The Road To Recovery From Depression Don't Drive Today With Yesterday's Map

Main Category: Depression
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 08 Sep 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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There has been a lot of discussion about obtaining recovery from depression. This discussion was sparked by the results of the largest treatment trial (STAR D). American investigators push for more and new combinations of antidepressant drugs for an increased level of remission, based on the results of the trial. But Italian investigators who are free from conflict of interest interpert the same data in a different way: the more you use antidepressant drugs, the worse is the long-term outcome.

Giovanni A. Fava and associates (University of Bologna) have published this new analysis in the September issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics.

The issue of recovery is getting increasing attention in depression research, particularly after the publication of the STAR D results.

The paper analyzes some issues which may hinder effective treatment of major depressive disorders: the inadequacies of a cross-sectional DSM assessment without clinical differentiation of the extent, development and seriousness of the disturbances (staging); over-emphasis on and prolongation of drug treatment, without paying attention to problems related to tolerance; neglect of the active role of the patient in achieving recovery, with the integration of psychotherapeutic strategies in a sequential model. If we are able to remove the conceptual obstacles which obstruct our view of depression and silence the sound of propaganda, we may then become aware of a different scenario in mood disorders and be able to develop therapeutic strategies of enduring quality.

PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOSOMATICS
PSYCHOTHERAPY AND PSYCHOSOMATICS