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This week on Health Watch, we’ve been talking about a major study of depression treatments conducted by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center. The study found that most patients could recover from depression with treatment, but that patients may have to try several kinds of treatments before they see results.
Dr. A. John Rush, the UT Southwestern psychiatrist who led the study, says patients need to be aware that depression is a serious medical condition, like diabetes or heart failure. It’s important to stay in treatment, even if you have to try a number of things before you find what works for you. Work with your doctor and stick with the treatment long enough for it to work. Dr. Rush says that doctors should be sure to monitor and evaluate patients while they’re being treated, and they should also follow up after treatment because many patients will have another depressive episode.
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March 2007
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