Summary

Congratulations

You have come to the end of the journey through the integrative medicine (IM) options for depression. We hope you have learned enough to feel more comfortable discussing these ideas with your patients.

Role of Medications

Remember, there is still a role for antidepressant medication and many lives have been saved using serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs) and other antidepressants; even in the Integrative Medicine Health Clinic in Ann Arbor, Mich., we often recommend medication or even hospitalize patients who have suicidal intentions or profound disease.

Integrative approach

At the same time, IM, by definition, "is the integration of all aspects of wellbeing: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, environmental and social (AHMA)." Depression, possibly more than any other disease, can be thought of as an imbalance in many or all of these areas. The more that patients and clinicians are able to think of depression not as an endpoint of a biological disease process but as a temporary stop in an uncomfortable, sometimes very uncomfortable, place in life, the more effective treatment is likely to be in achieving remission (Gordon).

Perspective on depression

Thinking of patients with depression as stuck, rather than sick, greatly expands the range of available treatment options. The more that a comprehensive, lifestyle plan can be put in place, the better the outcomes are likely to be for your patients. Instead of only prescribing medication, consider a treatment plan that involves a combination of medication and exercise, vitamins, or light therapy. Patients reluctant to take medications might actually prefer an alternative approach to the treatment of their depression. There is no doubt that following recommendations about eating habits or relaxation can prove challenging for patients, yet many find such approaches to be extremely satisfying and rewarding.