The Ethical Treatment of Depression

This is not an anti-psychiatry book because, even though he explicitly puts more emphasis on stress than on biology in depression, he never recommends against the use of antidepressants. In that sense The Ethical Treatment of Depression contributes, in my opinion, to a hopeful trend toward more widespread application of insight oriented psychotherapy augmenting or augmented by the use of antidepressants.

Metapsychology

This is an important book for clinicians and medical ethicists who are seeking new ways to treat and understand depression's causes…Recommended.

Choice

Biegler's wonderful book sheds new light on autonomy, depression, and the moral purposes of medicine, making a strong case for preferring psychotherapeutic over drug treatments for depression. His clearly written, scientifically well-informed book is essential reading for all interested in medical ethics or mental disorders.

Richard Ashcroft, Professor of Bioethics, University of London

No other book combines philosophy with so much empirical information to critique overreliance on drugs in the treatment of a mental illness. Biegler's message is both sobering and clear. His book is a significant contribution to the philosophy of psychiatry as well as to the key role that maximizing patient autonomy should play in the choice of therapies for depression.

George Graham, Professor of Philosophy and Neuroscience, Georgia State University

This book is long overdue. Biegler gives a compelling analysis of the impact depression has on autonomous decision making—a factor which, he argues, has important implications for its treatment. Given how many people suffer from this debilitating disease worldwide, his insight has the potential to transform the medical, moral, and social well-being of a substantial portion of the world's population. The Ethical Treatment of Depression is essential for clinicians, bioethicists, lawyers, and policy practitioners.

Patricia Illingworth, Department of Philosophy and Religion, College of Business Adminstration, and School of Law, Northeastern University