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Depressive Disorders
A. Major Depressive Disorder
1. Research, Diagnosis, and Treatment
- ºô¯¸«Ø¸mªÌ: Depression Alliance Online (UK), a charity run by people with depression that offers support groups and information.
- A collection of detailed FAQs for the public about depression and available treatments.
- Good directory of Web sites on many topics related to depression and other emotional disorders.
- Search engine for news stories about depression that have been posted on the Internet.
- ºô¯¸«Ø¸mªÌ: C. L. Cameron, Ph.D.
- Frequently updated links to abstracts in the scientific literature concerning treatment of depression during pregnancy, effects of antidepressant medications on the developing fetus and during lactation, and postpartum depression.
Depression and Related Affective Disorders Association
- ºô¯¸«Ø¸mªÌ: Depression and Related Affective Disorders Association.
- Links to FAQs on other sites about depression and bipolar disorders.
- “The Reference Shelf?contains articles by psychiatrists for nonprofessionals about various affective disorders and pharmacological treatments; it also has a useful article on how to choose a therapist to treat depression.
- Links to research studies seeking participants.
- ºô¯¸«Ø¸mªÌ: Healingwell.com, which focuses on chronic illnesses.
- News items about depression and treatment.
- Small collection of links to relevant sites.
- Lists message boards and Usenet newsgroups for depression support.
- ºô¯¸«Ø¸mªÌ: PlanetRx, Inc.
- Well-written articles for the nonprofessional about depression and aspects of treatment.
- Articles summarizing each commonly prescribed antidepressant medication (note that the main business of the site’s ºô¯¸«Ø¸mªÌ is online pharmaceutical sales).
- A good introduction to cognitive therapy, listing the typical cognitive errors; the article would be useful for patients starting or considering cognitive therapy.
- Brief descriptions of alternative treatments for depression, such as acupuncture and herbal medicines.
- ºô¯¸«Ø¸mªÌ: Ivan Goldberg, M.D.
- Well-organized collection of links to journal abstracts and full-text journal articles about many aspects of depression and other mood disorders.
- Directory of relevant Web sites.
National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association
- ºô¯¸«Ø¸mªÌ: National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association.
- Focuses on the biochemical view of depression and on medication as the treatment of choice.
- Online brochures for the nonprofessional about aspects of depression such as suicide and mood disorders in adolescents.
- Directory of sites about depression.
- Information about the Association’s local support chapters throughout the U.S. and Canada.
National Foundation for Depressive Illness, Inc.
- ºô¯¸«Ø¸mªÌ: National Foundation for Depressive Illness, Inc., which aims to disseminate information about depression to the public.
- Very brief fact sheets about depression and treatment that emphasize the “chemical imbalance?theory of depression.
Psychology Information Online: Depression
- ºô¯¸«Ø¸mªÌ: Donald J. Franklin, Ph.D. (NJ).
- Fact sheets for clients about mood disorders and treatment options.
- Particularly good section about the history, theory, and practice of cognitive therapy.
Wing of Madness: A Depression Guide
- ºô¯¸«Ø¸mªÌ: Deborah Gray.
- A useful site for clients who need general information about depression.
- Directories of links to other relevant sites.
2. Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT)
- ºô¯¸«Ø¸mªÌ: Carl Littlejohns, MB, ChB MRCPsych (North Wales, UK).
- Presents pros and cons.
- Has links to other sites about ECT, as well as a bibliography of print literature.
- Patient information booklets.
- ºô¯¸«Ø¸mªÌ: Juli Lawrence, "ECT Survivor."
- Presents the case against ECT, particularly focusing on issues concerning adequacy of informed consent.
B. Dysthymic Disorder
Clarke Institute of Psychiatry: About Dysthymia
- ºô¯¸«Ø¸mªÌ: Clarke Institute of Psychiatry (Canada).
- FAQs for nonprofessionals about Dysthymic Disorder as an illness that is treatable by interpersonal psychotherapy.