Analysis of functional medicine approaches in depression care
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Depression has been a significant global health issue, affecting over 264 million people worldwide (World Health Organization [WHO], 2020). According to the National Institute of Mental Health (2021), in 2019, around 17.3 million adults experienced a major depressive episode, which is about 7.1% of all American adults. The financial burden of depression is also considerable, with annual costs reaching $210.5 billion due to healthcare expenses, absenteeism, and decreased productivity (Greenberg et al., 2021). Beyond its economic toll, depression takes a profound human toll as well. It extends far beyond clinical symptoms, often causing overwhelming emotional pain, impairing relationships, and, in severe cases, contributing to self-harm and suicide risk (World Health Organization [WHO], 2020; National Institute of Mental Health, 2021). The true cost of depression lies not only in lost productivity and health expenditures but in the silent suffering that impacts lives, dreams, and human potential. Conventional treatments for depression, such as antidepressants and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), are commonly used but have limitations like side effects and inconsistent effectiveness (McIntyre et al., 2023). Functional medicine, which focuses on a holistic approach to health, has gained popularity as an alternative treatment for depression (Hyman, 2019). Functional medicine is a personalized approach to healthcare that seeks to identify and address the root causes of disease by understanding the complex interactions between genetics, environment, and lifestyle factors while using a patient-centered approach to create individualized treatment plans (Hyman, 2019). Research has shown promising results for functional medicine, especially in patients who have not responded well to pharmaceutical treatments. Therefore, it is essential to explore how the nutraceutical branch of functional medicine, which uses food-derived products with health benefits, can improve depression symptoms. This analysis seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) in treating depression, aiming to provide insights into clinical practice and improve patient outcomes (Bredesen et al., 2020).
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 License.