DEPRESSION TREATMENT

DEPRESSION TREATMENT
This article outlines some general treatment guidelines which you may want to take into consideration when seeking or administering treatment for clinical depression and related mood disorders. This discussion below is not meant as an alternative to seeking treatment for depression from a trained mental health professional.
First, depression as discussed in this article refers only to Major Depressive Disorder (look at the criteria for a Major Depressive Episode here also). This does not include depression as a result of the loss of a loved one, due to medical causes, or Bipolar Disorder (manic-depression). “Medical causes” does not mean, however, that the depression is caused by some sort of “chemical imbalance.”
The theory of a “chemical imbalance” is just that—a theory. Like the half-dozen or so psychological and other medical theories for the cause of depression, it has scientific research support.
Second, the studies discussed do not yet predict individual responses to the specific treatments mentioned. In other words, jus because it works for most people still does not mean it will work for you. It is more likely to work for you, but no scientific study, either in psychology or medicine on this topic, yet are specific to an individual's own situation, environment, genetics, etc. Keep this in mind.
Most clinicians practicing today believe that depression is caused by an equal combination of biological (including genetics), social, and psychological factors. Treatment approaches which focuses exclusively on one of these factors is llikely not as beneficial as a treatment method which addresses all three of them. Depression remains a complicated disorder an research is only beginning to fully grasp the complexity of factors—personal, genetic, biological, societal, and environmental—which are involved. Any explanation or approach which emphasizes only one fact as the cause of depression is misleading and simplistic. Individuals should avoid accepting a simplistic answer to such a devastating and complex disorder.