Candidates for Antidepressants: Assessing a History of Early Life Stressors

Depression may be a debilitating condition. Many individuals turn to antidepressants to treat their symptoms. Research suggests that while many individuals report success and symptom reduction with antidepressant usage, a large portion of individuals with depression do not respond to antidepressant treatment. The etiology of depression for many individuals may be attributed to early life stress (ELS). ELS may lead to a malfunctioning stress response system. For example, stress hormone levels may be elevated in those individuals with a history of ELS. Most antidepressants are designed to affect the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and or dopamine and not stress hormones. For those individuals who are nonresponsive to antidepressant treatment, they may need a medication that alters stress hormones. When counseling clients using antidepressants, counselors should be prepared to serve as a medication manager and liaison between the client and antidepressant prescribing physician.