reviews the extensive investigations of these two types of depression and examines the role of disturbances in mental representations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2005 APA, all rights reserved)