Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression—and the Unexpected Solutions

I was originally recommended Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression—and the Unexpected Solutions, by Johann Hari, primarily because it had a section on Vincent Felitti, MD, and his Adverse Childhood Experiences Study. The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study was initially published in 1998 and drew a direct correlation between childhood trauma and depression.1 It also revealed a correlation to obesity, a subject I have been researching through work in the Bariatric Clinic. Up to 40% of patients in my obesity clinic were victims of child abuse or neglect, and up to 57% of those had depression. Indeed, the section in Lost Connections detailing the effects of trauma on depression reinforced my findings. The rest of the book proved to be just as revelatory and important for primary care providers, who are responsible for 79% of prescriptions for psychotropic medications in the US.