Question

The section in our chapter that discusses neurotransmitters gets me thinking about medications that aid in neurotransmitter production and/or regulation. Specifically, I am interested in us discussing the role of medications with mental illness.

As a society it seems as if we are more interested in taking a pill to decrease symptoms rather than going to therapy. No? If so, is this a good thing? What are your thoughts about this debate (Therapy vs. Medication)?  

In this post, make sure that you are discussing you opinion about this topic as well as including relavent source material that will back up your opinion. There are a number of studies that actually compare these variables and citing any of them would help support your thoughts!

Answer 1

As a society, we are inclined towards popping a pill rather than going to therapy, perhaps because the former is an effortless solution that produces an almost immediate impact. From the short-term perspective, medication can aid in the reduction of symptoms and it is especially recommended in cases wherein the intensity of the symptoms are extremely distressing. On the other hand, psychotherapy addresses the source of the symptoms and aims to tackle their roots. The impact of therapy becomes apparent only after a longer duration of time but it promotes holistic well-being rather than symptom elimination. Therefore, combining both medication and therapy is perhaps the best way to approach mental illness. In fact, research by the American Psychiatric Association (2017) for the treatment of depression has demonstrated that psychotherapy and medication have roughly the same effectiveness with 30 to 40 percent remission rates when each treatment is used alone.

References:

https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/apa-blog/2017/04/treating-depression-psychotherapy-or-medication