In Australia, in any one year, almost one million of us will experience depression.
It’s an overwhelming statistic, and one that comprises a huge number of individuals who either won’t pursue treatment, or won’t find it effective. There remains a complex stigma around help-seeking, which can impact a person’s decision to see a psychologist or try medication. For some, needing to talk about their problems with a therapist is a sign of weakness, while for others, the idea of taking antidepressant medications is mixed in with misinformed opinions about ‘losing yourself’ and masking your issues, rather than getting to the root of them.
Ultimately, what works for one person is different to what works for another, and figuring out the most effective approach for you can take time, and significant trial and error.
But now, a recent study has claimed that the answers to three simple questions can tell you what treatment you should pursue for your depression.
The three questions are:
- Age
- Expectations of relationship with the therapist
- Level of vindictiveness towards others
According to one of the authors of the study, Professor Sigal Zilcha-Mano, “asking these three questions will save a lot of time in identifying the most appropriate treatment for the patient.”
The Mamamia Outloud team share their mental health hacks. Post continues after audio.
“The answers will help solve a dilemma that many patients face in choosing the best type of treatment.”
So how, exactly, do these questions help?
The findings showed that the more a person expects a positive relationship with their therapist, the greater their chance of completing psychotherapy treatment, and the lower their chance of sticking with antidepressant medications.
When it came to age, the researchers found that those over the age of 45 are more likely to complete pharmaceutical treatments, whereas patients younger than 45 have a better chance of completing psychotherapy.
Finally, it was found that people who show a high level of vindictiveness in their close relationships are more likely to stop medication.
Interestingly, there were a number of other characteristics that didn't have any impact when it came to the effectiveness of different types of treatments. Gender and education weren't important, and neither was a person's expectations for the success of treatment.
So if you have depression, and are struggling to decide on the most effective course of action for you, take these questions into account.
How old are you? Do you have positive expectations of a relationship with a therapist? Do you have high levels of vindictiveness in your interpersonal relationships?
By considering these questions, hopefully you can choose the treatment which will have the greatest benefit for you in the long run.
If you’re suffering from depression or anxiety and need help, or just someone to chat to, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or BeyondBlue on 1300 22 4636.
Top Comments
I had 20 years of experiencing long periods of profound depressions. I tried countless antidepressants alone and in combination with each other. I saw a psychologist regularly, fixed my vitamin D deficiency, did acupuncture, hypnotherapy, hormone therapy..anything my GP and I could think of! Nothing worked. I was told I was treatment resistant. Luckily I was finally referred to a really good psychiatrist who was very thorough. After an hour long consultation, 3 months of mood tracking prior, an interview with my husband, family history and medical records, I was diagnosed with bipolar 2.
This is something to keep in mind for those that, despite their absolute best efforts to recover, make little to no progress. Ask to be referred to a psychiatrist who has more experience and training than GP's in the area of mental health. GP's are always the first point of call of course and can be wonderful in helping with depressions caused by more common factors.
But for cases like mine where I struggled for many years, being referred to a psychiatrist was a game changer. Thankfully I am now stable and enjoying life again.