Includes bibliographical references (p. 207-211) and index.

Chapter 1 : Background of J.D. Salinger. Life of J.D. Salinger / Warren French -- J.D. Salinger as a New York writer / David L. Stevenson -- Chapter 2 : Catcher in the Rye and depression. Holden Caulfield is disgusted by phoniness / Harrison Smith -- Holden Caulfield is searching for love / Arthur Heiserman and James E. Miller Jr. -- Holden Caulfield is searching for a father / Jonathan Baumbach -- Holden Caulfield is depressed by the world and by his own failings / Ihab Hassan -- Holden Caulfield suffers from unresolved sexual conflicts / Duane Edwards -- Holden Caulfield's problems are sexual / James Bryan -- Holden Caulfield is unable to cope with an adult world / Peter J. Seng -- Holden Caulfield is afraid of growing up and competing in an adult world / Joanne Irving -- Holden Caulfield is dealing with the expected psychological angst of adolescence / Peter Shaw -- Holden Caulfield is a teenage everyman / Robert Coles -- Holden Caulfield's problems are caused by capitalism / Carol Ohmann and Richard Ohmann -- Holden Caulfield's depression is caused by emotional, not political, factors / James E. Miller Jr. -- Chapter 3 : Contemporary perspectives on depression. Many risk factors can trigger depression / Bev Cobain -- An inability to communicate feelings puts teenage boys at risk of depression / Ellen McGrath -- Many children are not treated for their depression / Marianne D. Hurst -- Transition to high school increases the potential for depression / Barbara M. Newman, Philip R. Newman, Sarah Griffen, Kerry O'Connor, and Jayson Spas -- Young and depressed / Pat Wingert and Barbara Kantrowitz.