The U.S. medical system is controlled by the pharmaceutical industry. Virtually every health condition has a medication to treat it. Why is that?
NON-HOLISTIC SOLUTIONS
Selective Serotonin
Reuptake Inhibitors
A type of antidepressant most-commonly used for treating depression anxiety, SSRIs provide Serotonin, a vital hormone needed for the body to function and feel happiness.
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Mayo Clinic revealed that taking too much Serotonin over time causes Serotonin syndrome, where the accumulation of Serotonin in the body can cause diarrhea and shivering to severe muscle rigidity or seizing, and can cause death if gone untreated (“Serotonin syndrome”). Only in extremely rare cases does this happen.
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Since children have different physiology than adults (Onwere), the FDA has approved a select number of antidepressants: two being Fluoxetine, for ages 8 and up, and Escitalopram, for ages 12 and up (“Teen Depression”).
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In a study done by Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care, patients who felt improvement when taking a placebo consisted of only 20-40 out of 100 people, while SSRIs helped 40-60 out of 100 people feel improved symptoms (Wagener).
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In 2004 the FDA gave a “black box” warning stating that SSRIs were found to increase risk of suicidal thoughts. Data pulled was from a review of SSRI-treated adolescents, where 4% of the 2,200 patients experienced suicidal thoughts, double the rate of those who took placebos.
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SSRIs present a measly 33% effectiveness rate for mild to moderate cases of depression and anxiety.
40% of children do not respond well to their first antidepressant plan.
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60% of all moderate SSRI side effects consist of sexual dysfunction (Onwere).
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Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are said to be more effective as short-term solutions, as long-term usage can bring higher risk of addiction. The data on long-term usage is not very solid, even for usage by adults. Children can be have them prescribed for short-term only.
Antipsychotics
Antipsychotics are even worse in terms of long-term effectiveness and safety, and are not even fully approved for usage by adults. They are intended to decrease symptoms of irritability and aggression, most-commonly seen in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder (Walkup).
Their side effects (seen in adults; limited data on children) are more concerning than those caused by SSRIs, such as uncontrollable tremors, elevated cholesterol levels, increased weight gain, and high risk of diabetes and strokes.
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80-90% of all adults who take antipsychotics will experience one or more side effects, and as a result 65-80% will stop taking it within 12 to 18 months (“Antipsychotics for Children”).
HOLISTIC SOLUTIONS
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Developed by Dr. Aaron T. Beck in the 1960s, CBT is a talk therapy specialized in encouraging negative or unhealthy thought process. It is most commonly used for mood disorders, and focuses on the relationship between a patient's thoughts, emotions and actions. When negative though process is identified, the goal is to judge that thought process and actively try to change it.
In a 2018 study, over half the young adults who participated did not have the symptoms of anxiety in the follow up two years later.
Other Therapies
Dialectic behavior therapy (DBT) - developed by Marsha M. Linehan. Specialized for mood disorders, and avoiding depressive relapses.
Psychodynamic therapies - by Sigmund Freud. Combines CBT with meditation techniques, and is recommended for patients with depression alongside other illnesses.
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Humanistic therapies. More focused on the investigation of the connection between earlier life events with present conditions. Can be used for the treatment of mood disorders.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
Developed by psychiatrists Mark Williams, John Teasdale, and Zindel Segal in the 1990s, MBCT combines elements of CBT and MBSR. It's best-suited for patients with depression or anxiety. While CBT’s focus is to root out patients’ negative thoughts and patterns in order to change them, MBCT trains patients to avoid lingering on the wrongs and rights of their thoughts and emotions, and to normalize acknowledging them. This helps them avoid depressive relapses by “not engaging in automatic thought processes and [to] work through feelings in a healthy way” (Schimelpfening).
According to a study done by The Lancet, MBCT reduces chronic depression relapses by an average of 50%, regardless of the patient’s age, gender, education or marital status. “We conclude that MBCT reduces the percentage of participants who relapse within 12 months from 70% to 39%” (Williams et al.). MBCT research has presented majorly-positive results for decades, and continues to surpass its expectations.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
Developed by Dr. Jon Kabat Zinn in 1979, MBSR is a program specialized in treating anxiety and stress.
“Guided meditation was shown to reduce stress by 14% and reduce irritability by 27% in just 10 days. Over three weeks, guided meditation was shown to increase compassion by 23% and reduce aggression by 57%”. Another example, Stanford University of Medicine found “a 30% decrease in stress related symptoms” (Kozan). Nevertheless, data from MBSR has not shown enough heavy-weight results to become its own standard medical treatment, so it still needs further review (Khan Niazi).
In Holistic Approaches
Jon Kabat Zinn
American Professor of Medicine
Now 76 years old, Zinn has led the charge in integrating mindfulness into Western medicine, and founded the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine.
Thich Nhat Hanh
Vietnamese Buddhist Monk
Now 94 years old, Hanh is a globally recognized figure in peace and mindfulness advocacy, and won a Nobel Peace Prize. He resides in the Plum Village Monastery in southwest France.
Aaron T. Beck
American Psychiatrist
Now 99 years old, Beck was the leading professor of psychiatry in the University of Pennsylvania, and is known for developing Cognitive Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. He is globally recognized as one of the leading researchers in psychopathology.