Treatments in psychiatry compared to general medicine

Abstract

There is clear overlap in effectiveness between psychiatric treatments and general medicine medications. Both psychiatric treatments and general medicine medications can be harmful. Mechanisms of action of psychiatric treatments are often obscure or unknown. This is less common in general medicine medication but some of the most commonly prescribed drugs used in general medicine do not cure or act directly on disease mechanisms. Evidence-based psychotherapy is an effective treatment for many mental health conditions; its relative effectiveness compared to psychiatric medication varies depending on the condition. If the client is willing and able to participate in bona fide psychotherapy with evidence of effectiveness, it may be preferable to psychiatric medication as it seems to have less serious adverse effects although more research is needed on harmful adverse effects. Psychotherapy combined with medication is often more effective than either used alone and both types of treatment are complementary, even synergistic, in achieving treatment objectives. Access to psychotherapy is often less easy than access to medication as it is labour intensive, and using medication allows doctors to see many more patients (see Chapter 5). For some conditions and situations, for example, for those unable to participate in psychotherapy, psychiatric treatments are still preferred.