Eastern and Western Method in the treatment of Depression

It goes without saying that every language has its own particular form of eloquence when there is a need to cry for help. Every culture according to Kirmayer (1984) has a distinctive, rich set of idioms for the expression of distress which is focused on mobilizing an effective social response. Depression, within both Western and Eastern cultures has reached alarming numbers. Western medicine has adhered to the distress signals of depression through the use of antidepressants. However, just last week, May 2, 2013, The New York Times in an article entitled: Suicide Rates Rise Sharply in U.S., cited that miIDle-aged Americans, in alarming numbers have committed suicide within the past decade. The numbers of Americans who have succeeded in suicide have surpassed the numbers of individuals in motor vehicle crashes (Parker-Pope 2013).
This undoubtedly suggests that antidepressants have not been as beneficial in coping with depression as the medical profession once thought. This is especially true when noting that The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention?s National Center for Health Statistics found that 11 percent of Americans over the age of 12 takes an antidepressant, with about 14 percent taking the medication for more than 10 years (CDC 2013). The rate of antidepressants use in the United States increased nearly 400 percent over the last two decades. In England, depression has similar alarming statistics as the use of antidepressants has risen by more than a quarter. The numbers of prescriptions for antidepressants increased by 28% from 2007-2008. Depression according to Batty (2011) has cost the economy nearly $22billion a year in lost earnings.
Purpose of Capstone Project
Noting the aforementioned depression statistics the purpose of this capstone project is to investigate and note the comparison and differences between Eastern and Western Methods in the treatment of depression. Working at the Veterans Hospital in the Bronx I have primary experience working with doctors whose first line of treatment involves the use of antidepressants and therapy to combat depression. Research and experience has confirmed that there is nothing wrong with this procedure. However, it must be noted that antidepressants may not serve all people in the same way. The goal of Eastern methods in treating depression is to get people to realize a connection that exists between the mind, body and spirit. Unlike Western treatments for depression Eastern remedies use procedures such as: acupuncture, meditation, and herbal supplements. Eastern treatments maintain that if any part of the body is out-of-sync, the rest of the body will suffer. Is either form of depression treatment better? Have antidepressants demonstrated positive results in the treatment of depression? Have Eastern remedies proven to be successful as they look at the connection between the mind, body and spirit? Such questions will be explored as this writer investigates Eastern and Western depression treatments.