Experiences of Depression

A study in phenomenology

Matthew Ratcliffe

International Perspectives in Philosophy and Psychiatry

The most detailed account to date of the phenomenology of depression, making it of considerable interest to anyone seeking to understand or relate to experiences of depression
Brings together research in phenomenology, philosophy of mind and psychology, psychiatry and several other disciplines meaning it will be of interest to a wide academic audience
Makes clear the relevance of philosophical research to the understanding of depression and vice versa. It will appeal to both philosophers and clinical practitioners
Clearly written throughout with as little technical language as possible so it is intelligible to any educated person seeking to understand experiences of depression
Includes a more generally applicable method for phenomenological enquiry, as well as a phenomenological analysis that can be employed to understand human experience in general and, more specifically, the many different forms of anomalous experience that arise in psychiatric illness

Experiences of Depression

A study in phenomenology

Matthew Ratcliffe

International Perspectives in Philosophy and Psychiatry

Description

Experiences of Depression is a philosophical exploration of what it is like to be depressed. In this important new book, Matthew Ratcliffe develops a detailed account of depression experiences by drawing on work in phenomenology, philosophy of mind, and several other disciplines. In so doing, he makes clear how phenomenological research can contribute to psychiatry, by helping us to better understand patients' experiences, as well as informing classification, diagnosis, and treatment.

Throughout the book, Ratcliffe also emphasizes the relevance of depression to philosophical enquiry. He proposes that, by reflecting on how experiences of depression differ from 'healthy' forms of experience, we can refine our understanding of both. Hence phenomenological research of this kind has much wider applicability. He further shows how the study of depression experiences can inform philosophical approaches to a range of topics, including interpersonal understanding and empathy, free will, the experience of time, the nature of emotion and feeling, what it is to believe something, and what it is to hope.

This book will be of interest to anyone seeking to understand and relate to experiences of depression, including philosophers, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, therapists, and those who have been directly or indirectly affected by depression.

Experiences of Depression

A study in phenomenology

Matthew Ratcliffe

International Perspectives in Philosophy and Psychiatry

Introduction
1. The World of Depression
2. Experiencing the Possible
3. Depression and the Body
4. Loss of Hope
5. Depth, Guilt and Narrative
6. Agency and Free Will
7. Time
8. Other People
9. Depression and Empathy
10. The Nature of Depression
Appendix: Depression Questionnaire Respondents
References

Experiences of Depression

A study in phenomenology

Matthew Ratcliffe

International Perspectives in Philosophy and Psychiatry

Author Information

Matthew Ratcliffe, Professor of Philosophy, Durham University, UK, Department of Philosophy, Durham University

Matthew Ratcliffe is Professor of Philosophy at Durham University, UK. Most of his research addresses issues in phenomenology, philosophy of psychology and philosophy of psychiatry. He is author of Rethinking Commonsense Psychology: A Critique of Folk Psychology, Theory of Mind and Simulation (Palgrave, 2007) and Feelings of Being: Phenomenology, Psychiatry and the Sense of Reality (Oxford University Press, 2008).

Experiences of Depression

A study in phenomenology

Matthew Ratcliffe

International Perspectives in Philosophy and Psychiatry

Reviews and Awards

"This book is truly in its own class. I can appreciate the detailed description of the experience of depression. One cannot read this book without reflecting on the different depressive symptoms. Undoubtedly, it will help readers empathize with people struggling with depression. " -- Doody's

"[Ratcliffe] deserves recognition and praise for presenting the reader with an excellent book. The book is well worth reading and can be recommended, especially to clinical psychologists and psychiatrists who are interested in a phenomenological account of depression." --Journal of Phenomenological Psychology

"The book provides thought-provoking material and will deepen even an experienced reader's understanding of the nature of depression." -Australasian Psychiatry

Experiences of Depression

A study in phenomenology

Matthew Ratcliffe

International Perspectives in Philosophy and Psychiatry

From Our Blog

What is it like to be depressed?

How are we to understand experiences of depression? First of all, it is important to be clear about what the problem consists of. If we don't know what depression is like, why can't we just ask someone who's depressed?

Posted on January 17, 2015

Read the blog post