To Heal a Mind: Major Depressive Disorder Treatment

More than 21 million Americans suffer from major depressive disorder (MDD), with the number steadily increasing year over year (NIH, 2023). The conventional treatment for this disorder is the prescription of a specific category of antidepressants, known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (Rush, 2023). This is oriented around symptom treatment, and is often a relatively benign treatment, with beneficial effects (Edinoff et al., 2021). However, there are major caveats to SSRI prescription that are often not acknowledged, carrying significant risks (Chu & Wadhwa, 2023; University of Bristol, 2022). Additionally, there are many highly-rated treatments that are more functional, oriented toward systemic treatment rather than symptom management (Piotrowski et al., 2021). These interventions are often under-utilized in the process of MDD prevention or treatment. With the increasing mental health crisis in America, it is worthwhile to examine current treatment methodologies and evaluate their efficacy and risks. To do so, this research examines and compares the respective benefits and risks of conventional pharmacological treatments and functional systemic treatments for MDD. Research was conducted via integrative review of clinical literature, filtered via key operators and categorized by theme. The analysis of clinical research showed that pharmacologic treatment, while beneficial, has many risks associated that are not adequately conveyed: additionally, functional treatment is significantly effective for mild-moderate depression, with fewer adverse effects and additional protective benefits against remission.