Dr LeCrone
03-24-2006, 03:03 PM
Last week we discussed depression and some of its causes. Affecting individuals from childhood to old age, this very serious emotional disorder strikes a significant number of the population each year.
The history of medicine and psychology is full of treatment procedures for depressions, some of which were bizarre and unsuccessful. It was commonly believed many years ago that people suffering from depression were possessed by demons. To treat this problem, holes were drilled into the skull to let the demons out.
Sometimes exorcism was used to release the demons. They were held under water to drown the problem. Many times they were locked up and shut away form society. Various medical potions and laxatives were prescribed.
If the condition improved at all, it seems to have been due to the so-called “cure” being far more depressing than the way the person felt before the treatments began.
Today, many theories still abound as to the cause of depression. But agreement does exist on the most effective treatment. Medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two, is usually recommended treatments for depression.
Psychopharmacology has made tremendous advances in the treatment of depression. Medications producing rapid results with few significant side results have been developed. These medications are not usually considered to be addictive or habit-forming, although they are frequently used on a fairly short-term basis. They can be used for much longer periods of time without producing many noticeable or harmful side effects. Because this family or pharmaceuticals is changing rapidly with research, physicians specializing in psychiatry are best trained to prescribe these medications.
When a patient is suffering with depression severe enough to consider suicide, medication is usually the treatment of choice. Hospitalization is also often necessary at this point because with this intensive effort the individual is able to regain the emotional balance necessary to continue living.
Various forms of psychotherapy have been developed to treat depression. One of the most effective, at this time, is call Cognitive Therapy. This form of therapy is based largely on the belief that individuals suffering from depression have developed a pattern of learned helplessness. Their irrational beliefs and patterns of thinking lead them to a pessimistic view of life. Helping these patients refute these irrational beliefs and change their way of looking at life is not a quick process, but is generally much shorter than the sort of psychotherapies that take years of effort to achieve success.
Cognitive Therapy administered by mental health counselors including psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers can be performed successfully on an out-patient basis and is currently being used in many treatment centers.
When depression occurs, professional help should be sought as early as possible. Frequently a layman will simply see depression as a sign of weakness or feeling sorry for himself, and may listen to advice from others laymen which may imply, “If you would only pull yourself up by your bootstraps,” or, “Simply quit worrying and all will be well.”
Depression left untreated can lead to very serious and even tragic consequences.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1984
The history of medicine and psychology is full of treatment procedures for depressions, some of which were bizarre and unsuccessful. It was commonly believed many years ago that people suffering from depression were possessed by demons. To treat this problem, holes were drilled into the skull to let the demons out.
Sometimes exorcism was used to release the demons. They were held under water to drown the problem. Many times they were locked up and shut away form society. Various medical potions and laxatives were prescribed.
If the condition improved at all, it seems to have been due to the so-called “cure” being far more depressing than the way the person felt before the treatments began.
Today, many theories still abound as to the cause of depression. But agreement does exist on the most effective treatment. Medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two, is usually recommended treatments for depression.
Psychopharmacology has made tremendous advances in the treatment of depression. Medications producing rapid results with few significant side results have been developed. These medications are not usually considered to be addictive or habit-forming, although they are frequently used on a fairly short-term basis. They can be used for much longer periods of time without producing many noticeable or harmful side effects. Because this family or pharmaceuticals is changing rapidly with research, physicians specializing in psychiatry are best trained to prescribe these medications.
When a patient is suffering with depression severe enough to consider suicide, medication is usually the treatment of choice. Hospitalization is also often necessary at this point because with this intensive effort the individual is able to regain the emotional balance necessary to continue living.
Various forms of psychotherapy have been developed to treat depression. One of the most effective, at this time, is call Cognitive Therapy. This form of therapy is based largely on the belief that individuals suffering from depression have developed a pattern of learned helplessness. Their irrational beliefs and patterns of thinking lead them to a pessimistic view of life. Helping these patients refute these irrational beliefs and change their way of looking at life is not a quick process, but is generally much shorter than the sort of psychotherapies that take years of effort to achieve success.
Cognitive Therapy administered by mental health counselors including psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers can be performed successfully on an out-patient basis and is currently being used in many treatment centers.
When depression occurs, professional help should be sought as early as possible. Frequently a layman will simply see depression as a sign of weakness or feeling sorry for himself, and may listen to advice from others laymen which may imply, “If you would only pull yourself up by your bootstraps,” or, “Simply quit worrying and all will be well.”
Depression left untreated can lead to very serious and even tragic consequences.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1984