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In 1983, Johan Beck-Friis published his dissertation Melatonin in depressive disorders - a methological and clinical study of the pineal-hypothalamic-adrenal cortex system. Now he has published an overview over depression as a disease. During the intervening years, Beck-Friis has trained to become a psychoanalyst and has accumulated a considerable amount of experience. Thus, the book relates to both the biological and psychoanalytic fields of investigation.
In the second section of the book, Beck-Friis reviews the psychoanalytic literature on depression. For a well-informed reader, there will perhaps not be much new here. This is followed by thematic passages on the psy-chosexual stages, on narcissism, superego and ego ideal, introjection, incorporation, guilt, shame, and sorrow as “the sister of happiness”. Throughout the book, Beck-Friis uses the myth of Orpheus to illustrate various clinical and theoretical points of view.
In the third section, dealing with the neurophysiologi-cal and neuroanatomic points of view, the author presents neurasthenia, stress-related depression (or “burn-out”), post-traumatic stress syndrome and the influence of stress and depression on the organism. These parts of the book are among the best. Beck-Friis is a master at delivering short up-to-date information, especially on hormonal disturbances, their connection with mental states and their influence on physiological balance. Raised levels of cortisol may not only lead to atrophic processes in the hippocampus but also to the metabolic syndrome, to a weakening of the immune defence system and to osteoporosis. Such information is important for any discussion of when and how to administer treatment.
Of equal interest is the exposition of biological rhythm, and Beck-Friis has interesting things to say about winter depression, circadian rhythm, jet-lag and light therapy. He goes on to discuss observable differences between the sexes and between various age groups, adding to this information,