Introduction
Major depressive disorder affects nearly 15 million of American adults in a given year. (Kessler, Chiu, Demler & Walters, 2005). With the impact it has on the society as well as the well-being of the individual, it must be in the interest of the healthcare to be able to provide patients with the most effective treatment method. Extensive research has been conducted on the efficacy of antidepressant medication and cognitive therapy, the two main treatment methods used for depression today. The discussion has, however, been characterized by conflicting claims, resulting in a debate over what should be used rather than us having definite conclusion of how patients are best helped.
The extensive research of Elkin et al (1989) concluded that cognitive therapy was not an effective treatment method for severely depressed outpatients. This had a major impact on the treatment guidelines of The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, resulting in medications becoming generally favored at the time. These results, the quality of the therapy provided as well as the conclusions drawn have, however, been questioned by contradicting research which instead argue that cognitive therapy is just as effective in the treatment of depression. Hollon et al (1992) conducted a randomized trial which displayed both treatment methods as effective, with a non-significant difference of efficacy. Murphy, Carney, Knesevich, Wetzel and Whitworth (1995) also designed a trial which displayed similar results between the treatment methods while the research conducted by Blackburn & Moore (1997) indicated that cognitive therapy was superior to medications in the maintenance phase of treatment.
A high number of studies as well as the current treatment...
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In conclusion this student hopes that you the reader have a better understanding of the Major Depressive Disorder Diagnosis that was presented in this paper. This student also hopes that the description, the causing factors, the diagnosing, the treatment was all clear and concise. Although the current research presented stated that a client may indeed fall into another major depression, this student doesn’t lose hope that those clients will soon find a treatment that will eliminate that illness. We have many caring doctors and a great treatment programs the client is able to receive that will assist in the clients successful recovery.
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The goal of cognitive-behavioral treatment is to adapt the patient’s thoughts; as Riley is thinking of how she is failing to deal with the present situation she is in, this treatment will help her change this thinking. In this treatment, Riley’s patterns of thinking would be recognized over a series of appointments, and the clinician would then identify different ways of viewing the same situations Riley has been dealing with, making them not as dysfunctional for her. As well as cognitive-behavioral treatment, physical activity can also combat depression because it releases endorphins; this treatment would be accessible to Riley, and it is something that can be self-initiated as well as encouraged by her parents. These treatments would be ideal for Riley as they encourage her to better her illness without antidepressants since she is so
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Depression is a mental illness, which affects millions of Americans each year. Currently there are many prescription drugs, called anti-depressants that have been proven to successfully treat it. The causes of depression are somewhat of a medical enigma, however, it is known that depression is associated with a change in the brains chemistry involving the function of neurotransmitters (Reichert). This chemical change occurs in healthy brain’s, which experience sadness, but ends after the unpleasant stimulus is removed. In people suffering from depression this chemical change does not correspond to any particular stimulus. Symptoms of depression are often incapacitating and include severe and extended sadness, feelings of worthlessness, feelings of emptiness, irritability and anxiety (Reichert, Spake).
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