Beyond Prozac: Antidotes for Modern Times

Norden, a New York psychiatrist who has found the antidepressant Prozac to be profoundly helpful to his patients, suggests that the toll taken by the stresses of modern-day life has made us all ``Prozac deficient.'' Maintaining that our environment and lifestyle tend to deplete our natural supplies of serotonin (the brain hormone that Prozac bolsters), he suggests a series of lifestyle approaches by which we can buttress our serotonin system-and its benefits. Chapters discussing light therapy, melatonin, sleep patterns, exercise, diet and vitamin, mineral and amino acid supplements also cite a host of recent studies and references to research-in-progress. In clear prose, Norden also offers anecdotal reports from his own practice, often detailing courses of medication supplementing Prozac in dosages tailored to individual metabolisms. He gives previews of the next generation of antidepressants, which may supplant-and will certainly refine the use of-Prozac and its cousins. His examination of how the brain is affected by the heating and cooling properties of various treatments and his discussion of eating patterns are of special note, as is the extensive bibliography. $50,000 ad/ promo; author tour. (Sept.)