"The most thorough and wide-ranging discussion for lay readers about the interplay of the physical and emotional elements of depression and manic-depression... His presentation is illuminating, and the case histories demonstrate his sensitivity and skill as a clinician.... Whybrow's presentation offers a deeper understanding of, along with a humane and wise approach to these very troubling illnesses."
-- Kirkus Reviews

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 14 reviews)

candy for the psychopharmacological sweet tooth

Very well written and well researched, this book is cotton candy for anyone with a psychopharmacological sweet tooth. It contains a good deal of information about neuroscience and psychiatry, including some of the historical underpinnings of these fields. I'm guessing that others have compared this with Peter Kramer's Listening to Prozac, and there are some superficial similarities, such as a somewhat philosophical bent. Like Kramer's book, this one also has detailed, very interesting case studies, where the ones in A Mood Apart are probably a bit longer and more detailed. Two case studies that I remember well are those of Claire Dubois and John Moorehead, where both persons are afflicted with significant depression. A major distinction between this book and Listening to Prozac is that the latter was much more explicitly about antidepressants and their philosophical implications. One very mild criticism of A Mood Apart is that I wonder if the author thinks that depression is simply a more extreme variant of ordinary sadness, when I don't think this is the case. Overall, a captivating read that anyone interested in mental health, and mood disorders in particular, will find fascinating and informative. Author of Adjust Your Brain: A Practical Theory for Maximizing Mental Health.
November 25, 2007

Depression or Doldrums...

There is a vast difference from being down in the dumps, having a bad day, being moody and a mental illness. Acting as if all is well when clearly there is a problem does not raise self-esteem or one's self-competency. Today, if a woman is moody, she's bi-polar. In the old days, it was simply hormones, her time of the month, which was degrading and so she succumbed to migraines (a real illness) to compensate. Men go through the change of life with all of the moods, drastic changes, loff of self-control and search for importance.

Women aare not the only humans who have sttitude regardless of educational training. The Bible advocates that we should treat others as we want to be treated, but it doesn't always work that way. Never has. You may be able to forgive ill-mannered and derogatory treatment once, but not a second time.

It's never good to measure your behavior by how another person responds. Each of us has dreams, goals, and aspirations. As the song goes, "wish on a star." The greatest treasure above all abilities is having a good friend who likes you just the way you are. A friend listens when you're hurting and doesn't criticize. An importand thing I learned in water therapy is to stand tall (or erect, good posture) and not to give in to moods. Take a walk in the fresh air to sweep the cobwebs away from your negative feelings of how bad you may feel. If you look good, you'll feel good, or better. When I first came home to Knoxville, I soon learned that people don't speak or smile at those they don't know. And so I changed things a bit, acted like I was still in the smalltown where there are no strangers. Is it better to be ignored or gossiped about? It's hard not to be sensitive to what other people say about you, but stay on an even keel while fighting for your rights.

Cheery people are tolerated easier than someon who's always grumbling. Life is what we make it for the most part with a few surprizes along the way. The object is not to let the unexpected throw you for a loop. When you overcome obstatles, you have more self-confidence, thus more self-esteem. Each of us are special in our own ways, whether it be naiteve, strength of character, high principles, even a temper. Our talents vary, and sometimes late-bloomers enjoy using a talent they always had but, in the past, someone had put down as worthless. Jealousy raises minor irritations to major proportions. There will always be someone who does not want you to succeed, so he can feel superior. As a matter of fact, he's a brute and should be treated as one.

To beat the blues when someone intentionally steps on your ability to override snide remarks, take a time out so as not to retaliate. Go for a ride on a different bus to see different people and things. Show interst in them and soon you'll feel more alive as you listen and observe. You mood improves and you not only feel better, you look better, too. Self-image is important, but we're not all beauties. Keep in mind you're not out to please others but to please yourself. Then, you will think, "What a beautiful world."
February 23, 2007

The Best Book on Manic Depression I've Read

Dr. Whybrow demonstrates his extensive knowledge regarding the spectrum of mood disorders in a highly interesting, entertaining, poetic and informative way. Never have I read a book by a doctor that actually humanizes the person and the condition in such depth, exploring the cultural, historical and philosophical/religious aspects of manic depression as well as detailing the intricacies of the effects of sleep, seasonal change, circadian rhythms, and lifestyle on mood. There is the typical discussion of medications, but this book does not focus solely on that as much literature in this realm does. Rather, this book covers nearly every topic worth mentioning in this extremely well-written, colorful, introspective, and fascinating read.
September 02, 2005

Informative and enjoyable

This is a well written, informative and even enjoyable book to read on what is in many ways a difficult subject for people. The author discusses the psychological, physiological, and social factors surrounding bipolar disorders and depression and discusses current treatments and how they work. The book is full of a tremendous amount of practical information that should be of use to anyone concerned with this subject.

I myself studied the neurobiology and psychology of emotion and moods in grad school, and I thought I'd make a few more comments there, since we're on the subject, in case anyone finds them useful.

As many people are aware, much of the research up to this point on mood disorders has focused on the serotonin and dopaminergic issues, especially since these chemicals have a profound influence on the limbic system areas and the areas they connect with, such as the temporal, frontal, and prefrontal cortex, which are responsible for emotional behavior and many aspects of personality. It is well established that chemical imbalances and/or damage, such as through trauma and stroke and so on, can cause various syndromes, ranging from mood and emotional disorders to cognitive deficiencies. We still have a lot to learn about all this, but the basic chemical pathways, neurophysiology, and neuroanatomy has been worked out pretty well at this point. We'll be able to make more specific correlations as further progress is made. For example, deficits in long-term motivation (which many people have) have been found to be associated with the nerve pathways connecting the prefrontal cortex and the limbic system.

Some of this research may even be relevant to issues relating to schizophrenia and even the problem of consciousness itself. For example one thing that has become clear in recent decades is that what we call "consciousness" actually results from the integration of separate and diverse brain areas whose functions have to be coordinated in time in order for consciousness to occur, and that when this integration becomes impaired, there are problems. It has been suggested that this by itself could be responsible for schizophrenia. Of course, it remains to be seen if can be treated some way, but again, our understanding of the possible mechanism is continuing to progress.

Another fascinating study I read relating to another aspect of emotional behavior was the finding that 70% of death-row inmates have been found to have abnormal EEGs and brain waves emanating from the amygdala, a structure in that primitive and often nefarious region of our brains known as the limbic system, wherein many of our most basic motivations, drives and needs are controlled--both good and bad.

The amygdala is well known to be involved in aggressive and even homicidal behavior. In one famous case, a formerly quiet, unassuming man developed an amygdalar tumor and went up a tower at the Univ. of Texas back in the early 60s and shot 17 people and wounded 30 others before he was stopped. There are now drugs that treat abnormal electrical activity in the brain, and the hope is that someday they may even be able to detect and prevent situations like this.

For a another fascinating example, take homosexuality, which many people still think is a form of psychopathology. Freud said it was because the boy didn't have a strong father figure, and so doesn't know better. For years homosexuals were treated with psychoanalysis with no effect. Then about 20 years ago, a scientist at Caltech made the amazing discovery that heterosexuals and homosexuals had different neurochemical and anatomical characteristics in one of the limbic areas known as the neurosecretory zone of the preoptic hypothalamic nucleus. In fact, he was able to get animals to display either heterosexual or homosexual behavior by diffusing neurosynaptic chemicals into the preoptic area. So much for the Freudian theory. This research proves that this aspect of our behavior is due entirely to how are brains are wired from birth, and has nothing to do with old notions of psychopathology.

Finally, one of the most fascinating cases I came across was a number of people who had been perfectly normal, but had recently become almost complete "vegetables" and had to be hospitalized. At least so they seemed on the surface. There was nothing wrong with them cognitively, they still had normal reasoning ability and could talk and socialize if they wanted to. They just had no interest in it. They progressively lost interest in their famlies, jobs, friends, everything, and eventually had to be hospitalized.

Finally, it was discovered that these people had amazingly developed an epileptic seizure focus in the orgasm center in the brain. It's been a while since I read the article, but if I remember right, it had the tongue-twisting name of the nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis. In any case, it was in one of the somatosensory processing areas in the thalamus, which is a structure just below the cortex but above the limbic system. Although this is technically a form of epilepsy, there are no convulsions associated with this syndrome (just as there aren't in the case of temporal-lobe epilepsy, which, since it occurs in the memory and associational area of the brain, produces intense visions and memories).

Now it was obvious why these people weren't interested in anything else in their lives. They had orgasms that went on for several minutes, and due to the intensity of the electrical discharge, were probably 10 to 100 times as intense as a normal person's orgasms. And they kept having them. Especially the women patients said it was better than anything they could experience before. So they just sat there, waiting, yearning, hoping, for that next "seizure."

Of course, these people don't want to be cured. As for me, I want to know how I can sign up. :-)

Anyway, just a few interesting things to consider relating to our knowledge of the brain and behavior. I realize I departed somewhat from the original focus of mood and emotional disorders, but perhaps you'll find my comments about other areas of the mind and brain informative or at least interesting.
September 27, 2004

A Review Apart

I whole heartedly agree with all of the other reviews. This book is tremendously insightful. I would like to add that this is not a book solely about bi-polar and manic depression. It is also about unipolar depression. I found that to read about all these types of depression together to be very insightful about my own place amongst all the variations. And this was a very interesting point made by the book that all these types of variables do occur in people without the dehabilitating forms of these illnesses. The form of the illness is not out of the ordinary, so to speak. Excellent book. Layered with insights into biology, psychology, history, genetics, and evolutionary adaptation.
May 23, 2003

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