Strategies for treating depression that rely on the use of medication alone are generally ill-advised. Sadly, the lingering stigma associated with mental disorders continues to keep far too many depressed individuals from seeking treatment. On a very encouraging note, however, millions of Americans have found relief from their depression through a combination of psychotherapy and medication. D.C. As the author of books about depression, I am thrilled that the problem received your attention. However, I am also dismayed at the overwhelming emphasis on the biological viewpoint of the disorder.
Depression is much more than a disease caused by faulty brain chemistry.
It is a disorder with many contributing factors, some of which are purely social. By overemphasizing depression as a medical problem in search of a drug solution, you lead people to underestimate its complexity. You unintentionally dissuade them from recognizing the need to learn specific skills in problem solving and forming healthy relationships. Such skills are known not only to reduce depression but to actually prevent depression, something no medication can ever do. Psychotherapy received a mention as potentially helpful but, in fact, it is crucial.