Originally published April 11 2005
Therapy and counseling as effective as drugs in early stages of depression, says study
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
A study from the University of Pennsylvania states that psychological therapy and counseling (also known as "talk" therapy or cognitive therapy) are as effective as drugs in the early stages of treating moderate and severe depression. The study findings are in contradiction to the current American Psychiatric Association guidelines, which state that most patients will require medication. The researchers looked at 240 patients suffering from moderate to severe depression. Some of the patients received talk therapies, while others were given drugs. After 16 weeks, 58 percent of both groups reported having positive responses to their respective therapies.
Drugs not the only answer to depression: study.
Psychological therapy and counselling can be just as effective as drugs in the early stages of treating moderate to severe depression, a study has found.
A report from the University of Pennsylvania says the findings run counter to current practice in the United States.
"On the whole, these findings do not support the current American Psychiatric Association (APA) guidelines" that state most patients at that stage "will require medication," the report said.
"It appears that cognitive therapy can be as effective as medications, even among more severely depressed outpatients, at least when provided by experienced cognitive therapists," the study said.
Researchers said they looked at 240 moderately to severely depressed patients, some of whom were given drugs and others psychological therapy in weekly and sometimes twice-weekly 50-minute sessions.
After 16 weeks of treatment, 58 per cent of the patients had responded to both the drug and therapy treatments, the study said.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml