Way Up From Down

A well-known psychiatrist offers a safe and effective nutritional treatment for low moods and depression and provides a self-rating scale to identify depression through the observation of physical and psychological symptoms

Maintaining that depression is biochemically induced, temporary and treatable, Los Angeles psychiatrist Slagle presents a nutritional treatment utilizing amino acids and vitamin-mineral supplements that are available sans prescription in pharmacies and health-food stores. The author, who has a history of "intense depression," readily admits that her alternative approach is controversial but, despite some awkward and repetitious prose, makes a solid case for food-mood connections. Readers are advised to self-test to discover if they are depressed by answering a number of questions, provided here. If they test as severely depressed, Slagle recommends that they seek a psychiatrist; others, she says, can embark on this self-help program alone. But the vagueness of the illness and the self-test questions, and the complicated nature of the treatment program, will deter readers, perhaps rightly so, from attempting this regimen without professional help. 25,000 first printing; major ad/promo; Prevention Book Club selection; author tour.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.