Depression Runs in Families

The goal of this book is to reach conclusions about the meaning of the simple assertion that depression runs in families, which has a far from simple explanation or meaning. People are typically held responsible for their own moods, and they are expected to overcome dysphoric states by will, effort and activity. However, the sheer number of people with affective disorders marks them as a common psychiatric problem. It is vital to expand investigations on the impact of depressive disorders on individuals and their families. This book is designed to address some of the gaps in previous research on depressive disorders in the family context. It summarizes what there is to know about the topic to date and attempts to answer such questions as the focus of medical interventions and genetic counselling when dealing with depression, and whether children or the family as a whole should be the target of psychotherapy.