Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
This week on "Healthwatch," we're talking about mental health. Nearly 19 million Americans suffer from depressive disorders. Psychiatrists at UT Southwestern have found that treating depression like they might treat any physical illness can be effective. When someone is physically ill, doctors measure and track symptoms and vital statistics like blood pressure, temperature and pulse rate so they'll know how the disease is progressing and if treatment is bringing about improvements.
UT Southwestern doctors developed a way for psychiatrists and patients to assess the degree of depressive symptoms. Doctors and patients fill out a questionnaire that rates the severity of a patient's depression, and then helps doctors and patients see how well treatment is working. Researchers use the rating scale to measure the effectiveness of experimental treatments and to compare different kinds of treatment, like cognitive therapy, medication or exercise.
Next on "Healthwatch": Finding ways to treat depression.
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Jan. 2005
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