Is Therapy As Effective As Medication?

[MainerMikeBrown]

I think psychotherapy is just as important as psychiatric medications are. However, many people who seek therapy don't do what they can to help themselves. Hence, the therapy doesn't work so well for them. And that's why I believe that while therapy is just as important, meds are generally more effective (provided that a person takes his pills like he or she is supposed to).

 

[Kyle B]

I'm sure it depends on the situation.

For instance, therapy can be used to essentially "cure" anxiety disorders (i.e. CBT, Exposure Therapy). Medication helps the symptoms and can be useful in addition to therapy.

I'm not entirely sure about other conditions though.

 

[BornReady]

The best treatment is the correct treatment, therapy when therapy is needed and medication when medication is needed.

 

[brieze]

:homo:'s

 

[Zorak]

In the case of temporary depression; Medication doesn't solve the problem, just alleviates the symptoms.

 

[MainerMikeBrown]

Some people do what they can to help themselves while in therapy and in life. However, there's only so much they can do to improve their mental health issues because they never really get on the right meds. They get on meds that half-work. And if you're not on the right meds, psychotherapy can fail.

 

[Panacea]

It depends on the cause of the symptoms, so basically what BR said. Some psychiatric issues are learned, maladaptive behaviors that can be unlearned with therapeutic techniques, and some are chemical imbalances requiring medications. Others fall in between, but I don't think a single person can't benefit from therapy of some sort. A human journal, if nothing else.

 

[MainerMikeBrown]

One of my professors back in college said that psychiatric meds are a "quick fix."

He's wrong. They're much more than a quick fix, despite the fact that they're not a cure-all.