Book Review: Depression, an emotion not a disease

The first thing to be said about Depression - An emotion not a disease is that the title does not do it justice. But I understand what Corry and Tubridy are trying to achieve here. They are attempting to capture in a succinct phrase an alternative to the prevailing bio-medical paradigm in which depression is understood and treated by orthodox medicine.
Corry and Tubridy correctly attack the reductionistic model which sees us as a bag of chemicals only. However, to say depression is an emotion, is also somewhat simplistic, unless the word 'emotion' carries a huge range of connotations. For many, the word is associated with a drives model of psychology, or what I have seen referred to as the 'hydraulic model'. The notion of drives, perverted, sublimated, supressed, repressed, became a leading model in its own right through its popularisation by Freud. In any case, the model outlined by Corry and Tubridy is a lot more complicated that the word emotion would suggest. In fact, this book offers something approaching an integrative account of depression and its treatment. In this regard, it is part of a movement being championed by David Shervan Schreiber and others.

This is a valuable and necessary book, and one written with passion. Some readers may be familiar with Corry's depression dialogues series which appeared in the Irish Times. The same passion comes through here. Corry rightly excoriates the objectifying tendencies of the biomedical model which completely disqualify subjective experience and interpretation. Scorn is justifiably poured on the pharmaceutical industry which seemingly puts the next quarter profits of its shareholdes before the real long term health of patients.


The challenge is to build a model that appropriately includes the different dimensions of mental problems. The best model I have seen so far is that of Ken Wilber (in theoretical outline). They key is that it incorporates subjective and objective dimensions, the empirical and the interpretative. Thus, exercise, nutrition, family systems, therapy, support, mindfulness, and in certain cases drugs are all potentially part of the solution.

I would argue that the current model discounts the subjective and interpretive dimensions. This objectification of human experience is in fact discounting, shaming, and disempowering. In my own view, it perpertuates depression. The social dimension of depression is only given lipservice as a statistical "factor" in understanding depression. Corry and Tubridy argue for a much richer viewpoint, and one that is more human and caring.

There is a slight tendency for these authors to over-correct and underestimate the physical dimension ( a position known as psychological reductionism). For instance, Tubridy is unrelenting in her assertions in her Panic book that there is no organic or genetic basis for Panic disorder, but there is research extant that clearly points in this direction (Just search medline for info on reactions to sodium lactate of panic disorder sufferers and first degree relatives). But, if I have small quibbles with the Corry and Tubridy model, that does not take away from the valuable alternative they are offering in this area. These pair are pointing in the right direction, and I hope they are joined by others in the development of more integrative models for healing ourselves and our society. They deserve support for their endeavors, and I can recommend this book highly. You can buy it at the link below or at good bookshops.