Posted by Elizabeth on January 22, 2002, at 23:30:23
In reply to Brain Chemistry/Lasting Social Phobia Benefits » Lisa01, posted by Rick on January 21, 2002, at 3:40:48
Lisa:
Medications typically work as long as you're taking them (sometimes people develop tolerance, but this doesn't generally happen with most common psychiatric drugs). The evidence regarding talk therapies (mainly CBT, although other talk therapies are now being studied too) is less clear. Advocates of CBT and other nonmedical therapies have claimed that these therapies get to the "root of the problem" and therefore can permanently cure mental disorders (medications that are used presently constitute "treatment" rather than a "cure"). On the other hand, some studies show that people who don't remain in therapy frequently relapse.
Personally, I didn't have much luck with CBT, but I think that each person is different. Another type of talk therapy, interpersonal therapy (IPT), seems promising for social phobia, and I think that group therapy can be helpful too (there are lots of CBT and IPT groups, some of which are specifically intended for people with SP).
I do think that, if you can afford it and if you can find a therapist who you "click" with, it's nice to be in *some* sort of talk therapy (depending on what you feel most comfortable with). My impression is that family or marital counseling can be especially helpful for couples or families where one or more members suffer from a mental disorder. On the other hand, I believe that it's usually not prudent to attempt to treat serious mental illness with talk therapy alone. (Social phobia comes in mild forms too, of course.)
Re Parnate dose:
Even many physicians don't know much about using MAOIs. Burns, if I recall, is a psychologist, so while the book you have is supposed to be a great self-help resource, I don't suggest relying on it for medical information.-elizabeth
poster:Elizabeth
thread:75408
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020116/msgs/91169.html