Dr. Kathy Maupin and Brett Newcomb discuss depression and it’s effects on women. They consider the most effective approach to treating depression, and highlight the importance of a relational-based medical practice.
In this week’s Healthcast, Brett Newcomb and I are talking about depression and its causes, especially in relation to women. Studying the impacts of depression medication is complicated because patients often stop taking these meds as soon as they feel any relief of their symptoms. Once a patient begins taking a prescribed medicine for depression, they should not change the dosage or stop the treatment without consulting with a physician. Many people do not get better, or even get worse because they are inconsistent or noncompliant with the dosage recommendation of their physician.
In addition to anti-depressant medication, other factors come into play, such as diet and hormones. When evaluating a woman who is suffering from depression and fatigue and general mental fatigue, I want to look at their hormone levels, the food they eat, exercise patterns and their family history. I believe doctors can put all this together if they have time to evaluate everything, and that can be an extended process. Modern medical practice run by the rules of insurance companies does not allow this type of lengthy visit. I have a practice that is independent of insurance and is dedicated to taking the time I need with each patient. Because of this, I am not driven by the insurance companies or other regulators to jam as many visits a day through my schedule.
Many of our treatments are multi-modal, and we emphasize medicine, hormone replacement, and weight-loss medication to bring patients back to health. We think all medical practices would be better off following this approach. I am not talking about a practice focused on emergent or triage-based interventions, I am talking about a practice that is focused on wellness and healthy lifestyles; through preventive medicine.
In this Healthcast, we also look at the various hormone issues that can contribute to depression and fatigue among women. We get some of our material from a presentation we heard recently by a specialist in this area, Dr. Hyla Cass. Some of our points of emphasis come directly from her presentation and we want to acknowledge that. But again, what is important is taking a global look at a patient rather than just focusing on a symptom that we can medicate.
Listen to our Healthcast and learn more about the hormone balances that are necessary and what can go wrong as you age. It does not have to be your future. You can decide to intervene with a physician that specializes in hormone balancing and hormone replacement. Listen to find out why this is such a good idea for you.
