Question: Are Both Medication and Psychotherapy Necessary to Treat Depression?
Answer: Depending upon the severity of your depression and other symptoms and factors, therapy alone, medication alone, or therapy combined with medications may be recommended by your doctor. In some circumstances, a combination of medication and therapy will be most effective. Antidepressants are usually used to treat more severe symptoms and help correct the chemical imbalance within the brain that contributes to symptoms of depression. Psychotherapy can help in a variety of ways, including altering negative thought patterns which lead to depression, and helping you understand and cope more effectively with the conflicts and stressors in your life that contribute to depression.
