SubscribeAs noted in the guideline, studies examining combination treatment with psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy have shown mixed results. Although this has continued to be true in subsequently published studies (66, 67, 72, 73), a recent meta-analysis suggested that a combination of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy is more effective than pharmacotherapy alone (74). Combination therapy may be particularly useful in improving treatment adherence (73, 74) and might be of some use in targeting particular symptoms or patient subgroups (75–77).
Insulin isn't psychoactive.This is so totally the problem with our approach to mental illness-- we believe that anything that is a "psychoactive" treatment is in somehow a different moral category than "physical" treatments.
Meanwhile, I have no problem with people deciding they'd like to be under psychoactive influences 24/7 and get themselves a nice addiction
Drugs may work well, but I do think their benefits are trumpeted out of all proportion to preventive and behavioral treatments that are often just as good. Not in every case, but often.Generally, I agree. However, it strikes me that there's a tangible difference between changing your lifestyle to deal with your cholesterol and changing your lifestyle to deal with depression. In the latter case, the problem actively hinders you from pursuing a solution. That strikes me as the precise circumstance in which medication would be warranted.
posted by OmieWise at 8:12 AM on January 17 [9 favorites]