Drug Therapy vs CBT for Mental Health Problems

When treating mental health problems such as depression and addiction, psychologists and psychiatrists have two main approaches: drug therapy (biological approach) and CBT (psychological approach). Each has its own strengths and limitations, and the most effective treatment often involves a combination of both.

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Drug Therapy

How Drug Therapy Works

Drug therapy treats mental health problems by altering brain chemistry — specifically, by changing the levels or activity of neurotransmitters:

Condition	Drug Type	Mechanism
Depression	SSRIs (e.g. fluoxetine)	Block reuptake of serotonin → more serotonin in synapse
Addiction	Various (e.g. methadone for heroin addiction, nicotine replacement)	Replace or block the addictive substance's effect on the brain
Anxiety	Benzodiazepines (e.g. diazepam)	Enhance the effect of GABA (an inhibitory neurotransmitter) → reduces neural activity

Advantages of Drug Therapy