Posted by banga on March 27, 2005, at 8:02:42
In reply to Re: what do you think of these arguments?, posted by Iansf on March 27, 2005, at 1:35:50
I have spent years in therapy, with only partial benefit....I would work like hell to gain insight, change behaviors, do positive self-talk....the effects would last short-term, but eventually they would slide back as soon as I stopped therapy. I had been in therapy for several months when I experienced my first bout of depression with suicidal thoughts....I objectively knew that my life is absolutely fine, NO problems or major stressors. That is when I realized it is largely biochemical and therapy will not do the whole trick.
It is shown by numerous studies that the most effective treatment for depression and anxiety is a combination of medication and therapy--neither does as well alone.
Having said that, medications are overprescribed...I believe one should first try therapy (assuming a person is not actively suicidaL), then add meds if that does not help welll enough. Also, family history is important---if you have relatives with your disorder, there is a higher chance it is at least in part an inherited biochemical dysfunction.
Twins studies support that the cause of the major mental disorders (and personality traits, by the way!) is approx. 50% (give or take) inherited biology and 50% environment. It makes sense to also balance the treatment--biological and 'environmental' (therapy and lessening other stressors) to reflect this.
poster:banga
thread:475844
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050326/msgs/476164.html