The Age of Melancholy, Dan G. Blazer
The Age of Melancholy, Dan G. Blazer
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The Age of Melancholy
Major Depression and its Social Origin

Author: Dan G. Blazer

Narrator: Walter Dixon

Unabridged: 8 hr 42 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Ascent Audio

Published: 09/28/2017


Synopsis

Depression has become the most frequently diagnosed chronic mental illness, and is a disability encountered almost daily by mental health professionals of all trades. "Major Depression" is a medical disease, which some would argue has reached epidemic proportions in contemporary society, and it affects our bodies and brains just like any other disease. Why, this book asks, has the incidence of depression been on such an increase in the last 50 years, if our basic biology hasn't changed as rapidly? To find answers, Dr. Blazer looks at the social forces, cultural and environmental upheavals, and other external, group factors that have undergone significant change. In so doing, the author revives the tenets of social psychiatry, the process of looking at social trends, environmental factors, and correlations among groups in efforts to understand psychiatric disorders.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Douglas

A provocative read -- my main takeaway is that emotional/mental problems are not necessarily "inside the skin," or not necessarily limited there, at any rate. Good applications for pastors.......more

Goodreads review by Liz

The Director of my college’s library puts out a newsletter every month telling us about new acquisitions in our areas, and this book was featured in the February 2006 newsletter. Since the topic, depression, applies to some research I am doing right now I decided to check it out. It discussed the so......more

Goodreads review by Kit

Disclaimer: I read preface and intro and carefully skimmed some of CH 4 & 8. Dr. Blazer pushes readers to move past overemphasis on the biological and individualized nature of depression to carefully place it within history, within community and recognize the unique factors and disadvantages faced by......more