Dr. Kevin (a physician blogger) recently wrote that he is concerned about how certain approaches to medication are being related to patients. I agree with him. We are complex creatures and the one size fits all approach to treatment just doesn't fit at all.

I see this on my message board where I respond to questions on anxiety and panic more times than I can count at this point. Searching for a quick answer to relieve their symptoms, affirms that patients and physicians, too, can engage in simplistic thinking.

There's nothing simple about anxiety, panic or depression. It's not as simple as a chemical imbalance and treatment requires skill on a number of levels. First, there is the skill to adequately assess the level of one or more of these disorders. Next, there's a need to know the patient and what will or won't work with them. This requires a good working relationship with the patient and a true partnership is an absolute necessity. Patients or physicians working at cross odds or not really listening to each other can result in poor response to treatment.

I visited a dermatologist the other day. He is an extremely skilled physician and, as I know and his nurse said to me, "When he's with you, he's with you." That is my kind of a physician. He has also made it a point to explain to patients all the possible treatments for any condition, what is involved and how long it will take. What's more, he encourages questions and provides materials to read. There's never a rush.

I understand that many patients find it difficult to accept that they have something that has anything to do with a mental condition and they want to get it remedied right away.

The research into the most effective treatments for anxiety, panic and depression all points to a combination of cognitive therapy and medication, when needed. They've looked at one treatment and both treatments combined and the results all point to a two-pronged approach. The quick fix isn't it.

This does not mean that a patient has to feel they have to bare their soul when they go into therapy because cognitive therapy focuses on problems and solutions, not early toilet training. It's a therapy that should be symptom-oriented, usually short in its course and leave the patient with new tools to use on their own to handle anything that comes up in their lives.

Some members of my board have indicated they've had no success with therapy and I answer that it may have been because they went to someone who either didn't specialize in their disorder or didn't practice cognitive therapy. Yes, you could say I have a preference here, but it's to one I know works and works well.

Related Topics: Therapy as Good as Drugs for Depression, The Art of Self-Examination