Adolescent Depression: A Guide for Parents » (1st Edition)

Francis Mark Mondimore, M.D., is a psychiatrist and member of the clinical faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His books include Depression: The Mood Disease and Bipolar Disorder: A Guide for Patients and Families, both available from Johns Hopkins.

"I heartily recommend this book to parents and relatives of adolescents who have or may have mood disorders. It is written clearly and simply... and with a style that helps parents to understand the complexities of the problem that is optimistic of the likelihood of improvement with correct diagnosis and treatment." -- Journal of Clinical Psychiatry

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Fazal Ahmed, MD(Rush University Medical Center)
Description:This is an informative book on adolescent depression written by a faculty member of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Purpose:The purpose is to educate parents about the symptoms of adolescent depression to promote early recognition and to encourage them to seek early treatment and available interventions. The author tries to present depression as a medical model. He communicates the message successfully and uses simple narrative language and nicely avoids complex medical terms. The book largely meets the overall objectives.
Audience:The targeted audience are parents of adolescents who may be depressed. The book could be useful for all mental health workers, social workers, school counselors, etc. Family practitioners and pediatricians could also use the book while treating adolescents. The author is a credible authority in the field.
Features:The book is divided into four parts. The first deals with symptoms, syndromes, and diagnoses. The second covers medication and available psychotherapies. The third part deals with variations and causes. The final part covers strategies of treatment and the role of family. All the material is derived from the latest studies and the references are useful should one want to read further.
Assessment:Overall, this is a very useful and much needed book. It helps parents to understand all aspects of depression and related psychiatric issues in their adolescents. It will also help mental health workers, family practitioners, and pediatricians who work with this age group.