A thought-provoking new review of the research regarding depression and medication...

The ongoing debate regarding the causes and treatment of depression have always been of interest to me as a clinician because depression (and anxiety!) are one of the most common reasons people seek mental health services. Now, a new review of the research on antidepressants adds another dimension to this discussion. As the following article points out, it may not be a chemical imbalance in the brain as much as negative life events that are the driving force behind these mood difficulties. This makes sense as depression and anxiety can be a way for our brains to alert us that something isn't right and we should try to fix it. It can also be the "normal" brain's way of saying "please avoid this again!!" Unfortunately, we can't plan for most negative life events and sometimes they can throw us for a loop. In these times medications may be helpful; however, I believe that it's crucial to combine this with good therapy as therapy is what assists us in processing in ways that don't leave painful scars. It also helps us develop insight into navigating these events going forward.

This is part of the reason I am so passionate about being a therapist; especially as it relates to utilizing an ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) approach. ACT helps us uncover what's truly important to each of us and empowers us to live our lives based on our principles. When we do this, not only are we better prepared to handle these "negative life events" but we can also utilize them as a springboard to launch us towards where we really want to be.

Here's a link to the article: https://news.yahoo.com/depression-not-caused-chemical-imbalance-050000200.html