title: The power of belief and expectancy in understanding and management of depression.
abstract: This article examines how beliefs can influence the definition, classification, understanding, and treatment of depression. It is organized in five parts: The first part critically reviews the definition of depression; the second part explores the medicalization of depression; the third part examines the role of the pharmaceutical industry in the promotion and marketing of antidepressant medications; the fourth part surveys the psychological therapies for depression and examines the role of expectancy in outcome; and the last part looks at the mechanisms involved in the placebo effect. A list of evidence-based strategies, including hypnosis, are discussed in the context of cognitive hypnotherapy for depression to illustrate how expectancy effect can be maximized in psychotherapy.
authors.affiliation: University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. assen.alladin@albertahealthservices.ca
authors.forename: Assen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alladin
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001294:Attitude to Health; D032882:Comprehension; D003469:Culture; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000628:therapy*; D004345:Drug Industry; D006801:Humans; D040541:Marketing / Q000379:methods; D015990:Placebo Effect; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D013404:Suggestion; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents