Mood disorders affect around 1 in 5 people, but the diagnosis and management of these conditions can be challenging. This practical handbook presents a comprehensive overview of these disorders, as well as detailed guidelines for their treatment. The handbook takes a transdisciplinary approach to mood disorders, focusing not only on the biological aspects but also on psychosocial features of importance for optimal diagnosis and management. Content covers nosological considerations, historical aspects, peculiarities along the lifespan, and the associations between mood disorders and other conditions, with a focus on their implications for the optimal management of patients. Practical and evidence-based information is discussed on the role of guidelines related to treatment in selected population groups, including youth, the elderly, and women. With a practical, reader-friendly approach, this book will be invaluable for mental health professionals involved in the treatment of patients with mood disorders, including trainees from different mental health areas.

‘For the first time in many decades, we see novel treatments for mood disorders that work in unique ways and, in some cases, show astounding response rates. Innovations and new knowledge are coming from many different fields. Keeping up with them is mind-boggling. This book wonderfully reviews these many developments and clearly explains them. I cannot imagine how a busy clinician could manage this breadth and depth of understanding on their own; in this way, the book is an invaluable resource for everyone treating patients with mood disorders. It is crucial for us all to read this book as our patients deserve nothing less than a doctor fully informed in the best understanding and treatment of their devastating illness.’

Robert J. Boland - M. D., Senior Vice President & Chief of Staff, The Menninger Clinic; Professor and Vice Chair, Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine Houston, Texas