--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Depression is a serious problem, but…" description: "\"Depression is a serious problem, but drugs are not the answer. In the long run, psychotherapy is both cheaper and more effective, even for very serious..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3e/irving-kirsch-18763_answers_depression-is-a-serious-problem-but-drug_1862252.png" --- # Depression is a serious problem, but drugs are not the… ![“Depression is a serious problem, but drugs are not the answer. In the long run, psychotherapy is both cheaper and more effective, even for very serious levels of depression. Physical exercise and self-help books based on CBT can also be useful, either alone or in combination with therapy. Reducing…” quote by Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3e/irving-kirsch-18763_answers_depression-is-a-serious-problem-but-drug_1862252.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3e/irving-kirsch-18763_answers_depression-is-a-serious-problem-but-drug_1862252.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3e/irving-kirsch-18763_answers_depression-is-a-serious-problem-but-drug_1862252.png) > “Depression is a serious problem, but drugs are not the answer. In the long run, psychotherapy is both cheaper and more effective, even for very serious levels of depression. Physical exercise and self-help books based on CBT can also be useful, either alone or in combination with therapy. Reducing social and economic inequality would also reduce the incidence of depression.” [Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Therapy and lifestyle changes are cost-effective, long-term solutions for depression, more than medication alone. **In simple terms:** Therapy beats drugs for many. Key Takeaway Prioritize psychotherapy and healthy habits. Themes mental health treatment cost effectiveness Mood hopeful analytical Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - clinical practice - public health policy - personal self‑care Key Concepts psychotherapy CBT exercise social inequality Questions to Reflect On - What barriers prevent you from seeking therapy? - How can society reduce depression risk? A Different Perspective Access to therapy can be limited. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Cheaper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheaper/) [Combination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/combination/) [Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression/) [Depression Physical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression-physical-2514764/) [Depression Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depression-problem-2514762/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Economic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic/) [Economic inequality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-inequality/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Help book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-book/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Incidence Depression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incidence-depression-2514765/) [Inequality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inequality/) [Levels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/levels/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long run](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-run/) [Mental health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-health/) [Physical exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physical-exercise/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Psychotherapy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychotherapy/) [Psychotherapy Cheaper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychotherapy-cheaper-2514763/) [Reducing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reducing/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self help](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-help/) [Serious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serious/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) [Therapy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/therapy/) ## Related quotes > [“When our wishes are not fulfilled we usually experience unpleasant feelings, such as unhappiness or depression; this is our own problem because we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsang-gyatso/when-our-wishes-are-not-fulfilled-we-usually-experience-unpleasant/) [Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsang-gyatso/) > [Human bodies are designed for regular physical activity. The sedentary nature of much of modern life probably plays a significant role in the epidemic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/human-bodies-are-designed-for-regular-physical-activity-the-sedentary/) [Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/) > [“There's a lot of wealth in the world. For the most part in Western society, we've removed the threat of starvation an other life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-ping/there-s-a-lot-of-wealth-in-the-world-for-the-most-part-in-western/) [A.C. Ping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-ping/) > [Depression is a physical illness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-bradshaw/depression-is-a-physical-illness/) [Terry Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-bradshaw/) > [“Anxiety and depression, and the physical symptoms they cause, are merely distractions and smokescreens to “protect” you from dangers, which are usually, imaginary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/anxiety-and-depression-and-the-physical-symptoms-they-cause-are/) [Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/) > [“Depression is a physical illness, like bleeding from a wound that won’t close. You cannot fix it, it doesn’t heal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaia-b-amman/depression-is-a-physical-illness-like-bleeding-from-a-wound-that-won/) [Gaia B. Amman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaia-b-amman/) > [Whether it's depression or a physical disability, not everyone wants to be seen as a victim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rife/whether-it-s-depression-or-a-physical-disability-not-everyone-wants/) [Matt Rife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rife/) > [“For people who are depressed, and especially for those who do not receive enough benefit from medication of for whom the side effects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/for-people-who-are-depressed-and-especially-for-those-who-do-not/) [Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) > [The American journalist Barbara Ehrenreich has written about this in her book Smile or Die: How Positive Thinking Fooled America and the World (2009)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ravenhill/the-american-journalist-barbara-ehrenreich-has-written-about-this-in/) [Mark Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ravenhill/) > [There are many self-help books by Ph.D.s, but I hold a different degree: an I.B.T.I.A.-I've Been Through It All. This degree comes not on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/there-are-many-self-help-books-by-ph-d-s-but-i-hold-a-different/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [Self-help books for those who believe 'You can have it all' often advise, 'Follow your bliss and money will follow.' With the collapse of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/self-help-books-for-those-who-believe-you-can-have-it-all-often/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [Self help books are pointless. Here's something for you... Men are from Mars, women are from Venus, and self help books are from Uranus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/self-help-books-are-pointless-here-s-something-for-you-men-are-from/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [A very enjoyable meditation on the curious thing called 'Zen' -not the Japanese religious tradition but rather the Western clich of Zen that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gardner/a-very-enjoyable-meditation-on-the-curious-thing-called-zen-not-the/) [Alexander Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gardner/) > [I don't want to sound like a self-help book, but it really has been transformative for me to take a look at my relationships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-raitt/i-don-t-want-to-sound-like-a-self-help-book-but-it-really-has-been/) [Bonnie Raitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-raitt/) > [If you have to learn it from a self-help book, you may be beyond help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wes-smith/if-you-have-to-learn-it-from-a-self-help-book-you-may-be-beyond-help/) [Wes Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wes-smith/) ## More by Irving Kirsch > [Depression is not caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, and it is not cured by medication. Depression may not even be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/depression-is-not-caused-by-a-chemical-imbalance-in-the-brain-and-it/) [Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) > [To someone who is not currently on anti-depressants, I would suggest trying other treatments first - for example, psychotherapy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/to-someone-who-is-not-currently-on-anti-depressants-i-would-suggest/) [Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) > [“Many of the benefits of CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) can be obtained without going into therapy. There are a number of self-help books, CDs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/many-of-the-benefits-of-cbt-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-can-be/) [Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) > [Nocebos often cause a physical effect, but it's not a physically produced effect. What's the cause? In many cases, it's an unanswered question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/nocebos-often-cause-a-physical-effect-but-it-s-not-a-physically/) [Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) > [“The results of decades of neurotransmitter-depletion studies point to one inescapable conclusion: low levels or serotonin, norepinephrine or dopamine do not cause depression. here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/the-results-of-decades-of-neurotransmitter-depletion-studies-point-to/) [Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) > [Perhaps 10 percent of patients who are prescribed antidepressants are really benefiting from the drugs' active ingredients.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/perhaps-10-percent-of-patients-who-are-prescribed-antidepressants-are/) [Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) > [Patients who trust their doctors and have a psychological expectation of getting better could trigger a reaction in their body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/patients-who-trust-their-doctors-and-have-a-psychological-expectation/) [Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) > [Anything that instills a sense of hope will at least temporarily help treat depression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/anything-that-instills-a-sense-of-hope-will-at-least-temporarily-help/) [Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) > [“Our analyses of the FDA data showed relatively little difference between the effects of antidepressants and the effects of placebos. Indeed, the effects were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/our-analyses-of-the-fda-data-showed-relatively-little-difference/) [Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) > [Perhaps anti-depressants should be best reserved for the very extreme cases and, more importantly, for those who do not respond to alternative forms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/perhaps-anti-depressants-should-be-best-reserved-for-the-very-extreme/) [Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) > [If doctors just spent more time with their patients so they felt more reassured, that might help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/if-doctors-just-spent-more-time-with-their-patients-so-they-felt-more/) [Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) > [There seems little reason to prescribe anti-depressant medication to any but the most severely depressed patients.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/there-seems-little-reason-to-prescribe-anti-depressant-medication-to/) [Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) > [“When people recover from depression via psychotherapy, their attributions about recovery are likely to be different than those of people who have been treated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/when-people-recover-from-depression-via-psychotherapy-their/) [Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) > [One problem I have with drug companies is that they don't make all their data public.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/one-problem-i-have-with-drug-companies-is-that-they-don-t-make-all/) [Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) > [There seem to be many causes of depression. One cause is profound loss, grief. Economic hardship we know is linked to depression. We don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-kirsch/there-seem-to-be-many-causes-of-depression-one-cause-is-profound-loss/) [Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) [Explore all 34 Irving Kirsch quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-kirsch/) ## More Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [“As long as you keep searching,the answers will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/as-long-as-you-keep-searching-the-answers-will-come/) [Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [A religious person answers to God, not to the elected or non-elected official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/a-religious-person-answers-to-god-not-to-the-elected-or-non-elected/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) [Browse all 7,843 Answers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Depression is a serious problem, but drugs are not the answer. 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