Description:Depression is one of the most common illnesses today, affecting one in five people at some time in their lives. It is potentially a severe and disabling mental illness influencing all aspects of a person's daily life. Better skills, medications, and techniques have been developed in the past ten years to successfully treat it. This important new book clears away the confusion and misunderstandings about depressive illness and provides valuable information about the dramatic advances that have been made in dealing with this disease. It explains how patients and those who care for them can take an active part in helping manage and treat depression.