Drugs Are Preferred Depression Treatment - Dual Diagnosis Addiction Treatment Center
When it comes to treating depression, most Americans prefer to take drugs instead of talking it out. There is a strong case to be made that therapeutic processes like individual and group counseling are more beneficial.
A Consumer Reports survey found that nearly 80 percent of Americans with the mood disorder take anti-depressants to treat the symptoms of their depression.
About 15 million people are diagnosed with depression each year. Successful depression treatment typically involves a combination of traditional therapy and anti-depressants. Even for those people in the Consumer Reports survey who benefitted from therapy, anti-depressants were the preferred way to treat their depression symptoms. 
The most popular anti-depressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. These drugs increase levels of serotonin and help boost mood. They are commonly prescribed for depression, anxiety and personality disorders. SSRIs include Prozac, Paxil and Lexapro.
The 1,500 people surveyed said their depression symptoms improved just as much after seven or more sessions of therapy with a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker as they did with medication. Despite that, people said they still preferred to take the drugs. The problem with using drugs to treat mental health challenges is that it opens the door for chemical dependency and developing an addiction to either the prescribed medication or another drug that will "change the way the person feels."
Depression Treatment
Anti-depressants on their own are unlikely to completely cure the symptoms of depression. That is because depression can be the result of a deeper emotional issue or trauma that needs to be addressed through talk therapy.
Successful depression treatment will include regular sessions with a therapist that can help people discover the root of their depression and healthier ways to cope with whatever it was that triggered the depression. Most therapists will prescribe an anti-depressant to help alleviate depression symptoms, under close supervision.
Because of the wide variety of anti-depressants on the market, it may take some time to find one that works best for each individual. A therapist may have a patient try several before finding one that is most successful for treating a particular person.
Depending on the severity of your depression, there are several treatment options available. Mild depression can be treated through weekly sessions with an individual therapist or outpatient therapy. For people who have more severe cases of depression or a co-occurring disorder, such as substance abuse, anxiety or an eating disorder, it may be necessary to spend time at a residential treatment center for depression.
A residential treatment center can provide a nurturing environment in which to help recover from depression and any co-occurring disorders. Through individual and group therapy, people with depression can successfully recover from their symptoms and address the underlying issues that caused their depression.
