Question

A patient was admitted with major depressive disorder and is interested in pursuing non-pharmacological treatment for this condition. Which of the following statements by the nurse reflect an accurate understanding of treatments for depression?

1 "Only medication is effective in alleviating your symptoms."
2 "You need to start with antidepressants then add other approaches once you are in recovery."
3 "Many people have found benefit with different approaches including exercise, light therapy, and counseling."
4 "There are medications now with no side effects, so taking them shouldn't be a problem for you."

Answer 1

Non-pharmacological treatments for depression include exercise, light therapy, and counseling. Medication can be effective, but other approaches have also shown benefits.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should respond to the patient by saying, "Many people have found benefit with different approaches including exercise, light therapy, and counseling." This response accurately reflects an understanding of non-pharmacological treatments for depression. While medications can be effective for alleviating symptoms, there are also other approaches that have been shown to be beneficial, such as exercise, light therapy, and counseling.