Summary

For many years, people who suffered from depression or bipolar disorder were stigmatized for their problems. However, today most scientists believe that these illnesses are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain and can be corrected with medication and talk therapy. In an accessible, easy-to-read format, Depression and Bipolar Disorder provides students with the basic facts, including the causes and treatments, to help students better understand the various problems associated with these mental disorders.

Specifications

Color photographs and illustrations. Index. Glossary. Further reading. Sidebars. References. Web sites.

About the Author(s)

Vatsal G. Thakkar, M.D., is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He was raised in Tennessee by parents of Indian origin. Thakkar received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Tennessee in Memphis. He currently is the medical director for the Vanderbilt Mental Health Center where he spends his time supervising residents in outpatient practice and directing a course for second-year medical students. He specializes in the outpatient treatment of depression.

Foreword author Pat Levitt, Ph.D., is the director of the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research on Human Development.