Dr. Weissman is director of the Clinical and Genetic
Epidemiology at the NY State Psychiatric Institute, which conducts many studies
on depression in families, and co-author with late Gerald Klerman of the Comprehensive
Guide to Interpersonal Psychotherapy.
In the age of managed care, medications are the emphasis in the treatment
of depression. However, studies show that the combination of psychotherapy
and medication are more effective in the treatment of major depression than
either alone. Dr. Weissman discusses the various types of psychotherapy, what
you should ask your therapist, and how family members or caregivers can be
involved. She also discusses the results of her research into generational
depression and her current large-scale sibling study.
