Treating Depression

ARTICLE REVIEW: " TREATING DEPRESSION: PILLS OR TALK"

Publisher: Scientific American Mind

Date: January 2005

Author: Steven P. Holon, Micahel E. Thase, John C. Markowitz

SUMMARY:

"Medication has reduced depression for decades, but newer forms of psychotherapies are proving their worth."

Medication or pills and antidepressants were once termed "magic bullet", because of its efficacy in treating depression. Some physicians also thought that psychotherapy alone is an ineffective way of fighting depression. But when combined with antidepressants, the results could be almost perfect.

Recent researches show that some forms of psychotherapy can be as effective in treating just as that of antidepressants, even when it comes to the more severe depressions. Researches also show that psychotherapies may provide advantageous effects beyond those than what antidepressants alone can give. But still, pharmaceutical treatments remain the current standard.

Some antidepressants:

1. MAOI (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors):

Curtails the Action of an enzyme that breaks down brain neurotransmitter.

2.