This book, written by two psychologists at Columbia, confronts the difficulties faced by friends and relatives of people who suffer from clinical depression. Although perhaps a bit longer and more repetitive than necessary, it presents balanced and thorough information about depression and treatment options. The authors also acknowledge how easy it is to get caught in a morass with a depressed person and offer concrete (if difficult) suggestions about how to escape from that stuckness.

This is a must-read book for anyone struggling to understand a loved one's depression. You'll learn the do's and don'ts of caregiving. But more than this, you'll learn the importance of trying to maintain your own mental health and sense of normalcy, in the face of what can be a debilitating illness impacting all members of the family. A lot of the advice is common sense, the kind of thing your loved one's psychiatrist might tell you--if only he or she weren't so pressed for time. Plus it's nice to know you can help your loved one without trying to be Superman or Superwoman. In fact, the first step to helping your loved one is to realize that you (and the rest of the family) have needs as well. So be nice to yourself and get this book. And then hang in there. Your family really CAN triumph over depression!

I found this book to be tremendously supportive when I was trying to help my fiance (now my husband) deal with his depression. Depression in a loved one is such a tricky, difficult thing to handle. This book gave me the background, information and courage to discuss the depression with my fiance and take action.

This is the most misleading title ever. The book promises to help you resore your intimacy. For someone suffering from depression and looking for a way to fix their diminished sexual desire, this book is a cruel joke with nothing more to say than "Talk to your doctor about it".

You can save yourself a lot of time and money if you already know the basics about depression and its effects on your life. This book offers absolutely no solutions, just platitudes!

I would have given it zero stars, but Amazon didn't give me that option.

This book was easy to read and helped me understand more about the side effects of medication and the impact depression can have on relationships. I liked reading the questions/answers that were provided but I wish there were more tips on how to maintain my relationship through my depression. I would recommend this to someone who wants more of an overview/clinical view on depression. For those of you who want tips on how to strengthen your relationship, look elsewhere...

This book is a godsend. I am struggling with a husband who is depressed and this is the first book I found that addressed the problems of intimacy when a spouse is depressed. The panel of experts gave thoughtful and helpful answers. Most of all, it was hopeful and reassuring to know that I am not alone.