The rebirth of psychosocial importance in a drug-filled world.

In the United States, the public is heavily lobbied to accept medications as the main answer for dealing with mental maladies like depression. However, examination of the empirical evidence reveals that even when drugs are the primary treatments, findings of benefit are often more dependent on psychosocial, interpersonal factors than commonly believed. This article highlights the reemerging worth of psychotherapeutic relationships in quelling emotional discomfort. It also touches on the roles of business and research bias in overselling the idea of unique merits and specificity of gains derived purely from psychopharmacological solutions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).