Lewis Wolpert

The Anatomy of Depression

Malignant Sadness

Gavin

Clear, historical, philosophical stuff, and since he suffers from a filthy case himself he can wield authority properly for once. The chapters on the cultural variation in the expression of the illness (e.g. as a result of even more intense disdain for mental illness, Asians tend to report its symptoms as physical ailments rather than mental malaise) is startling to hear coming from such a conservative scientist, and all the more persuasive as a result. Learnt a very good word, too: "somatisation". 

I'd read Scott Alexander instead; the field is still moving a lot.

Malignant Sadness The Anatomy of Depression

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