A $500,000 fund ready for donors. This is the first long-term study assessing the medical and economic effectiveness of the Disease-Centered Model (DCM) and the Patient-Centered Approach (PCA). It will assist in reducing the cost of treatment, improving the outcome and quality of life for patients suffering from Anxiety, Depression and Bipolar Disorders who failed to respond to conventional treatments. Founded by Michael Gurevich, HolisticMD, New York. 

Where the problem lies

Anxiety, Depression and Bipolar Disorder now affect more than 20% of Americans, and rates are rapidly rising. More antidepressants, antipsychotics and antianxiety medications are sold in the U.S. than any other type of drug. While medication is often believed to be the most effective therapy, all medications have side effects, and effectiveness is often short term. They can also be expensive.

The Disease Centered Model (DCM) of treating Anxiety, Depression and Bipolar Disorders focuses on identifying a disease in a patient and applying medication(s) to treat it. As the illness progresses or if the patient fails to respond, more medications are prescribed, increasing costs and side effects. Non-pharmaceutical treatments are not available, nor are effective options for those who fail several medications. The DCM model tends to treat a condition aggressively, be expensive and cause multiple side effects. It has a poor track record in treating chronic conditions.

Help is on the way

The Person-Centered Approach (PCA) has been used for centuries. It helps restore health by applying treatments specific to the individual’s imbalances. Treatments are usually low cost, have few if any side effects and require the person’s active participation. Medications are rarely part of a long-term solution but can be applied for a short time. The PCA approach strives to improve long-term health, thus alleviating symptoms and decreasing the cost of treatment. Our study examines how applying the DCM or PCA treatment model and philosophy affects long-term medical, psychiatric and quality of life outcomes and treatment costs.

This is the first long-term study assessing the medical and economic effectiveness of two different treatment models, focusing on those suffering from Anxiety, Depression and Bipolar Disorders who fail to respond to conventional treatments. Please help by donating to the Holistic Healing Fund.