Overview

Integrative Health, like Whole Health, is built around the Circle of Health, which emphasizes the importance of personalized, values-based care that draws on mindful awareness and eight areas of self-care: Physical Activity, Surroundings, Personal Development, Nutrition, Recharge, Family, Friends and Coworkers, Spirit & Soul, Mind and Emotions.  Conventional therapies, prevention, complementary and integrative health (CIH) approaches, and community also have important roles.  The narrative below describes how the Whole Health approach could have an impact on a person with depression.

Depending on individual needs, an Integrative Health approach to depression can incorporate a number of different self-care, conventional care, and complementary health approaches.  Depression is responsive to a variety of interventions, ranging from improved nutrition, sleep, and physical activity to enhanced connections with others.  Many professional care approaches can prove useful—even essential.  This includes an array of psychotherapies and other mind-body approaches, medications, supplements, light therapy, and a variety of other options. Keep reading to learn more about the evidence for the efficacy and safety of these different approaches and how you might incorporate them into a Personal Health Plan (PHP).

Meet the Patient

Frank is a 64-year-old retired electrician who receives his care at a large urban outpatient clinic.  His primary care provider, whom he has been seeing for a couple of years now, is concerned that Frank has been depressed.  He scored a “9” on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), indicating mild depression, but he has scored higher in the past.  Six months ago, he was given a suicide risk evaluation, and he was assessed as being a low overall risk.  He has had suicidal thoughts in the past. Frank is reluctant to change medications again because he has already done so three times.  Frank’s clinician is wondering what other options to consider to help him and has connected Frank with a psychologist who also teaches meditation and perhaps a psychiatrist who is known to “think outside the pillbox.”

Frank’s wife died 10 years ago, and Frank has been living alone since then.  He struggled with depression (and complicated grief) when his wife died, but with the support of family and friends, he got back on his feet and has been coping well for the past few years.  Recently, he has lost several of his friends, and he is beginning to feel the effects of aging.  Frank agrees with his provider about needing to do more about his depression.

Frank’s provider suggested he take home and fill out a Personal Health Inventory (PHI) to help identify what really matters to him.  As he worked through the inventory, it became very clear to Frank that an important source of meaning for him was his grandchildren, and his family in general.  Whenever he is with them, or thinks about them, he is happier and more energized.