--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To someone who is not currently on…" description: "\"To someone who is not currently on anti-depressants, I would suggest trying other treatments first - for example, psychotherapy.\" — Irving Kirsch" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bd/irving-kirsch-18763_currently_to-someone-who-is-not-currently-on-anti_69574.png" --- # To someone who is not currently on anti-depressants, I… ![“To someone who is not currently on anti-depressants, I would suggest trying other treatments first - for example, psychotherapy.” quote by Irving Kirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bd/irving-kirsch-18763_currently_to-someone-who-is-not-currently-on-anti_69574.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bd/irving-kirsch-18763_currently_to-someone-who-is-not-currently-on-anti_69574.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0bd/irving-kirsch-18763_currently_to-someone-who-is-not-currently-on-anti_69574.png) > “To someone who is not currently on anti-depressants, I would suggest trying other treatments first - for example, psychotherapy.” [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. Encourages exploring non-pharmacological options like psychotherapy before medication for depression treatment. **In simple terms:** Prioritize therapy over meds initially. Key Takeaway Consider therapy before drugs. Themes mental health treatment hierarchy patient autonomy evidence-based practice psychotherapy depression Mood cautious empathetic informative Type advice clinical recommendation When to use this quote - initial depression diagnosis - patient hesitant about meds - primary care consultation - mental health counseling - insurance coverage decisions Key Concepts treatment options risk-benefit analysis clinical decision-making Practical Applications - clinical guidelines - patient education Questions to Reflect On - What factors influence choosing therapy over medication? - How can clinicians assess readiness for non-drug interventions? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Medication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medication/) [Psychotherapy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychotherapy/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [“Physicians do not systematically prescribe placebos to their patients. 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I couldn't understand how people could cope, knowing they only had so long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/i-d-see-an-old-person-on-the-street-and-start-crying-i-couldn-t/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [It may be a coincidence, but from the minute I took anti-depressants, I didn't pick up a guitar or a pen for seven years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/it-may-be-a-coincidence-but-from-the-minute-i-took-anti-depressants-i/) Adam Ant > [I was on various anti-depressants, but not for long - I didn't function very well on them. I felt sort of flattened out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dee/i-was-on-various-anti-depressants-but-not-for-long-i-didn-t-function/) [Jack Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dee/) > [Going to the doctors - for me that was quite brave, taking that first step. That was a bit scary, saying that I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/limmy/going-to-the-doctors-for-me-that-was-quite-brave-taking-that-first/) [Limmy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/limmy/) > [They say that some anti-depressants may actually cause suicidal thoughts. 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That makes me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-haines/but-its-crazy-like-ten-percent-a-year-increase-of-children-taking/) [Emily Haines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-haines/) > [I am not embarrassed to say that when I was at my worst I took anti-depressants because I think people need to hear that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-newton-john/i-am-not-embarrassed-to-say-that-when-i-was-at-my-worst-i-took-anti/) [Olivia Newton-John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-newton-john/) > [“Sylvie wishes the anti-depressants had been around when she was in her early twenties, not only to rescue her from the dark tunnels that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francesca-lia-block/sylvie-wishes-the-anti-depressants-had-been-around-when-she-was-in/) [Francesca Lia Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francesca-lia-block/) > [“I tell him I take anti-depressants, which leads him on a thirty-minute detour. He tells me sadness is a part of finding out who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-winston/i-tell-him-i-take-anti-depressants-which-leads-him-on-a-thirty-minute/) [Hilary Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-winston/) ## 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/) > [“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/) > [Depression comes back over time in about 90 percent of people on antidepressants. 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