Overview

LIVING WITH A DEAD BATTERY: Depression: A Primer for Family and Professionals is well written, professionally presented and scientifically accurate. It is up to date on the most recent methods and instruments of professional intervention in this ubiquitous disorder. This work will become a necessary compendium for every therapist and pastor who engages in a counselling ministry. Such practitioners will see cases of depression, in a plethora of forms and disguises - psychological, somatic and spiritual - and in all probability such cases will constitute the majority of those who come seeking help and relief. Dr. Donald B. Smith is obviously knowledgeable of the purely medical and psychological elements of depression. He, in a very skillful and professional way and one that reflects years of clinical experience, refutes the lie which unfortunately is common among Evangelicals that all depression is a symptom of a spiritual problem and must be dealt with by spiritual or pseudo-spiritual means. I have seen too many examples of patients suffering from depression, which was the result of purely psychological or physical causes, devastated by accusation and opinions that the disorder constituted evidence that there must be sin in the life of the suffering individual. Often there is nothing to confess and as result the individual feels abandoned by both God and man and becomes convinced that there is no available forgiveness. This eventuates in aggravation and deepening of the depressed state. We can be thankful that this author will not fall into this faux pas and has demonstrated that he has a forged clinical acumen. I am more than impressed with the author's knowledge of the recent advances in psychiatric intervention, especially in the area of current medications. The intricacies of neuro-chemistry is a difficult field and this author has done a remarkable service for the busy pastor and therapist in rendering the area of modern chemical intervention in the form of anti-depressants and tranquilizers more easily understood and therefore more available.

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9781935434931

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This book is one I can recommend without any reservation as an 'on-the-desk' compendium for every psychotherapist, counsellor, psychologist and psychiatrist, especially those who are students or entering the field. Here they will find a source of information that is immediately available, accurate, useful and invaluable. Even those who have experience in the field will find the succinct review of the neuro-chemical agents valuable. The author has done us a service by his intense review of the current literature and the indications for the use of medications and other methods of intervention currently available. One of the most useful volumes for the practicing therapist that I have seen for a long time!

Author Information

Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) Oxford Graduate School, Dayton TN The Sociological Integration of Religion and Society, Counseling Master of Science in Social Work (MSSW) University of Tennessee, Knoxville TN Social Work Administration and Social Work Community Organization Bachelor of Science (BS) Social Work (pre-professional) University of Chattanooga, Chattanooga TN Private practice of Social Work, Chattanooga, TN 1973-2004; Children's Social Worker, LA County, CA; Social Work Supvervisor: Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute, Chattanooga and Greatest Gift Hospice, Ft. Oglethorpe, GA; Prog Dir, Psychiatry Inpatient, Loyd Nolan Hosp, Birmingham, AL; Geriatric Program Coordinator, Valley Psychiatric Hospital, Chattanooga; Geriatric Coordinator & Hamilton County Mgr, Johnson Mental Health Center, Chattanooga, Program Director, Community Develop. Agency (Model Cities), Chattanooga; Dir of Liaison Services, TN Adolescent Re-Education Program, Chattanooga, TN.

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