Your Mind Your Body

This is a bit of a departure from my normal topic of aging, but an article came out last week that caught my attention and I think it is worth mentioning on the blog. The report was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and it was a review of six previously published studies that examined the effectiveness of anti-depressant medications. According to the report, researchers found that these types of medications were very beneficial for those patients suffering from the more severe forms of depression. However, the study goes on to state that those who were diagnosed with a mild to moderate depression and who received treatment with these same medications, the results were not significantly different from those who received a placebo. 

This finding is important for a number of reasons. First of all, it highlights the importance of a thorough assessment to determine the specific depressive symptoms that are present for the individual, as well as how much they interfere with the person’s everyday life. Those with more severe forms of depression often describe feelings of extreme sadness or despair lasting for at least two weeks or longer. These feelings usually interfere significantly with activities of daily living such as working, eating, or sleeping. Feelings of helplessness or hopelessness are also common in the more severe forms of depression, with thoughts of death or suicide occurring in some cases. Proper assessment of these symptoms during the initial clinical contact can help guide appropriate treatment planning and identify the course of treatment, whatever it may be, most suited to the person’s symptom profile.  

Another reason the findings from this article are so important is they remind us of the fact that there are options outside of medications that can be used as a first line treatment for mild to moderate depression. In so many cases, it seems as though the default position for managing depressive symptoms, no matter the severity, has been a referral for a medication evaluation. Clearly, there are cases where medications are the preferred treatment and have a significant positive impact on the individual’s symptoms. However, I am hopeful that a byproduct of the current research findings is that those who have the initial contact with people suffering from depression, most often a nurse or physician in primary care, take time to consider a treatment approach that is best suited to the person as a whole. This could mean a referral to a mental health professional for psychotherapy, or even encouraging a more balanced lifestyle that includes equal parts of work, exercise, and fun.

The American Psychological Association has a number of helpful resources that can provide more information on this topic. Specifically, the APA Helpcenter has information on the relationship between mental and physical health and provides specific tips on how to make sure those two areas are in harmony. In addition, there are several wonderful posts by Dr. Stephanie Smith on this website that demystify the process of finding and setting up an appointment with a mental health professional.

Filed under: Chronic Illness & Disease Management, Lifestyle & Behaviors, Stress