Useful books
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Atkinson, Dr Holly: Women & Fatigue (Papermac, London, 1988). Deals with Depression in relation to Fatigue. Practical.
Ball, Jean A: Reactions to Motherhood. The role of postnatal care. (Books for Midwives Press, Cheshire UK. 1994) Research by a midwife on the effects that psychological and social factors, and care given by midwives, might have on the emotional state of the new mother. Interesting, especially for midwives, childbirth educators and obstetricians.
Barnett, Dr Bryanne: Coping with Postnatal Depression. (Lothian Books, Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 1991) An excellent, understandable explanation.
Baumel, Syd: Dealing with Depression Naturally. (Keats Publishing, Connecticut, USA. 1995) Offers “natural ways” to treat depression – vitamins, homeopathy, exercise, visualization, etc. May have some appeal.
Bloomfield, Dr Harold H. & McWilliams, Peter: How to Heal Depression. (Thorsons, London. 1995) Simple-to-follow explanation of depression, and suggestions of how to find healing.
Blackie, Penny: Becoming a Mother After Thirty. (Basil Blackwell, Oxford, UK. 1986) Practical suggestions from actual experience. Helpful.
Blumfield Wendy: Life after Birth. (Element Books, Shaftesbury, Dorset, UK. 1992.) Focus on reality of pregnancy, birth and what happens later, including a section on PND. Good.
Breen, Dana: Talking with Mothers. (Free Association Books, London.1989. The reader joins a mother and shares her experience of pregnancy, birth and afterwards – her fears, fantasies and reflections at this time of change. Recommended.
Buist, Anne. Psychiatric Disorders associated with Childbirth - A Guide to Management. (McGraw-Hill, Australia, 1996) Excellent, serious, academic.
Burns, David D. M.D.: Feeling Good. (Signet Books, New York, 1981) A practical, cognitive approach - self-help treatment for depression.
Burns, David D. M.D.: The Feeling Good Handbook. (Plume Books, Penguin Books, Middlesex, England. 1990) See above. Exercises.
Comport, Maggie: Towards Happy Motherhood. (Corgi Books, London. 1987) A self-help book, offering sound and sympathetic advice on managing PND.
Copeland, Mary Ellen. Living Without Depression & Manic Depression. New Harbinger Publications, Oakland, California. 1995) Work Book for maintaining mood stability. Practical.
Cox, John & Holden, Jeni: Perinatal Psychiatry. Use and Misuse of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. (Gaskell, Royal College of Psychiatrists, London, 1994) Research-based, academic, and excellent.
Cox, John L.: A Guide for Health Professionals. Postnatal Depression. (Churchill Livingstone, Longman, Edinburgh, 1986) Classic.
Coyne, James C. (Ed.): Essential Papers on Depression. (New York University Press, 1985). Exactly what it claims to be.
Cozad, Sheryl & Craig: Mam’s Voyage. (Willow Pond Arts, Norman OK, USA, 1999). Beautifully illustrated graphic representation of PND. Art.
Dalton, Katharina: Depression after Childbirth. (Oxford University Press, 1985) Classic. Exponent of hormonal treatment for PND.
Dalton, Katharina with Holton, Wendy M.: Depression after Childbirth. (Oxford Paperbacks, 1996) See above revised 3rd edition.
DePaulo, J. Raymond, MD & Ablow, Keith Russell, MD: How to Cope with Depression. (Fawcett Crest, New York. 1989). Guide to general Depression.
Dominian, Jack. Depression. What is it? How do we cope? (Fontana, Glasgow, UK. 1990) Readable, general overview of depression at different stages in the life cycle.
Dix, Carol: The New Mother Syndrome. (Unwin Paperbacks, London. 1987) Easily read, compassionate and recommended.
Dunnewold Ann L: Evaluation and Treament of Postpartum Emotional Disorders. (Professional Resource Press, Sarasota, Florida. 1997) Academic. Excellent for practitioners.
Dunnewold, Ann & Sanford, Diane G.: Postpartum Survival Guide. “ It wasn’t supposed to be like this …” (New Harbinger, California, 1994). Excellent, accessible and practical. Highly recommended.
Eagan, Andrea Boroff: The Newborn Mother. (Own Books, Henry Holt & Co. New York, 1987) A sensitive description of the process of adjustment to motherhood.
Eisenberg, Arlene, et al: What to Expect the first year. (Simon & Schuster, London, 1996)
Feinmann, Jane. Surviving the baby blues. (Ward Lock, 1997) Excellent, understandable and helpful book about postnatal depression.
Field, Peggy Anne & Marck, Patricia Beryl, Eds: Uncertain Motherhood. (Sage Publications, London, 1994) Sensitive and thought-provoking book about maternal behaviour in non-optimal outcomes of pregnancy. Recommended for health professionals.
Figes, Kate: Life after Birth. What even your friends won’t tell you about motherhood. (Viking, 1998) Comprehensive, and readable. Good.
Flach, Frederic F., MD: The Secret Strength of Depression. (Bantam, London 1986).
Gillett, Dr Richard: Overcoming Depression. A practical self-help guide to prevention and treatment. (The British Holistic Medical Association. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1987). This book does what it promises to do!
Hamilton, James Alexander, & Harberger, Patricia Neel (Eds.): Postpartum Psychiatric Illness. A Picture Puzzle. (University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, USA, 1992). A scholarly, informative classic.
Huysman, Arlene M: A Mother’s Tears. Understanding the Mood Swings that Follow Childbirth. (Seven Stories Press, New York. 1998) An excellent, research-based, accessible book, useful for clinicians and lay public.
Irwin, Cait: Conquering the Beast Within. How I fought depression and won … and how you can, too. (Times Books, Random House, New York, 1998) A teenager’s powerful description of her journey into the darkness.
James, Jennifer: Women & the Blues. Passions that hurt Passions that heal. (Harper & Row, San Francisco, 1988.) Deals with depression at different times in a woman’s life, offering practical advice.
James, Kath. The Depressed Mother. A Practical Guide to Treatment and Support. (Cassell, London. 1998). A nurse writes, explaining PND, its effects and management.
Kendall-Tackett, Kathleen A. & Kantor, Glenda Kaufman. Postpartum Depression. A Comprehensive Approach for Nurses. (Sage Publications, London, 1993) What you would expect. Very good.
Kleinman, Karen R. & Raskin, Valerie D.: This Isn’t What I Expected. Overcoming Postpartum Depression. (Bantam Books, New York, 1994) An excellent book for sufferers and those around them, with lots of practical guidelines.
Kumar, R. & Brockington, I.F: Motherhood and Mental Illness. Causes and consequences. (Wright, Butterworth & Co., London, 1988) Academic, important reference work.
Lake Tony: Defeating Depression. (Penguin, 1987). General depression.
Lewis, Cynthia Copeland: Mother’s First Year. (Betterway Publications, Virginia, USA, 1989)
Lipkin, Mike: Lost and Found. My Journey to Hell and Back. (Human & Rousseau, Cape Town, 1995). Rivetting, personal experience of depression.
Littlewood, Jane & McHugh, Nessa. Maternal Distress and Postnatal Depression. The Myth of the Madonna. (Macmillan, 1997) Takes a multifactorial view of PND; research-based. Very useful for care-givers.
Marmorstein, Jerome, and Marmarstein, Nanette: Awakening from Depression. A Mind/Body Approach to Emotional Recovery. (Woodbridge Press, Santa Barbara, USA, 1992). A Self-Help Guide to managing general depression.
Maushart, Susan: The Mask of Motherhood. (Vintage Australia. Random House, 1997) An excellent book that looks at the reality of becoming a mother. Recommended.
McConville, Brigid: Beating the Blues. (Headline Book Publishing, London, 1996) Very readable, self-help book about depression, including PND.
McConville, Brigid: Mad to Be a Mother. (Century Hutchinson, London, 1987). Readable anaysis of the pressures and anomalies that face mothers in today’s society.
McCormick, Elizabeth Wilde. Nervous Breakdown. A Positive Guide to Coping Healing and Rebuilding. (Unwin Paperbacks, 1988) Discusses symptoms and management of life crises that overwhelm people.
Misri, Shaila, M.D.: Shouldn’t I be Happy? Emotional problems of pregnant and postpartum women. (Simon & Schuster, New York, 1995) Comprehensive, compassionate and realistic. Recommended.
Murray, Joanna: Prevention of Anxiety and Depression in Vulnerable Groups. A Review of the Theoretical, Epidemiological and Applied Research Literature. (Gaskell, Royal College of Psychiatrists, London, 1995) Academic and professional.
Murray, Lynne & Cooper, Peter J. (Eds): Postpartum Depression and Child Development. (Guildford Press, New York, 1997). Scholarly and excellent. Recommended.
Musikanth, Susan: Depression Matters. (Jonathan Ball Publishers, Jeppestown, 1997) Readable, useful and practical. General Depression.
Newton, Jennifer: Preventing Mental Illness. (Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd., London, 1990). Academic, reviews research, makes recommendations for treatment.
Oakley, Ann: From Here to Maternity. (Penguin, Middlesex, England, 1986) An overview of various stages of early motherhood, from pregnancy onwards. Realistic and readable.
Pacific Post Partum Support Society: Postpartum Depression and Anxiety. A Self-Help Guide for Mothers. (1997). Simple, readable and down-to-earth.
Page, Andrew: Don’t Panic! Overcoming anxiety, phobias & tension. (Health Book Series, Australia). Self-help booklet.
Phillips, Jenny. Mothers Matter Too! A positive approach to life for mothers at home. (Penguin, Middlesex, England, 1985). Feminist, realistic and helpful.
Placksin, Sally: Mothering the New Mother. Your Postpartum Resource Companion. (Newmarket Press, New York, 1994) An excellent resource book for new mothers.
Price, Jane: Motherhood. What it Does to your Mind. (Pandora Press, Unwin Hyman, London, 1988) A realistic, helpful and readable book about early motherhood, including postnatal depression.
Priest, Robert: Anxiety & Depression. A practical guide to recovery. (Martin Dunitz, 1983). Very simple. General.
Raskin, Valerie Davis, M.D.: When Words are Not Enough. (Broadway Books, New York, 1997)
Rix, Juliet: Is There Sex After Childbirth? (Thorsons, Harper Collins, London, 1995)
Roan, Sharon L. Postpartum Depression. (Adams Media Corporation, 1997)
Rowe, Dorothy. Breaking The Bonds. (Fontana, Harper Collins, London,1991)
Rowe, Dorothy: Choosing Not Losing. (Fontana, Harper Collins, London, 1988)
Sanders, Deidre: Women and Depression. (Sheldon Press, London, 1987)
Sapsted, Anne Marie: Banish Post-Baby Blues. (Thorsons, England, 1990)
Scarf, Maggie: Unfinished Business. (Ballentine Books, New York, 1988)
Sebastian, Linda. Overcoming Postpartum Depression & Anxiety. (Addicus, 1998)
Shaw, Fiona: Composing Myself. A Journey Through Postpartum Depression. (Steerforth Press, Vermont, USA, 1998) . Dramatic, disturbing personal account of Postnatal Depression.
Shaw, Fiona: Out of Me: The Story of a Postnatal Depression. (Viking, 1997) See above – British Edition.
Smith, Gerryilyn & Nairne, Kathy: Dealing with Depression. (The Women’s Press, London, 1995)
Swigart, Jane: The Myth of the Bad Mother. The Emotional Realities of Mothering. (Doubleday, New York, 1991). Excellent look at the psychological processes of care-giving from birth to adolescence.
Taylor, Verta: Rock-a-By Baby. (Routledge, New York, 1996)
Viorst, Judith: Necessary Losses. (Simon & Schuster, London, 1986)
Welburn, Vivienne: Postnatal Depression. (Fontana, London, 1986)
(Compiled by Liz Mills: March 2000)
Understanding PND
- Is it PND?
- Not just the "Blues"
- Symptom checklist
- Vulnerablity factors
- PND symptoms and feelings
- The birth of a mother
- Influences on women at birth
- Research article
- Media articles
- Useful books
- Useful websites
Help for Family and Friends
- Strategies that work
- The "N.U.R.S.E" approach
- Womens' voices
- When your partner has PND
- Someone you know has PND