Scope

This research guide will direct you to resources for understanding depressive disorders and their causes, symptoms, treatments, and effects on society.

Overview

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-IV-TR
College Library Reference Collection:  RC455.2 C4 D536 2000
Refer to “Depressive Disorders,” page 369

Encyclopedia of Suicide
College Library Reference Collection: HV 6545 E87 2003

Encyclopedia of Mental Health
College Library Reference Collection: RA 790.5 E53 1998
Refer to: “Depression,” volume 1, pages 723-741

Encyclopedia of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Psychoanalysis
College Library Reference Collection: RC 437 E49 1996
See “Depression” entries in index for individual subtopics, page 632 in index

Encyclopedia of Psychology
College Library Reference Collection: BF 31 E52 2000 volume 2
Refere to "Depression" in volume 2

The Gale Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders
College Library Reference Collection: RC 437 G35 2003
Refer to “Depression and Depressive Disorders,” volume 1, page 291; “Dysthymic Disorder,” volume 1, page 342; “Major Depressive Disorder,” volume 2, page 583

Encyclopaedia Britannica Online 1992 (updated daily)
Britannica Online is a searchable collection of authoritative references, including Britannica's latest encyclopedia articles. Basic instructions for Encyclopædia Britannica Online

Finding Journal and News Articles

Below are links to databases that cover this subject area. The truncation symbol for all of them is an asterisk (*) unless otherwise noted.

Sample searches for databases:

"clinical depression"
“major depression”
“mental depression”
“depression and treatment”
“mood disorders and depression”
“depression and children”
“depression and men”
“depression and old age”
“depression and women”
“mental disorders”
“mental illness”

Recommended Databases:

Academic Search 1984 - to date (updated daily)
This library database indexes approximately 3,100 popular magazines and academic journals and provides the full-text articles from approximately 1,000 journals. Basic instructions for Academic Search

CQ Researcher November 1991 - to date (updated weekly)
Contains weekly reports from Congressional Quarterly that cover the most current and controversial issues. Basic instructions for CQ Researcher

Health and Wellness Resource Center 1994 - to date (updated daily)
Provides health information for nursing and allied health students, as well as consumer health research. It offers full text for more than 150 periodicals, six reference books, and over 500 pamphlets.

 

Health Source: Consumer Edition 1984 - to date (updated daily)
Provides the full text since 1990 from approximately 280 periodicals covering nutrition, exercize, medical self-care, drugs and alcohol, and much more. Basic instructions for Health Source: Consumer Edition

ProQuest Research Library 1988 - to date (updated daily)
Indexes over 2,000 general-interest and academic journals. Nearly 1,000 periodicals are full-text. Dates vary, but many full-text journals go back to 1988. Basic instructions for ProQuest Research Library

More Databases:

Education Full Text 1983 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes more than 400 scholarly and trade periodicals and selected monographs in education, educational psychology, college life, teacher education and evaluation. Basic instructions for Education Full Text

GenderWatch 1980 - to date (updated quarterly)
A women's and gender issues database with full-text coverage of most journals. Basic instructions for GenderWatch

PsycINFO 1872 - to date (updated weekly)
Indexes 1,300 scholarly journals along with books and book chapters in psychology, educational psychology, and behavioral sciences. Basic instructions for PsycINFO

Social Sciences Full Text 1983 - to date (updated monthly)
Indexes more than 415 scholarly journals in economics, politics, public administration, public health, sociology, criminology, environmental and urban studies, psychology and anthropology. Basic instructions for Social Sciences Full Text

Finding Books

MadCat
Books on depression can be found in MadCat, the UW-Madison library catalog.

Sample keyword searches:

“depression, mental”
“depression and treatment”
“mood disorders and depression”
“depression in children”
“depression and men”
“depression and old age”
“depression and women”
“mental disorders”
“mental illness”
“psychometrics”
“psycholog? and test?”

Internet Sites

NIMH – Depression
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/depression.cfm
Information about depression from the National Institute of Mental Health.”

Depression Information and Support
http://depression.about.com/
“Information about types of depression, treatment and support options, and chat forum.”

Internet Mental Health
http://www.mentalhealth.com/
This site organizes hundreds of entries on mental disorders, medications, and other topics. Click on a disorder for a menu that includes descriptions, treatments, research, magazine articles, and links to related sites.

Mental Health Info Source
http://www.mhsource.com/
Sponsored by Continuing Medical Education, Inc., this site “offers the latest information and educational resources for healthcare professionals. The National Mental Health Information Center was developed for users of mental health services and their families, the general public, policy makers, providers, and the media.”

National Mental Health Information Center
http://www.mentalhealth.org/cmhs/
Web site sponsored by the National Department of Health and Human Services Center for Mental Health Services/Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Statistics

The World Almanac and Book of Facts
College Library Reference Collection: AY 67 N5
Refer to page 95 for “Depression”

Statistical Abstract of the United States
College Library Reference Collection: HA 202 U5
Refer to table 170 “Mental Health Facilities”

The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/numbers.cfm (also available as a .pdf file)
NIMH’s statistical data on the prevalence of different mental illnesses in America. Refer to “Depressive Disorders” section.

NAMI - About Mental Illness
http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Inform_Yourself/About_Mental_Illness/About_Mental_Illness.htm
Statistical data from NAMI on the nature and severity of mental illnesses.

Return To Top

Videos

Discovering Psychology
College Library Main Collection, 3rd Floor, Room 3191: BF 131 D55 1989
Series integrates a historical and cutting-edge perspective of the field of psychology. New developments are measured against historical breakthroughs, and theories are tested by the recent findings of leading researchers.

The Mind
College Library Main Collection, 3rd Floor, Room 3191: QP 356 M55 1988
Nine part television series that explores the way science has looked into the mind throughout history - from psychoanalysis to neuroscience. Contents: [pt.1] The search for mind -- [pt.2] Development -- [pt.3] Aging - - [pt.4] Addictions -- [pt.5] Pain and healing -- [pt.6] Depression -- [pt.7] Language -- [pt.8] Thinking -- [pt.9] The violent mind.

Welcome to Happy Valley
College Library Main Collection, 3rd Floor, Room 3191: RC 483.5 F55 W45 1995
Frontline travels to the Prozac capital of the world, Wenatchee, Washington, and talks to a clinical psychologist who says Prozac is "probably less toxic than salt."

Organizations

American Psychological Association
http://www.apa.org
“Based in Washington, DC, the American Psychological Association (APA) is a scientific and professional organization that represents psychology in the United States. With more than 150,000 members, APA is the largest association of psychologists worldwide.”

National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI)
http://www.nami.org
“NAMI is a nonprofit, grassroots, self-help, support and advocacy organization of consumers, families, and friends of people with severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic and other severe anxiety disorders, autism and pervasive developmental disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and other severe and persistent mental illnesses that affect the brain.”

NAMI Wisconsin
http://www.namiwisconsin.org
“NAMI Wisconsin is a grassroots organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for those affected by mental illness throughout Wisconsin.”

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
http://www.dbsalliance.org/
“The nation’s leading patient-directed organization focusing on the most prevalent mental illnesses – depression and bipolar disorder. The organization fosters an understanding about the impact and management of these life-threatening illnesses by providing up-to-date, scientifically-based tools and information written in language the general public can understand."

Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation
http://www.bpkids.org
“This national organization seeks to educate professionals and the public about early-onset bipolar disorders. It provides information on the disorders as well as links to medical Web sites, related organizations, online audio and video presentations, full-text articles and abstracts of scientific and professional journals, and new research findings.”