The majority of the new cases relate to women, who for some reason tend to be more depressed. We think there are reasons for that. They are mainly cultural, but sometimes they are biological. Other psychologists, like William Danton and David Antonuccio , agree with McGrath but add another level to their research. They compiled data comparing the use of drugs to psychotherapy in treating depression and found that therapy can be just as successful as medicine.
Some doctors believe that prescription drugs are too experimental to be a truly healthy cure.
McGrath is opposed to medication on the grounds that it is not standardized or adequately tested. Dr. Michael Norden concurs. Norden is exploring alternate treatments for depression that can mimic the way Prozac and other drugs interact with the brain. Chief among Norden's questions is why this generation more than any other seems to need drugs like Prozac. For now, Norden grudgingly says that drugs are among the most reliable and effective treatments doctors have, but he and other doctors urge combining drugs and therapy for the maximum results.