There is pressure in this society to find quick fixes for things including clinical depression. Antidepressant medication is often seen as the first and only “fix” for unipolar depression.
Although antidepressants can be effective at treating unipolar depression, there are other treatment options that should be considered and that could be more effective.
What are the Treatment Options for Depression?
Many mental health professionals see unipolar depressive disorders as bio-psycho-social illness. This means that clinical depression both affects and is affected by a person’s biology, psychology and sociology.
Since each of these three areas contribute to the illness, each can be an effective target of treatment for depression.
What Does Bio-Psycho-Social Mean?
- Biology means brain chemistry and the physical state of the body;
- Psychology means thoughts; and
- Sociology means the person’s circumstances as well as his experience of, and interaction with others and the world.
Biological Treatment for Depression: Antidepressant Medication
Antidepressant medication alters brain chemistry to improve one’s mood. This can lead to more positive thoughts, behavior and life outcomes. But according to the bio-psycho-social theory, medication alone is not the ideal long-term solution.
Whether or not to try medication should depend upon the severity and nature of the symptoms. It is not always a “quick fix,” as antidepressant medications can take several weeks to a few months to work.
Sometimes medications cause side effects and it can take several weeks to wean off of one medication and get started on another. It's also important to note that not all antidepressant medications are effective for all people, so finding the right one can take time.
Psychological Treatment for Depression
Cognitive-behavioral treatment for depression can be effective. This type of therapy can help people become aware of the thoughts and behavior that contribute to the downward spiral of depression.
The goal is to change one’s thoughts and behaviors in order to change one’s outcomes and feelings. It is believed that this can correct the brain chemistry as a result.
Other types of psychological therapy have been effective, including more long-term therapies, especially where the interaction between the therapist and the client is a strong focus of therapy.
Studies on Psychotherapy vs. Antidepressant Medication
Some studies show that psychotherapy combined with medication is the best option. Other studies show that taking medication can actually hinder the benefits received from psychotherapy and that psychotherapy alone is more successful in the long term. In spite of this, there is still a great deal of pressure in society for people to simply take antidepressant medication in order to treat depression.
Social Treatment for Depression
According to the bio-psycho-social theory, some people are depressed because the circumstances they are in are depressing. Trauma can lead to clinical depression, as can poverty and other problems. It is thought that such situations can alter a person’s chemistry.
The goal of social treatment is to improve one’s circumstances in order to improve thoughts, actions, mood and brain chemistry. Finding help in the form of support groups, a case manager, therapist and other programs can be part of the treatment; family service agencies can often help when it comes to finding program that may help patients cope with and overcome depression.
Blaming the Victim for Depression?
It's important to note that focusing on behavior in the psychological and social treatment models does not mean blaming the victim for his own depression. It means helping people find and harness the power they have to heal themselves.
How to Decide on Treatment for Depression
People experiencing depression should consult with a mental health professional and discuss all of the treatment options available.
According to the bio-psycho-social understanding of depression, people should make sure that they are taking all three target areas into account in some way. Those with treatment-resistant depression may have to consider other depression treatment options.
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