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Why Behavioral Health Resources
At Behavioral Health Resources, the Mood and Anxiety Clinic (MAC) was developed based on what research shows to be the most effective treatment of these disorders. At the MAC, in addition to our board certified psychiatrists, all of our therapy staff are trained and certified in Cognitive Therapy with years of experience treating mood and anxiety disorders. During the patient's first visit at the MAC, a comprehensive assessment of the patient is completed. Following the assessment, our Cognitive Therapists and psychiatrists meet to discuss the best course of treatment which can include Cognitive Therapy alone or in conjunction with pharmacotherapy. As a way to ensure that we are making an impact, brief questionnaires are utilized throughout the course of treatment that help guide our clinical staff so they can make informed clinical decision when modifying the plan of service as well as when planning for discharge.
Overview
It is estimated that approximately 20 million Americans each year suffer from depression. The economic cost of depression alone in America is estimated at $30.4 billion a year not including the cost of human suffering. Suicide is the ninth leading cause of death with approximately 15% of depressed people committing suicide. It is believed that depression will be the second largest killer after heart disease by the year 2020. Studies show that depression is a contributory factor to fatal coronary disease. There is now doubt that these illnesses are major health care problems for this country. Yet, we know that two-thirds of those suffering with depression never seek treatment.
The Mind-Body Connection
We all know intuitively the connection between the mind and the body; that mental illnesses contribute to physical illnesses. But, when we look at research, the evidence is overwhelming. The University of Colorado has completed a study that showed that up to 80% of all people who visit a physician were suffereng from depression. In addition, studies have shown that depression is linked to many physical illnesses including cardiac diesease, strokes, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and even some kinds of cancers. There is no quest that depression is a systemic problem that affects the whole body and mind. If left untreated, the depression will continue to dismantle the lives of millions of Americans each year.
Effective Treatments
We now know that there are effective treatments for depression and that people do get better with help. It is estimated that 80% of those with a diagnosis of depression will see their lives significantly improve with treatment. There is a perception in the public at large, that medication is the most effective treatment for depression. However, research shows that medication along with psychotherapy is more effective than either alone. Research shows that Cognitive Therapy is as effective and in some conditions more effective then medication. A. Butler and J. Beck (2000) reviewed 14 meta-analyses that have investigated the efficency of cognitive therapy with a total of 9,138 subjects in 325 studies involving 465 specific comparisons. They found that Cognitive therapy was superior to antidepressant medications in the treatment of adult unipolar depression. Additionally, they found that one year after treatment and discontinuation of therapy, the depressed patients who had been treated with cognitive therapy had half the relapse rate of depressed patients who had been treated with antidepressant medications (30% versus 60%). |
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